How To Manage Failed Back Surgery Syndrome?

Back surgery may not cure back pain 100%. In fact, in many cases, back pain may come back after surgery. This is called "Failed Back surgery syndrome" (FBSS ). It is estimated that the incidence of FBSS is around 25-40%. In other cases, even if back pain is cured, the patient may complain of leg pain. However, the leg pain may wane after a few weeks. This purely depends on patient to patient and the severity of the spine condition.

Every surgery has some degree of risk. In case of back surgery, there may be a number of risks depending on the type of surgery. The most severe of these are the risks of blood clots in the legs and lungs, heart attack, stroke and nerve damage.

Failed back surgery indicates recurrence of patients same back pain and leg pain or occurrence of new pain in back or leg which was not there before the surgery. In most cases the reason inadequate clearance of nerve compression, damage to the spinal structure like nerves or scar tissue formation. In cases of inadequate surgery patient might require re-do spine surgery. If there is damage to the structure it need further surgical or pain management treatment. However, in may cases, one can get over the pain by doing regular stretching exercises after the surgery. Nevertheless, if scar tissue has affected the nerve roots, there is little that exercise alone can do. You need to perform specialised treatment called Racz procedure of scar adhesiolysis via a Racz catheter insertion under fluoroscopic guidance at pain clinics. If you need exercises as well to take pain relieving medicines for around a year, you must consult pain clinic for long term pain relief. In cases where pain do not respond to these therapies, you may need spinal cord stimulation implantation treatment. Also consult your doctor at pain clinic regarding means of combating the pain.

If you have Loss of bladder or bowel control its a RED FLAG sign. This means there is severe compression and this needs immediate surgery to remove the compression. The endoscopic surgery is one of the most rewarding and curative at Spine and pain clinics. Early surgery within 2 days improves the outcome. As the time is prolonged the chances of permanent damage is increased.