Surgical Treatment
When Pain Persists After Surgery
Sometimes pain remains or new pain develops after surgery. This is called failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), and it is more common than you might think.
Why Pain May Persist
| Cause | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Problems at other levels | Stenosis at levels not addressed by surgery |
| Incomplete decompression | Not all pressure was fully relieved |
| Scar tissue | Post-surgical scarring may compress nerves |
| Adjacent segment disease | Levels above or below a fusion deteriorate |
| Chronic pain sensitization | The nervous system has become hypersensitive to pain |
Your Options If Pain Continues
- Continue conservative treatment — Medications, rehabilitation, nerve block injections
- Reoperation — May be effective depending on the cause
- Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) — One option for chronic pain
SCS is one treatment option that may be considered for pain that persists after surgery. Results vary between individuals.
Learn about spinal cord stimulation (SCS)