World-renowned spine doctor disputes studies saying back pain is psychological

February 6th, 2024

World-renowned spine doctor disputes studies saying back pain is psychological

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dr. Alfred O. Bonati, M.D. of The Bonati Spine Institute says the suggestion that back pain is psychological and comes from the mind of the patient is bogus.

HUDSON, Fla. – A Florida spine surgeon, world-renowned for his patented spine surgery that is typically referred to as “minimally-invasive,” is disputing a series of studies that claim that back pain is psychological and comes from the mind of the patient.

The Los Angeles Times recently published an opinion piece in which the author cited a study conducted at an orthopedic care clinic in Louisiana which found that 88 percent of the 222 patients studied had what researchers call “primary pain,” or pain generated by neural circuits in the brain rather than structural damage in the body.

Bonati has completed nearly 80,000 minimally invasive spinal procedures, and the satisfaction rate among his patients is higher than 98 percent.

“There are 1.5 billion people in the world who suffer from back pain. It is laughable to suggest that back pain is simply in the mind of the patient. The problem is not psychological, it is absolutely physical,” said Bonati. “The problem is that most doctors, even spinal doctors, don’t know how to diagnose and treat back pain correctly. They don’t know what to look for on the scans, so they’re completely missing the root cause of the pain.”

Bonati treats patients who have acute chronic back pain or who have had previous failed back surgeries.

His patented surgical method requires only a small incision, and takes 30 minutes to an hour to complete. His patients remain awake during their procedures, and are given conscious sedation.

In most cases, even his patients with the most severe back pain are up and walking within an hour of their surgery, and their back pain is completely relieved.

“There is a lot of money in academic research, and money can corrupt people,” said Bonati. “I don’t think this push to label the mind as the cause of back pain is in the best interest of people suffering from back pain, but I do know that the academics who are studying this topic are receiving multi-million dollar grants for their research. If you are suffering from back pain, you should see a doctor before you see a psychologist.”

About The Bonati Spine Institute:

For more than 40 years, The Bonati Spine Institute, led by Dr. Alfred O. Bonati, has provided world-class surgical treatment to patients suffering from spine pain. Dr. Bonati and his team of highly trained specialists have successfully performed nearly 80,000 patented procedures, helping patients with spine pathologies. While the Bonati Spine Institute is located in the Tampa Bay area, patients from all over the world have sought Dr. Bonati’s care, often after other doctors tried and failed to relieve their pain. Of those patients seen, 65 percent have had a history of failed back and neck surgery prior to coming to the Bonati Spine Institute. The Bonati Spine Institute has received a patient-reported satisfaction rate of higher than 98 percent.