FREE LESSON · Understand your options
Options before surgery
A treatment plan that fits your diagnosis
Active rehabilitation
Physical therapy may include exercises, movement strategies and activity pacing. Your therapist can tailor a plan to your condition.
Other options to discuss
Medication, injections and selected pain procedures have different purposes. Ask about the expected benefit, risks and how progress will be assessed.
A coordinated team
Primary care, physical medicine and rehabilitation, physical therapy and pain specialists may contribute to your care.
Your next step
List treatments you have tried, how long you used them and what changed. Bring that record to your appointment.
Your next step · About 2 minutes
List what you have tried
Write down your treatments, roughly how long you tried each one and what changed.
Use the free consultation worksheet or write your answer on paper.
This marks reading progress only; it does not assess understanding or readiness.
These lessons support a discussion with your clinical team. They do not determine your diagnosis or recommend an operation.
Educational content adapted from the course of Joel A. Bauman, MD · Board-certified spinal neurosurgeon · Updated .
Adapted from the supplied patient course, original slide 22. Patient course adapted October 2026.