Back pain causes disability, discomfort, and debilitating pain to 80 percent of the American population. While acute pain usually subsides within three months in most cases, many people have to undergo more serious medical procedures to relieve their symptoms.
Unfortunately, many people continue to experience painful symptoms after the surgery. This condition, referred to as Failed Back Surgery Syndrome, affects up to 40 percent of all patients who undergo back surgery.
The symptoms of the condition can vary between patients. The nature of the surgical procedure plays a vital role in how the symptoms manifest later. Some of the most common warning signs of failed back surgery syndrome include localized or stabbing pain, muscle spasms, dull pain radiating to adjacent areas, and greater dependence on pain medication.
After an accurate diagnosis, the doctor and patient will select one of the various comprehensive treatment plans to provide effective relief from the symptoms. Here are some treatment options available to you:
Conservative Treatments with Medication and Physical Therapy
When patients are trying to overcome the symptoms of an unsuccessful surgical procedure, doctors may start with conservative treatments to provide relief.
While research evidence doesn’t support the long-term effectiveness of medication, this approach can provide immediate relief from the pain and inflammation. Muscle relaxants, pain relievers, and anti-inflammatory medication can be used in conjunction with various other treatments.
Another approach that can help you return to your regular functioning is physical therapy. This alternative method uses rehabilitative techniques to ease the symptoms of pain and stiffness.
Surgical Treatments
When conservative measures don’t reap the results you want to see, doctors may recommend surgical treatments to alleviate the troubling symptoms. A range of minimally-invasive procedures can be used including:
Endoscopic Rhizotomy
This minimally-invasive, outpatient procedure allows the surgeon to visualize the medial branch nerve. This effective procedure relieves back pain by ablating the nerve roots and disabling the sensory nerves to reduce the pain.
Discectomy and Fusion
Sometimes, discs are damaged beyond repair making disc replacement one of the only solutions. Minimally invasive discectomy involves removing the impacted disc and replacing it with a piece of bone. This procedure can effectively address the source of the pain and provide relief.
Choose The Right Treatment For You
If you’re among the millions of Americans struggling with failed back surgery syndrome, see your doctor immediately. At Houston Neurosurgery & Spine, we provide a range of conservative, minimally-invasive, and surgical procedures to help you find relief from failed back surgery syndrome as well as other back and neck conditions.
Our experienced team of practitioners at our back and spine center in Houston will thoroughly examine your medical history, provide a comprehensive diagnosis and tailor a comprehensive treatment plan just for you.
Contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment with our spine specialist Houston today.