The Optimized Patient offers insights from a team of six spine patients, two physical therapists, a chiropractor and a nutritionist all dedicated to helping you prepare to be an Optimized Patient. In the time it takes to read this book, you will have gained the insights from all those patients, surgeons, and experts as if you were in a small group setting where you could ask all the questions you wanted. What you end up with is the ability to make a well-informed decision about whether or not spine surgery is right for you. And, should you make that decision, you will have the best information possible to achieve what every spine patient wants: to be you again. No matter how perfect the surgery, your surgeon needs your commitment and help to achieve your goal of a pain-free life.