The purpose of back surgery is to eliminate chronic pain. But even after “successful” back surgery, a large percentage of patients still experience back pain, even after recovery. In some cases, the pain may be exactly the same as before surgery. In other cases, the pain may be different.
When there is still pain after back surgery, this is known as “failed back surgery” or “failed back surgery syndrome” (FBSS), and it is an unfortunately common issue that affects a surprisingly large percentage of those that have surgery for chronic pain.
I Have Pain After Back Surgery: Should I Worry?
Pain is judged on a pain scale. After back surgery, some people still have very minor pain, but it is a fraction of the pain they felt before surgery. This is normal, as some spinal issues cannot be eliminated completely, only managed.
But if you still have severe pain after recovery or the pain you experience is very different from the pain you struggled with before your surgery, it may be a sign that your spine surgery failed. If it did, you may require additional treatments.
Why Do I Still Have Back Pain?
Spine surgery is very different from many other common forms of medicine. The spine may be strong, but it is also sensitive, especially after aging or injury. In addition, the difference in skill and experience between orthopedic surgeons can vary widely.
If you still have pain after back surgery, the cause may be:
- Misdiagnosis
- Surgical Error
- Poor Recovery
Many surgeons use approaches to spine surgery that are easier to perform, but also more likely to fail, and in some cases, the treatment may actually introduce new problems, such as when the surgeon uses the wrong type of hardware or screws.
What Do I Do Next?
The most important thing you can do is talk to an expert spine surgeon. We encourage those that have back pain after surgery is not only Georgia but throughout the United States, to consider contacting Spine Center Atlanta today, where Dr. James L Chappuis and his staff can examine the problem and determine the appropriate follow-up treatment.
Dr. Chappuis and his staff are considered some of the foremost experts in spine surgery, holding patents on some of the most effective hardware, and heavily involved in the research and implementation of new and more effective techniques.
We’ll do our best to see if there are any non-surgical interventions that may help, and if additional surgery is required, we’ll give you complete details into how it will work, and why you will benefit from additional treatment. For more information, please call our team today at 404-351-5812.
