Patient Information - Frequently Asked Questions

Where do you operate? Dr. Lewinnek operates at Leominster Hospital , known officially as the Leominster Campus of Health Alliance. The nursing staff is friendly, capable, and caring. Infection rates are very low, the anesthesiology staff is excellent, and the staff of primary care doctors, hospital doctors and ICU doctors provides a safety net should unforeseen medical complications develop. It is also convenient for one's friends and relatives who wish to visit.

Which languages do you speak? We do best with English. Dr. Lewinnek speaks some limited Spanish but prefers to work with a translator. Although we do best with English, we can speak slowly and simply, respecting the difficulties of those who come to us with serious problems far from the familiar services of their home-land.

Isn't spine surgery the last resort? Not necessarily. We have been involved in a case where, despite Dr. Lewinnek's advice, surgery for nerve damage from pressure was delayed so long that the nerve was permanently damaged. There was no chance for success with or without surgery. Dr. Lewinnek declined to operate in that case, and so did every other spine surgeon who saw the patient.

When there is no nerve damage then there is time to try treatments other than surgery. One of the best treatments is physical therapy. The chances for success with PT are excellent. Usually the success occurs within three months. If one is no longer improving after three months, it is time to reconsider the options.

With surgery one reference estimates the return of 75 to 93% of normal function. Another way to say this is that after recovery from surgery most people can return to full time moderate work with no more than minor discomfort. When that is a substantial improvement over any other outcome it is time to consider back surgery. The tools that have been put into the hands of spine surgeons are better now than they have ever been before, and the help that is available reflect these improvements.

Printable Patient Forms - Click on a form to open and print it. You may complete the forms and bring them to your appointment to save time when you arrive.

Patient Medical History Form

Patient Registration Form

Helpful Web Site Links:

WebMD

North American Spine Society

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery
(click on Patient information, Parts of the body, spine & neck).

Health Alliance Hospital, Leominster, MA

CentMass Association of Physicians