Failed Back Syndrome

Failed Back Syndrome is a general term that describes a condition in which patients have not had a successful result with spine surgery and continue to experience significant pain after their operation.

The main goals of spine surgery are either to decompress a nerve root that is being pinched (laminectomy/microdisectomy) or stabilize a painful joint (fusion). There are many reasons that a spine surgery may or may not work. The most common reason for continued pain after surgery is because the lesion that was operated on is not truly the cause of a patient’s pain. Back pain is not always straight-forward, and there are many causes which can contribute to a patient’s pain. A multifaceted approach to back pain will give the best outcomes for managing pain and dysfunction. Ensuring that you have an accurate diagnosis linked to your pain and sticking to surgeries with a high degree of success will decrease the likelihood of developing Failed Back Syndrome.

Until recently, there have not been good options for treatment of patients who have developed failed back syndrome. Obviously, another invasive surgery isn’t the best option, and it won’t necessarily guarantee a pain free back. When other conservative measures such as physical therapy, cortisone injections and medications fail to alleviate pain, other options can be considered.

In our office, we will do a thorough evaluation to determine the cause of your pain and the most appropriate treatment. For some individuals, regenerative therapy is a great option for stopping the pain. Treatment with prolotherapy, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), and bone marrow concentrate (stem cell) injections have been helpful for treating a number of patients with continued pain.

Call to schedule an appointment to discuss your treatment options with one of our physicians to determine if stem cell treatment is appropriate for you.