What options do you have when back surgery fails?

I read a very interesting study recently and learned something new. Ever hear of FBSS? No? Me neither. It stands for failed back surgery syndrome. According to a paper in the Journal of Pain Research, up to 74.6% of low-back surgeries fail to completely relieve the pain. It is hard to believe that there is a medical name for this condition, failed back surgery syndrome, or FBSS for short. This condition refers to persistent pain following back surgery and the pain can be in your back, one of your legs, or both legs.

While failed back surgery syndrome can result from any type of back surgery, the most common procedures include laminectomy and discectomy. Laminectomy is a procedure in which removes a portion of the vertebral bone called the lamina, which is the roof of the spinal canal. This procedure is done to make room for nerves to pass through freely without compression and used to manage symptoms of spinal stenosis.

Discectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the vertebral disc that is herniated. The process of removing pieces of the disc is to take abnormal pressure off the spinal nerve. This is because parts of the injured disc are placing unwanted pressure on spinal nerve roots, causing localized pain or radicular pain.

So, what can be done for people who have failed back surgery? For many, the picture doesn’t look good, because there is no real cure for FBSS. Your doctor may suggest pain management or even having a second surgery, but of course, this depends on various factors. If the second surgery doesn’t help your symptoms, it might be recommended that you undergo yet another invasive and costly procedure. According to a 2016 review of back surgeries, between 13% and 35% of people who get back surgeries end up undergoing a second surgery.

So, if this is you or someone you know, what can be done other than taking pain medication or another surgery? For many individuals, physical therapy, yoga and chiropractic care has been beneficial in managing pain and reducing the need or amount of medication to help them function with normal daily activities.

The good news is that there have been advancements in technology and research which has led to the development of therapies like spinal decompression that has provided an answer for many with disc and nerve damage. Non-surgical spinal decompression has been helping people with all types of spinal pain since the mid-1990s. In our office, we have seen success utilizing spinal decompression for various conditions, but it takes time and commitment. It is not a one and done treatment, and the treatment includes the use of ice, home exercises and nutrition therapy to help rebuild and strengthen the damaged area. It is also not a one-size-fits-all and we develop a plan based on your specific needs. For more information or to schedule a consultation, visit www.naturalspinesolutions.com or call 208-966-4425.

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Dr. Wayne M. Fichter Jr. is a chiropractor at Natural Spine Solutions. The business is located at 3913 Schreiber Way in Coeur d’Alene and the phone number is 208-966-4425.