Whether resulting from injury, illness, or just normal wear-and-tear, lower back pain is experienced by millions of people. Many of them suffer for years before they are cleared for surgery. Even after surgery, this pain can continue or even worsen over time, leading to a greatly diminished quality of life. This is referred to as failed back surgery syndrome.
To effectively treat this pain resulting from this syndrome, you must first determine its cause. The most common causes of persistent back pain after surgery are listed as follows.
- Surgery was performed for the wrong reason or did not fully address all levels of pathology. Reviewing imaging and medical records can determine if this is the problem.
- The correct diagnosis was made and the proper surgery performed, but problems are still recurring. In cases involving disc herniation, the problem may continue and require additional surgeries.
- Spinal fusion can cause a number of issues requiring further treatment. Some patients are allergic to the metals used, while others have bones that fail to heal properly. Instruments can be incorrectly positioned or may loosen or migrate over time. Fusing bones increases stress on the spinal segment, which can cause bone spurs. Spinal stenosis or broken screws may result in a disorder known as adjacent segment disease, one of the most common reasons for repeat spine surgeries. Sacroiliac joint pain may also occur as a result of spinal fusion, affecting up to forty percent of patients.
- Failure to determine the exact amount of lumbar curvature necessary to correct natural imbalances. Alignment problems include scoliosis, kyphosis, and spinopelvic imbalance.
- Spondylolisthesis caused by failure to identify patients at risk for spinal instability.
- Certain areas suffering from compression are difficult to reach and fix using traditional approaches. Many surgeons are not trained in proper decompression techniques.
- Various combinations of the problems listed above can occur, as well. This is extremely challenging to treat and requires expert surgeons to properly diagnose these factors and create appropriate treatment strategies.
Have you already undergone back surgery but still suffer from persistent, severe back pain? The Metropolitan Institute of Pain is comprised of a team of specialists who will work with you to determine the cause of your lower back pain and develop a comprehensive treatment plan. If you’re tired of suffering and ready to get back on your feet, contact Metropolitan Institute of Pain today.
