Your back pain got to the point where surgery was on the table and you took the plunge, which wasn’t an easy decision — or journey. Instead of being rewarded with long-awaited relief from back pain, you’re still in a world of frustrating discomfort.
Called failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), you’re not alone in your unfortunate results — the rates of FBSS range from 10% to 40% of back surgeries.
Since back surgery is what got you here, it’s probably not a solution you want to repeat. Our team of board-certified pain management specialists at Pain Medicine Consultants has you covered.
Our goal is to help you solve your back pain riddle without undergoing risky and disruptive surgery. Here are some of the ways in which we accomplish that.
It’s perfectly reasonable for you to cringe at the idea of another spine surgery, especially if your first one was unsuccessful. As spine health experts, we can back up your inclination with some eye-opening numbers.
The reality is that there are diminishing returns when it comes to repeat back surgeries. More specifically, only about 30% of second surgeries are successful, 15% of third spine surgeries, and a lowly 5% of fourth surgeries.
So, if you don’t want to follow up an unsuccessful back surgery with another surgery, it’s likely a good decision.
Now let’s explore the ways in which we can help you find relief from back pain after an unsuccessful surgery. FBSS encompasses three primary post-surgery issues, including:
Whatever issue has arisen after your surgery, we’re here to help with solutions that won’t pile onto the problem. Some of these solutions include:
In most cases, we’ve found that a combination of treatments works best, as we tackle the back pain from every minimally invasive and noninvasive angle available.
For example, many of our patients report relief with spinal cord stimulation, a technique in which we insert electrodes into your spine that emit electrical signals that disrupt pain signaling. With that relief, we can then work on strengthening your back through physical therapy and regenerative medicine for even better results.
That’s just one example of a combination approach to failed back surgery syndrome. What works for you might be different.
A good next step is to sit down with one of our specialists for a full evaluation so we can help you move forward from your back pain. To get that set up, please contact us at one of our offices in Pleasant Hill, Corte Madera, or Pleasanton, California, to schedule an appointment today.
