Failed Back Surgery Specialist

Glaser Pain Relief Center

Interventional Pain Management Specialists located in San Fernando Valley, Encino, CA

Back surgery changes your anatomy and doesn’t necessarily target pain. One of the adverse effects of back surgery is called failed back surgery syndrome. If you’re experiencing painful symptoms following back surgery, visit Jeffrey Glaser, MD, and John Zheng, DO, at Glaser Pain Relief Center in Encino, California. The team can help mitigate symptoms of this condition with a variety of proven treatment options. If you’re in the San Fernando Valley or Greater Los Angeles area, call or book online today to schedule an appointment and find relief.

Failed Back Surgery Q & A

What is failed back surgery syndrome?

Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) describes a condition that arises from complications following back surgery or spine surgery. It refers to chronic back or leg pain that occurs or remains after your surgery. If you experience recurring pain following surgery, you may have FBSS.

There are many reasons for a back surgery being ineffective, even with top surgeons. Most cases of failed back surgery are the result of unidentified issues or the surgery not targeting what initially caused your pain. However, the spine is a very complex structure, and sometimes even structural repairs don’t treat the underline pain issues.

What causes failed back surgery syndrome?

Multiple factors can contribute to the onset or development of FBSS. Some contributing factors include, but are not limited to:

  • Herniated discs
  • Pressure on a spinal nerve
  • Altered joint mobility
  • Joint hypermobility with instability
  • Scar tissue (fibrosis)
  • Spinal muscular deconditioning

Suffering from chronic back or neck pain can also lead to other debilitating health issues like depression, anxiety, and sleep deprivation. 

You may be predisposed to the development of FBSS due to systemic disorders such as diabetes, autoimmune disease, and peripheral blood vessel (vascular) disease. Smoking tobacco also puts you at risk and can increase your chances of having a poor recovery time after surgery.

How do you treat failed back surgery syndrome?

If you experience chronic neck, back, or leg pain for weeks on end after surgery, you should schedule an appointment with the team at Glaser Pain Relief Center. Your physician discusses your complications after back surgery in detail, reviews your symptoms, and goes over the best treatment options to relieve your pain. 

Glaser Pain Relief Center offers a wide range of treatment options to resolve issues from failed back surgery, including: 

  • Physical therapy
  • Nerve blocks
  • Epidural steroid injections
  • Facet injections
  • Radiofrequency (RF) ablations
  • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
  • Behavioral medicine
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications
  • Membrane stabilizers
  • Antidepressants
  • Spinal cord stimulation therapy
  • Intrathecal morphine pump
  • Alternative therapies

If you’re suffering from complications stemming from a failed back surgery, you don't have to deal with your symptoms any longer. Call or use the online booking tool to schedule a visit with the team at Glaser Pain Relief Center right away for an initial consultation to learn about your treatment options.