Post Laminectomy Syndrome
A Common Cause of Chronic Back Pain
When conservative treatments have failed, back surgery may seem like the only solution for relieving chronic pain. For many people, however, back surgery either fails to relieve the pain or makes the pain worse. This unfortunate outcome is known as post laminectomy syndrome or failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS).
FBSS affects an estimated 15-20% of back surgery patients. This condition is common following the surgical removal of bony overgrowth on the spine (laminectomy) and spinal fusion (the surgical joining of two or more vertebrae). According to Harvard Medical School, spinal fusion is a risky and usually unnecessary procedure that – at best – reduces pain by about 50%.
Center for Pain Management has found that most back pain patients can improve significantly with conservative treatment. If your back surgery was unsuccessful at relieving your pain, please request a consultation by filling out the form below or calling us at (317) 706-7246.
FBSS Causes
Pain that persists or becomes worse after back surgery may have several underlying causes, including:
- Degenerative conditions, such as arthritis and degenerative disc disease
- Excessive production of scar tissue near the nerve root (epidural fibrosis)
- Inflammation of the membrane surrounding spinal nerves (arachnoiditis)
- Structural changes in the spinal column
- Spasms in muscles that control spinal column movement
At Center for Pain Management, we have extensive experience diagnosing the cause of post laminectomy pain, along with proven methods of pain relief.
Post Laminectomy Syndrome Treatment
Our minimally invasive solutions for back pain relief may include a combination of treatments, such as physical therapy, medication management, and spinal cord stimulation implants, which replace pain signals with a slight tingling sensation. Our goal is to help our patients become stronger and improve their quality of life.