The Dr. showed me a life sized plastic spine with the actual aperatus installed. I asked if the bolts would 'pinch' the skin and whatnot. He assured me nobody ever feels them.....He lied....
I trust surgeons, usually, because they have to actually work. Other types of doctors are glorified educated guessers & lie all the time. Bitch smack him/her & use pliers, on their back, to show where the pain is.
...Yours is a saw....