Post-Laminectomy Syndrome (Post-Surgical Pain or Failed Back Syndrome)
Recurring pain in the back or legs is a fairly common occurrence for patients who have had spinal surgery. This condition is known as Post-Laminectomy Syndrome (Failed Back Syndrome). The term “Failed Back” is a misnomer, as it is used to describe a surgery that did not have the desired results from the back or spine surgery, and pain persists.
Symptoms can include dull and aching pain in the back and/or legs as well as stabbing pain in the feet. The pain can be persistent, severe, and debilitating.
- Recurring Disc herniation (bulging)
- Retained disc fragments
- Incomplete decompression of disc
- Persistent pressure on nerves
- Joint instability or changed joint mobility
- Scar tissue
- Sleep deprivation
- Weakness in muscles that support the spine
- Depression and/or anxiety
A variety of state-of-the-art techniques, along with an interdisciplinary approach, have proven effective in diagnosing, managing, or eliminating post-operative pain.First we conduct a comprehensive examination. Then we may recommend diagnostic studies to help us pinpoint the source of the pain. These can include MRIs, X-rays, nerve conduction studies, and diagnostic spinal injections that are done under fluoroscopy.
• Stabilization education
• Medications
• Anti-depressants
• Assessment of opioid protocol
• Anti-epileptic drugs
• Injection therapy
• Nerve root blocks
• Epidural injections
• Non-surgical pain management procedures
• Pulsed radiofrequency deactivation of dorsal root ganglion
• Spinal cord stimulation (Dorsal column stimulator)
• Racz procedure (Epidural neurolysis)
