Failed back syndrome, or FBS as it is also known, is a term used to describe chronic back and/or leg pain that is experienced after a corrective surgery is performed. There can be multiple reasons for this recurrence in pain.
Listed below are the four main reasons for failed back surgery.
Incomplete or poorly performed surgery
There may not have been enough decompression done to allow the tissues, nerves, or spinal cord enough space to allow for a proper release of entrapped nerves. Not enough tissue or herniated disc material was removed. During the procedure healthy nerves may have been irritated. Lastly scar tissue may have formed and created new compressed or entrapped nerves.
Incorrect initial diagnosis
It is also possible that the diagnosis was not correct and the surgery that was done was not needed and would never have corrected the actual problem.
Incomplete / Inadequate Rehabilitation
It may be due to an incomplete or inadequate rehabilitation regime or physical therapy program. Once you have been operated on it is often not the end of your ordeal. There can be a very lengthy rehabilitation process that must be completed properly to obtain the best possible results.
Failed Surgery
Or it may just be that the surgery was done correctly and it has failed to reduce or eliminate your pain. Unfortunately success rates for back surgery tend to be anywhere from 60%-95% and there is always the chance that your surgery will be the one that fails.
The only way to 100% avoid failed back syndrome is to not have had the surgery in the first place, for many this is not an option. You can limit the chances that your surgery may fail by not smoking, being in good health, following up on all treatments after surgery, and choosing the least invasive surgery possible to correct your chronic pain.
After your initial Surgery
So you have had the surgery and it failed, where do you go from here?
It is very important for you and your doctors to go over the original diagnosis and confirm your condition as well as look to see if the surgery has created any new problems that must be dealt with.
Some of the treatments you may use will be very similar to others that you may have tried previously, activities such as physical therapy, exercise, epidural steroid injections, hydrotherapy, ultrasound, and spinal manipulations to just name a few.
It is also possible that you may need additional surgery to correct issues that may have come up from the last surgery.
If you are not confidant in your last surgeon and their diagnosis of your condition; now would be the best time to start looking for a doctor who you feel has more experience and can better deal with your problems. Now is not the time to give up but move forward with new treatments and new ideals, as no one should have to be subjected to a life of back pain.
