What is failed back surgery syndrome?
Failed back surgery syndrome can affect up to 40% of people with continued back pain after undergoing back surgery. If you have the condition, you might experience:
- Upper back pain
- Lower back pain
- Leg pain
- Dull, aching pain
- Shooting or stabbing pain
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Weakness
Your pain might come and go or get worse over time. Failed back surgery syndrome is similar to spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal) and may produce similar symptoms.
What causes failed back surgery syndrome?
The cause of failed back surgery syndrome isn’t entirely clear. It might occur because solid spinal fusion fails to form post-surgery or because of improper healing, a new back injury, or continued tissue degeneration over time.
How does my provider diagnose failed back surgery syndrome?
To determine the root cause of back pain and develop a treatment plan, your pain specialist reviews your medical and surgical history, asks about your symptoms, and completes a physical examination. They might recommend you undergo blood tests, X-rays, ultrasound, CT scans, or MRIs.
What are common back pain treatment options?
If pain due to failed back surgery syndrome negatively affects your everyday life and you desire relief, your provider might recommend one of the following pain-relieving solutions:
Spinal cord stimulation
With spinal cord stimulation, your pain specialist inserts a pacemaker-like device between your spinal cord and vertebrae. It sends electrical impulses directly to the spinal cord for pain relief.
Peripheral nerve stimulation
Peripheral nerve stimulators are like spinal cord stimulators, but they send mild electrical currents directly to nerves outside of your spinal cord. Your pain specialist implants a tiny device next to peripheral nerves, which are nerves that run from your spinal cord to organs and limbs.
Epidural steroid injections
Epidural steroid injections contain an anesthetic and steroid that alleviate pain and inflammation. Your specialist can inject medicine into the epidural space surrounding your spinal cord.
Caudal steroid injections
Your pain specialist may inject pain-relieving medicine into the epidural space around the lowest part of your spinal cord during caudal steroid injections.
Your provider personalizes each treatment to give you the best outcome. They might recommend more than one injection spaced apart over time and refer you to physical therapy services as needed.
Don’t live with the pain associated with failed back surgery syndrome when simple, effective pain-relieving solutions are within reach. Call Interventional Pain Consultants to schedule an appointment or book one online today.
