Before You Say Yes to Surgery, Read This

Agreeing to a procedure to fix a non-emergent but disruptive problem can be a tough call. Here's how to make a good choice for you.

- By Meryl Davids Landau

Five years ago, Molly Grimm felt F a sharp, stabbing pain in the bottom of her right foot, the first sign of what would ultimately be diagnosed as plantar fasciitis. The 39-year-old marketing manager in Abington, PA, began wearing custom orthotics and getting cortisone shots from her podiatrist to ease the pain (caused by inflammation of the tissue under the foot). Sometimes it was so bad when she awoke or stood up that she had to walk on her toes.

Eventually things got to the point where Molly couldn't take her 1-year-old son for walks. Her podiatrist recommended surgery, which would have her off her feet for up to 10 weeks. It wasn't a choice she was ready to make.

If you have been in a major accident or are diagnosed with a serious disease, you're probably not going to question being told that you need an operation. But what about when you're dealing with things like chronic knee pain, longstanding gynecological problems, or foot issues? Elective surgeries include not just cosmetic procedures, but all non-emergency operations, and millions are done in the U.S. every year.

The correct surgery can improve your life, but it's important to view every operation as a potentially life-changing and risk-carrying event, says Philip Stahel, M.D., chief medical officer of Mission Health in Asheville, NC.

Becoming reasonably sure that the likely benefits outweigh the risks involves asking lots of questions, says Marty Makary, M.D., a professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore and author of The Price We Pay: What Broke American Health Care and How to Fix It. Unless it's very clear that you need an operation ASAP, there are numerous factors to consider, Dr. Makary says.