CARE & TREATMENT IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY
Have you recently undergone spinal surgery, but haven’t experienced any improvement in your symptoms? You may have a condition called failed back surgery syndrome.
As a trusted spine surgeon in New York, New York Spine Specialist can determine whether you have this condition and help you manage it. Our doctors can use a variety of approaches to help you live your life more fully.
Failed back surgery syndrome means you have chronic pain in your lower back that doesn’t have a distinct cause and that persists after spinal surgery or returns after a spinal procedure. It does not usually mean the doctor performed the surgery incorrectly. According to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, up to 40% of people who undergo spinal surgery develop FBSS.
The University of Adelaide estimates that around 50% of traditional spinal surgeries yield successful results after the first procedure. The success rates decrease for subsequent procedures in the following way:
Success rates may increase with additional supportive treatments like physical therapy, neurotomy, and medication.
The causes of failed back surgery syndrome include:
You may have FBSS if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms near the location you had your procedure:
To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor will use diagnostic imaging tests such as an MRI so they know exactly how to approach your treatment plan.
What is the treatment for failed back surgery syndrome? Your doctor will incorporate a variety of approaches to help you manage or treat the condition.
Pain management for failed back surgery syndrome will likely become the first line of defense in treating your condition. With excessive pain levels, you’ll have a hard time with physical therapy and daily activities that can strengthen your muscles.
Various forms of medications and techniques can help manage your pain. Your doctor will start you on over-the-counter pain medications that carry the smallest risk of complications.
If those don’t work, they may provide steroid injections or a procedure called a neurotomy. This burns away the tips of your nerves near the problematic area so your brain doesn’t receive the pain signals. However, this usually provides only a temporary solution.
Physical therapy can provide significant relief for FBSS. It increases blood flow, which can reduce inflammation, and it can reduce pressure with stretching and exercising. It can also help you maintain proper posture so you can avoid further flare-ups or injuries.
If pain management and physical therapy don’t successfully manage your FBSS symptoms, your doctor may suggest further surgical intervention.
Are you seeking treatment for failed back surgery syndrome? Reach out to New York Spine Specialist. We offer slipped disc surgery and can treat everything from herniated discs to FBSS.
Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available. To book an appointment, call 516-355-0111.
What are the answers to this topic’s more frequent questions?
Failed back surgery syndrome sometimes qualifies you for a disability, but not in every situation.
There is no age limit for spinal surgery, although younger patients have a higher chance of a positive outcome.
The 10-year survival rate was 87.8% in patients between 60 and 70 years of age and 83.8% in patients up to age 85 according to Yonsei University College of Medicine.
