Treatments for Failed Neck/Back Surgery Syndrome

30-Second Blog “Snapshot:”

  • Failed back or neck surgery syndrome (FBSS / FNSS) describes pain that is felt after a corrective procedure.
  • It’s important patients keep in mind any surgical procedure can fail or provide inadequate relief for known or unknown reasons.
  • The pain management physicians at Southwest Spine and Pain Center may recommend a combination of interventional and conservative treatments for FBSS and FNSS.

Surgery to the neck or back may be performed to stabilize, remove or repair a damaged joint that’s causing pain. Although these procedures are designed to correct the area causing pain, and most do, it’s important patients keep in mind there are instances where a patient’s pain may not be eliminated completely.

Causes

This doesn’t apply to everyone, but FBSS and FNSS could be caused by recurrent damage to the vertebrae or tissue in the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine, inadequate healing of bone or tissue surrounding the affected area, or scar tissue formation. There are other factors that could lead to continued pain after surgery, like a complication during or shortly after surgery caused by the surgeon him or herself, but these are rare and are not usually the main causes.

Treatment

A combination of interventional and conservative therapies may alleviate chronic neck or back pain from a failed surgery. These include:

  • Prescription pain medication
  • Injections
  • PRP injection therapy
  • Radiofrequency ablation
  • Nerve blocks
  • An implanted device (spinal cord stimulation)

To learn more about how FBSS and FNSS is diagnosed and what can be done to treat them, please visit the treatments page of our website. The pain management physicians at Southwest Spine and Pain Center encourage you to schedule an appointment to discuss what pain relieving treatments may benefit you and your pain!

If chronic pain is impacting your life, don't wait to schedule an appointment at Southwest Spine and Pain Center. With five locations in Utah and growing, the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center are dedicated to helping those who suffer from chronic pain live the life they want to! To schedule an appointment, visit our locations tab!

The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material