Welcome to Pain Management Institute

To make an appointment for any of our locations, please call
  815.412.6166

All Posts Tagged: failed back

Is failed back surgery a syndrome?

Failed back surgery syndrome often called FBSS is an inaccurate name used, basically it is not a syndrome, a very broad statement that is frequently used to explain the conditions of patients who had not reaped successful results with back surgery or spine surgery and feel continued pain after the surgery. There may be several reasons that may contribute to back surgery,  even if performed by the best surgeon with the best indication, spine surgery is not more than 95% anticipated of successful results

The spinal surgery basically addresses only two ailments;

  1. Decompress a nerve root that is pinched, or
  2. Stabilize a painful joint.

Usually a back surgery or spine surgery cannot completely eliminate the patients’ pain, however the surgery can only alter the physical structure and any damage caused to the anatomy of the spine. The most probable cause of back pain can be recognized prior to the surgery rather than following the failed back surgery

Expected Pain after failed back Surgery

Several types of failed back surgery are more expected regarding the patient’s pain symptoms than others. For instance

Discectomy for a lower disc herniation causing leg pain is expected to be successful, however, a discectomy for a lower disc herniation causing lower back pain is far less successful

A spine fusion for spinal impermanence is relatively less riskier operation, but a fusion surgery for multiple lower degenerative disc disease are riskier and less successful in reducing patient’s pain after failed back surgery

Hence the best way to avoid spinal surgery that may bring undesired consequences is to opt the surgeries that have a higher degree of success and make sure that any physical injury that can be treated must be identified prior to operation

Causes of failed back surgery and pain afterwards

Additional to the discussed above causes of the failed back surgery, there are many other potential causes of failed back surgery or persistent pain after surgery

  • Fusion surgery considerations
  • Lumbar decompression back surgery considerations
  • Scar tissue considerations
  • Postoperative

The failed back surgery syndrome is basically not a syndrome and there are no distinctive cases. Every patient is different, and a patient’s continued treatment and work up need to be individualized to his or her particular problem and situation.

In case you or any of your loved one is suffering from failed back surgery and looking for a safe and cost-effective treatment, get a professional advice from Dr. Zaki Anwar by placing an appointment at 815-464-7212. He is a world renowned Pain Medicine Physician who has been practicing regenerative injection therapies for the past several years with remarkable results.

Read More

Here Are the Ways To Prevent Failed Back Surgery Syndrome!

For say, if because of a chronic spinal condition you were advised to choose the surgical method. And you underwent the process as well. But unfortunately because of some complications the surgery couldn’t be successful and lead the patient to the failed back surgery syndrome. People who suffer from this trouble are usually the ones who do not take into account all the issues, the risks that can take place in case the surgery goes wrong.

This is for those who are going to opt for a surgical method and should take into consideration the preventive measures that will save them from any expected complications. First of all let’s explore the causes behind failed back surgery.

Common Causes!

Failed back surgery can take many different forms; sometimes it is a chronic pain, a reduction in movement or difficulty in restoring the healthier state.

  • During surgery, nerve or muscle damage
  • Initial misdiagnosis of the condition
  • Observing scars after the execution of the surgical method
  • Prosthetics from artificial disc replacement or rejection of hardware from spinal fusion

How Failed Back Surgery Can be Prevented!

These are the steps that can be taken before opting for any surgery and that will absolutely protect you from any post surgery complications including the failed back surgery syndrome:

Go for a second opinion

If a specialist has recommended you to opt for surgery then there is nothing wrong in taking opinion from some other specialist. This will help in reconfirming the diagnosis or identifying some other point that must have been missed.

Instructions From Your Physician

Before executing the surgery your physician will address to certain issues and give you instructions as to what should be done after the process in order to avail the result as planned. In case you have any questions related to the process, then don’t hesitate in asking him/her as thoroughly knowing about your surgery would be for you own betterment.

Choose an invasive Option

Why opt for a major surgery when you can choose a minimally invasive option in which only a small incision will be made. This will all in all prevent from any afterwards complications such as failed back surgery.

