Is Surgery my Only Option?
Being told surgery might be the next step can feel a little daunting — and it often raises more questions than answers. When pain has been hanging around for months (or years), surgery can sound like the fastest way back to normal.
Here’s what we tell our clients at Swell: surgery is sometimes the right option — but it’s rarely the first conversation we want to have.
As physios, we regularly work with people both before and after surgery, and we also see people who avoid surgery altogether with the right rehab approach.
So if you’ve been told surgery might be on the cards, here are three questions we would advise asking the surgeon before booking the operating theatre.
1. Are there alternative options available?
This is always the starting point.
Many conditions that end up in a surgical consult — things like rotator cuff tears, meniscus tears, disc bulges or chronic joint pain — often respond well to structured rehabilitation.
Depending on the diagnosis, alternatives may include:
Targeted physiotherapy
Pilates-based rehab
Load management and activity modification (movement retraining)
Injections and other medications (when appropriate)
Surgery is often recommended for the above conditions, but it is important to know that research consistently shows exercise outperforming or matching surgery for long term pain relief and functional improvement.
That doesn’t mean surgery is never needed — but it does mean it’s worth knowing whether you’ve exhausted the conservative options first.
2. How urgent is this surgery? Can it wait?
Some surgeries are time-sensitive — but many aren’t. Ask your surgeon if this surgery, or a decision about surgery, can wait 3, 6 or even 12 months.
A lot of orthopaedic procedures fall into the category of “elective surgery”, which means there’s often time to:
Trial a rehab program
Build strength before surgery
See if symptoms improve with time
Taking this time to try an alternative approach can also be called “prehabilitation”. This can make a huge difference. If surgery does end up being the best option, going in stronger and better prepared often leads to smoother recovery and better outcomes.
So a very reasonable question is simply:
“If I spend 8–12 weeks focusing on rehab first, will that change anything?”
Sometimes the answer is yes — and sometimes that period of rehab helps confirm that surgery truly is the right next step.
3. What outcome should I realistically expect?
This is a big one.
When someone hears “surgery,” they might imagine returning to 100% pain-free movement. But in reality, surgery often aims to improve function and reduce symptoms, not necessarily eliminate them entirely.
Good questions to get a well-rounded understanding of your surgeon’s expected outcomes include:
How much pain reduction is expected?
What activities/functionalities should improve?
What limitations might remain?
How long is recovery likely to take?
Being confident that the surgeon’s expectations match your own is crucial. You need to know if there are likely to be any long-term implications, even if the surgery is successful. A surgery can’t be undone.
So, if your goal is getting back to surfing at Cronulla, playing weekend sport, or simply being able to walk pain-free — it’s important to know whether the procedure realistically supports that outcome.
Understanding the surgeon’s goals for the surgery and having clear expectations on both sides makes the rehab journey far less frustrating, and usually smoother.
The Bottom Line
Surgery can be life-changing when it’s the right choice. But it’s rarely the only option.
A good plan often looks like this:
Understand the diagnosis
Trial the right conservative treatment
Ask the right questions
Make an informed decision
And remember — whether you’re preparing for surgery, trying to avoid it, or recovering afterwards — rehabilitation is almost always part of the solution.
If you’ve been told surgery might be the next step and you’d like a second opinion or help exploring your rehab options, our physio team is always happy to help guide the process.
Ultimately, any decision relating to your body is your choice - so make sure you have the right information to hand.