The Back Story on Spine Care: A Surgeon's Insights on Relieving Pain and Advocating for the Right Treatment to Get Your Life Back

by Drew Bednar

“A tour de force of spine care from a master spine surgeon who has literally seen it all over the course of a four-decade career! This book is a must-read that is accessible to both the layperson and healthcare professionals. I found it both enjoyable and informative.” ― Dr. Andrew J. Schoenfeld, Harvard Medical School professor and Spine editor in chief A practical and occasionally provocative look at the state of spinal surgical care Just a few decades ago most spine surgery was literally a maybe you’d get better and maybe you wouldn’t. Today we have the knowledge, understanding, and technology to predictably relieve pain and neurological deficits like never before ― yet many patients are still getting subpar care. Foundational knowledge of surgical spine care isn’t spreading to the medical community, let alone to patients, whose quality of life hangs in the balance. With The Back Story on Spine Care , orthopedic specialist Dr. Drew Bednar presents case studies that illuminate the common issues plaguing patients ― and their treatment ― today. Back problems are among the most common health issues, and with Dr. Bednar’s insights, knowledge, and practical tips, medical professionals can provide care that leads to healthier backs and happier lives.

328 pages, Paperback

Published October 24, 2023

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Back Story on Spine Care by Dr. Drew Bednar is a non-fiction guide to back problems and their treatment that reads like fiction. He uses case histories to illustrate the causes of back problems, diagnosis and surgical resolution. All does not go well. Back problems have many causes. The physical stresses of a job, sudden movements, spread of disease and more can cause pain and make movement difficult. Diagnosis can be surprisingly difficult, often due to a lack of communication between doctor and patient. Surgery has its own problems, sometimes because the surgeon has been trained to use a method that may not relate well to the patients’s problem or that problem is unexpected. Following each case, Dr. Bednar provides a brief analysis on what went wrong and why. A chapter for providers and patients lists “red flags” for spine care and the final chapter on back and neck basics gives invaluable tips on how to avoid problems. The Back Story on Spine Care is a readable guide for both physicians and patients. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, ECW Press and Dr. Drew Bednar for this ARC.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book invoked quite a few moments of "I don't want to read anymore." Simply due to having experienced so many of the same responses and malpractice types/scenarios that happened between patient and doctor. I battled with just skipping to the end to see the tips and tricks to manage or prevent pain in the back. In the end, I read through the entirety and learned more than enough to begin to navigate in the right direction.

This is a very well written call out with full explanations for each case. What went wrong? What went right? What practices are beneficial to both patient and doctor and what practices need to be minded and removed from general knowledge.

This book was largely written with the intention of having medically knowledgeable people read it. Despite that, it was easy to follow along and enjoyable for any reader. The jokes and quips to sum up the problem made up for moments of confusion when larger medical terms were used consecutively.

[Star Carew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Dr. Bednar

You are an angel. I hope to shake your hand one day. I'm a 33 year old female. Hit by a vehicle as a pedestrian at a grocery store in Thunder Bay, Ontario, in April of 2023. Leaving me with nerve compression and damage, herniations and bulging discs in lumbar and thoracic spine, nerve pain, numbness, tingling in extremities...etc.
I have not been able to obtain a referral to see a surgeon. I've seen every practitioner I could obtain access to, leaving me over $40k out of pocket.

This book has given me hope! Advocating for my body in a subject that I am not an expert in has been daunting. Sincerely sending you all the gratitude and appreciation I can muster. God bless you.

I will buy anything you publish. Please keep educating us. I'll be sharing this book with as many as I can, including gifting copies to my practitioners. Thank you for your contribution to our spinal care in Ontario.

Kindly,
Starlene Robertson

[Keri Karman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of a lot of interesting stories and good information about spine care. Dr. Drew Bednar takes time to explain difficult concepts in a way that keeps the reader interested throughout the book. It may be repetitive at times, but this seems to serve the purpose of making hard to understand topics more digestible. I enjoyed reading the case studies and learning about good practices for spine care, as it seems that the more one can implement these practices into their lives, the less pain we may experience as we age. On the other hand, Dr. Bednar educates the reader on ways to advocate for themselves, which is especially important in a medical system like Canada. Thankfully, we have it a little bit easier here in the States.

Thank you to NetGalley, ECW Press and Dr. Drew Bednar for this ARC.

[Mary Keen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting to get a Canadian surgeon's POV, although some things he cautions against are what i've heard recommended.

I have to return this to the library, so hope to reread some topics when/if i get to check it out again. Usually, i have good luck in buying 2nd-hand books from Ebay, etc. but for some reason, the price of this has stayed high so far.

Some good info, but organized in such a cutesy, useless way, w a patient's name n a descriptor, often non-medical. Readers have to rely on the not-great index to try to find needed info --BIG GROAN! He needed an editor to make the book more useful!

299 pp

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook.
I was very excited to receive this book. I suffer from chronic back pain and I am always looking for answers to help in any way possible. Highly recommend.

[Dianne Gow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required reading for all medical students and professionals. Diagnosis begins with your GP and this book explains so many scenarios where early diagnosis would save so many people unnecessary pain and suffering. Dr. Bednar is a specialist that practices what he preaches.

[Yue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best spine care stories that I have read.

[Roy Van Den Brande · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting cases, accessibly written. I really enjoyed the book. But he really was a dick about it.