If you or any of your loved one is suffering from failed back surgery syndrome or any other body pain, get a professional advice from Dr. Zaki Anwar by placing an appointment at (815) 464-7212). He is an expert anesthesiologist and certified Pain Management Specialist who has been practicing pain relief techniques for the past several years with effective results.

Read More

Failed Back Surgery – It’s Causes & Ways to Avoid It!!

Failed back surgery is described to be as a syndrome in which the victims are either the ones who might have experienced a back surgery that has failed to be up to the mark or they are the ones fearful of opting for a surgery. A surgical option is in actuality not a confirm treatment that will give the patients the results they are looking for. In fact there are numerous cases in which people are unable to find relief even after opting for some surgery.

It has been reported that there are almost 5 percent back pain surgeries that earned no benefit to the patients. They continued to suffer from back pain like they used to before the surgery.

What are the Causes!

People opting for failed back surgery, must be aware of the causes that can lead to this painful situation. Because once they are aware they will make sure to follow some preventive measures for it. These causes are elaborated as:

Scar Tissue considerations

A condition in which scar tissues are formed around the nerve root such as epidural fibrosis

Fusion Surgery considerations

This is said to be as an implant failure or a situation in which the next level degenerates or becomes a pain generator

Lumbar decompression back surgery considerations

The condition of recurring spinal stenosis or a nerve root decompression. A case when the nerve to be operated has damaged and there are no chances of healing even after a decompressive surgery

Postoperative rehabilitation

Constant pain as a result of secondary pain generator

Measures to Avoid Failed Back Surgery (FBSS)

But what to do when you have already gone through a surgical method and now you are dreading that what will happen in case of no benefit from the surgery and you will become a victim of failed back surgery syndrome. In such a situation you must be well aware of the measures that might be either best at the time of recovery or increase the chances of a successful surgery.

  • Choose a surgeon who has strong medical background and has completed a spine surgery fellowship’
  • Work on your own self in making yourself healthy before the surgery such as
  • Quit smoking
  • Going for workout daily
  • Make sure that you have people to take care of you after surgery
  • Take proper food and medicine that will speed up the recovery process

If you or any of your loved one is suffering from failed back surgery or any other body pain, get a professional advice from Dr. Zaki Anwar by placing an appointment at (815) 464-7212). He is an expert anesthesiologist and certified Pain Management Specialist who has been practicing pain relief techniques for the past several years with effective results.

Read More

This Way You Can Minimize Failed Back Surgery Syndrome!

There are many people out there, who out of the frustration of constant back pain, finally decide to opt for a surgery. This option, though considered as a complete solution, brings with itself the biggest concern that whether the surgery would work or not. In case after the surgery there is no improvement in back pain, then the condition is said to be failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS).

There are ways, by which you can secure your path towards a successful back surgery. These are described as below:

Stay Confident In Your Diagnosis

For your appropriate diagnosis as well as the treatment, the surety of the surgeon who is about to perform the procedure plays a pivotal role. Moreover, the main reason behind the numerous failed back surgery cases is said to be the wrong diagnosis of the proper cause of back pain. A wrong diagnosis means that the surgeon is about to operate the wrong part of the spine which is harmful.

So, the success of your surgery fully depends upon how confident your surgeon is about performing the surgery in the accurate location.

Trusting Your Surgeon

Your spine surgeon, should be fully trustworthy, since you are about to get operated. The best way to check how much reliable your surgeon is, you must ask him/her certain questions regarding the surgery which is about to take place in result of failed back surgery syndrome.

The questions that should be asked include:

  • The number of times this surgery is performed a year
  • How much fare your other patients have given for a similar surgery
  • Are there any patients who would be willing to share their experience with the patient?
  • Who would be there for assistance in surgery?

Successful Rehabilitation

The most common complaint that is heard from the failed back surgery syndrome patients is regarding the improper rehabilitation after the surgery. You must be well aware of all the aspects that would be included in the surgeon’s rehabilitation program. This way you will be informed about how well you will be treated if you are a patient of failed back surgery syndrome.

 

If you or any of your loved one is suffering from failed back surgery syndrome, get a professional advice from Dr. Zaki Anwar by placing an appointment at (815) 464-7212). He is an expert anesthesiologist and certified Pain Management Specialist who has been practicing pain relief techniques for the past several years with effective results.

Read More