Orthopedic surgery isn't for the faint of heart. Those who've undergone this surgery suggest that you do plenty of research before you make your decision, and that you exhaust all other potential solutions before turning to surgery. Always get a second opinion, too.

Before you have orthopedic surgery, be sure to ask plenty of questions. You'll need to know exactly what the surgery does and how it's done, the potential side effects, how much time you'll be laid up, and any pain medications required to treat it.

Orthopedic surgery is no joke, so don't hesitate to keep investigating surgeons until your find one who will take you seriously. Too often, doctors are unsympathetic to patients, even going so far as to call them hypochondriacs or claiming that the pain's only in their head. If you end up with such a doctor, remember that there are other fish in the medical sea.