Step by Step Back Surgery: A Recovery Guide: What your doctor can’t tell you. Paperback – July 24, 2017

This book is written with honesty, rawness, and most importantly, from the perspective of someone who has personally gone through surgery. The author shares a detailed, day-by-day account of their hospital experience, offering valuable insight into what to expect when undergoing a similar procedure. While every clinical experience is unique, this book provides a thoughtful guide to help readers feel more informed, prepared, and less alone in their journey. Thank you to the author for sharing such a personal story—it’s both inspiring and incredibly informative.

As a person who’s had seven major spinal cord surgeries I was interested in reading this book. My first question is what type of back surgery was it. There are no standard back surgeries. The author mentioned spinal fusion surgery, and the book is titled ‘Back surgery’ so I assume it was a spinal fusion of the back. But at what location and what type? Most back surgeries are in the lumbar spine, but not all. And, was it a bone graph fusion or a small metal screw and plate? The incision of the graphs are much larger than the smaller incisions required for the plate type. That makes recovery time very different. For example, my first lumbar surgery required a nine inch incision. I know someone who had one with a one inch incision. And, most people come ‘back’ for more. That was intended as a pun, but statistically most people require more than one surgery. As I said, I had seven and expected to have only one. The doctor, hospital are just some of the factors in that anomaly.Every surgery is different and everyone has a different pain tolerance. The author bases this on a female anatomy with regard to catheters. They are extremely unpleasant in men. With those things said, the author takes us on her personal tour of her specific back surgery and does a good job. A lot of details are given which could help people generally. However, I would have liked to know more specifics about her type of surgery for reasons I already mentioned. Overall, a good book. It’s well written and a short read.

Nice book to have before surgery. Provides an insight into the reality of having back surgery and all the things you may encounter during the journey that your doctor may not inform you on. Each person will have a different experience but this book will give you a good idea on expectations, on what to prepare, on life after the surgery and put you mentally in a better place.. Worth a read.

It's been three years since I underwent major back surgery, and reading this book brought back so many memories of my own experience. It was a pivotal time in my life, filled with challenges, pain, and uncertainty. This book was a comforting reminder that others have gone through similar journeys, and I only wish I had something like this back then. It would have helped me stay stronger emotionally through all the obstacles.The clarity, guidance, and reassurance this book offers are of immense value, making it perfect for anyone preparing for or recovering from major back surgery. Despite noticing a small typo in the second paragraph of "Day Seven After Surgery, Day Four at Rehab," it's a harmless error that's easily fixed. This doesn’t detract from the book's overall quality, and it's too good not to give it a full 5 stars. Highly recommended!

This book offers a pragmatic approach to spinal surgery recovery. The author's candid recounting of her experience provides invaluable advice that goes beyond what most doctors might share. I particularly appreciated the detailed “before surgery” checklist, which offers practical guidance on how to prepare one's home and what to pack for the hospital. Her story of organizing her living space and planning for possible rehabilitation demonstrates the forethought required to ensure a smoother recovery. The book's straightforward discussion of tools like the shampoo hat and the surprising conflicts between hospital and rehabilitation facility expectations are rare insights that prove vital. This book is a good resource for anyone facing surgery, providing realistic expectations and practical advice.

Appreciate her realizing the need for the information. Now if it could be updated for today's insurance demands. Good information for a single person.