Pain After Spine Surgery
Even though many neck and back surgeries are successful, some ultimately fail. Of the various causes of failed back surgery syndrome, some can’t be prevented. For instance, it is impossible to predict the unique way in which a patient will respond to surgical treatment. On the other hand, certain other causes can be avoided, such as a patient’s failure to closely follow a surgeon’s recovery guidelines.
Choosing the Right Surgeon to Avoid Failed Back Surgery Syndrome
One of the most important things you can do prior to having neck or back surgery is to choose a highly experienced orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon. They will be responsible for:
- Correctly diagnosing your condition
- Recommending an appropriate procedure for the correct part of your spine
- Removing the problematic bone or tissue
- Properly securing any hardware, if applicable to your operation
- Limiting the impact of the procedure on the muscles and soft tissues in your neck or back
If any of these tasks are performed incorrectly or incompletely, it can increase the likelihood of FBSS. To help lower this risk, you’ll want to work with an orthopedic surgeon who has several years (or even better — several decades) of experience and has a current board certification. You’ll also want to ask how many times he or she has performed the specific type of operation that you’re considering, what the outcomes were, and which surgical techniques were used. This last factor is especially important because certain approaches have inherently lower rates of failed back surgery syndrome.
Failed Back Surgery Syndrome Treatment with BEST Health System
When compared to traditional neck and back surgeries, minimally invasive surgeries generally have a lower rate of failure. One reason is that minimally invasive procedures involve smaller incisions and less scarring. Excess scar tissue, which can potentially compress spinal nerves, is another common reason that some people experience continued discomfort after neck or back surgery.
BEST Health System offers spinal cord stimulation trials to patients suffering from chronic pain as a result of failed back surgery. If you have been diagnosed with FBSS, you deserve to find relief. Connect with us today to schedule your appointment.
