Who makes a good candidate for spine surgery?

Leg pain: Patients who have leg pains or arm pains are the best candidates for neck or low back surgery. These are known as radicular symptoms. These patients do much better than patients who only have back pain or neck pain.

Failed Conservative: The majority of patients with spine pain improve spontaneously given time and/or conservative treatment with exercise, weight loss, physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, pain management, and/or yoga. Only a small minor minority of patients end up needing surgery.