In this episode. Dr. David Hanscom talks about how his surgical decision-making became clearer when he noticed that many patients with significant structural anatomic problems improved or resolved their symptoms without surgery after engaging in a self-directed, structured care approach. He discovered that as a patient's anxiety resolves it is common for pain to abate. Crippling anxiety is a solvable problem with the correct approach. That does not include surgery. Also, after a failed surgery, another level of hope has been taken away.

For more information, go to: http://www.backincontrol.com/am-i-operating-on-your-pain-or-anxiety.