Pain after Spine Surgery

Back and neck surgery has brought relief to million, yet spine surgery is not always a “magic bullet”. In fact, a significant percentage of patients who undergo spinal surgery don’t report even a notable decrease in their pain level, much less complete relief.

Even worse, spine surgery itself can result in scar tissue and inflammation that leads to pain.

If you’ve suffered from pain that persists long after a back or neck surgery, you know the frustration that comes when it feels that no relief is in sight, and your activity level and quality of life will be permanently reduced.

However, there are options to help you feel better and get back to the life you love, even if your spine surgery failed to deliver results.

That’s why we’ve put together the information you need to understand that you’re not alone, why you’re still living with pain, and the treatment option that can finally help you find relief.

Why Spinal Surgeries Fail to Deliver Pain Relief

There are a number of reasons why you might still be dealing with chronic and even severe pain after a spinal surgery.

First, it’s possible that your initial indications for surgery weren’t accurate. For example, sciatica can be mistaken for disc herniation, without full and focused examination, history, and imaging. If the surgery performed was not geared to address the source of your pain, it’s easy to see why you would still be suffering.

On the other hand, if you experienced pain relief initially yet the pain came back, you could be living with a different problem completely. These cases of pain are often due to scar tissue from the procedure itself.

Finally, since pain often leads to depression which can obscure any beneficial results from a surgery, your psychology must also be taken into account.

Treatment Options for Pain after Spine Surgery

The good news is that a failed back or neck surgery does not mean that you have to live in pain, unable to enjoy the activities you used to love, like golfing, tennis, or gardening.

It also does not mean that you have to put yourself through a second spine surgery, hoping to find the relief that the first surgery failed to provide.

At Cahaba Pain and Spine Care, our Board Certified Pain Physicians specialize in the implantation of Spinal Cord Stimulators to provide pain relief after failed spine surgery.

To learn more about how a Spinal Cord Stimulator can help you move forward from pain after surgery, visit our Spinal Cord Stimulator resource center.

Schedule an Appointment Today

If you or someone you know is living with pain following spine surgery, call Cahaba Pain and Spine Care and schedule an appointment today.