How to cure repeated back pain reoccurring after surgery

The spine is a major structure of the body, connecting the skull all the way down to the pelvis. It protects the spinal nerve and relies on back muscles to govern the body’s movements.

Spine-related diseases can occur to people of all ages and genders, especially the elderly. There are many treatment options, the ultimate of which is surgery. In the past, patients tended to be scared of surgery. This was because it was a big issue and carried severe risks, including treatment failure and paralysis. However, with the continuously developing medical technology and increasingly experienced doctors, spinal surgery is not as frightening as it used to be. In fact, it is significantly safer. 

Options for surgery vary, depending on the type of disease or injury and the skill of the doctors. These options include conventional surgery and minimally invasive surgery, the latter of which aims to minimize the effects on the body’s tissues.

Common problems following any surgical approach include failed back surgery syndrome, which can be caused by the surgery itself, post-surgical care, or the patient’s lifestyle. This includes a lack of exercise, overexercise, or heavy work too soon after the surgery. 

Although, results of also depends on the type of surgery. In some cases, the back pain lingers long after the surgery. Some patients may even experience adjacent segment pathology which is pain in the adjacent bone. For example, following successful surgery of the 3rd and 4th vertebrae, the pain may returns. As a result, the patient could think that the surgery was unsuccessful even though the pain may have been from a bone adjacent to the ones which have been successfully treated. 

Whether the degeneration happens fast or slow varies from person to person. In some cases, the reason why the doctor did not treat the adjacent vertebrae in the previous surgery is that it was still in good condition at that time. A case such as this may lead to chronic pain in the future, causing patients to suffer physically and mentally.

Repeated visits to the doctors may not help. Consequently, many patients try to find other ways to reduce the pain. As a result, improper treatment may yield further unsatisfactory results. Finally, some patients will require repeated surgeries in the same spot. Thus, causing great concern for the patients and their families.

The surgical difficulty depends on the results of the patient’s evaluation. Therefore, doctors have to locate the root cause of the continued pain. As part of this process, an in-depth study of the first surgery is conducted to determine if there has been any damage to the nervous system. 

If the cause is related to muscles and tendons, then surgery is likely to bring about a good result. Many cases of failed back surgery syndrome tend to fall into this category. On the other hand, if the cause is related to the nervous system, then the doctors will see if the damage is partial or permanent. If the damage is partial, it is possible to treat and improve the nervous system.

To start with, the team of doctors talks to each patient to gather as much information as possible in order to establish the right diagnosis and formulate an effective treatment plan. Hence, keep your treatment history updated with full details as this can be very beneficial and will help the doctor provide treatment more quickly.

The age of a patient is not an obstruction to the treatment of spine-related conditions. Instead, it all depends on the strength of the patient. The individual course of treatment to be followed is determined in accordance with the disease or injury and the condition of the patient’s body. In some cases, patients do not need surgery because physical therapy is sufficient for them to live a normal life. However, this option depends on the condition of the body and the mental state of the patient.

Samitivej, We Care

For further information, please contact:
Revision Spine Center
Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, 1st floor
Tel: 66 (0) 2378-9000
Call Center: 66 (0) 2378-9000
E-mail: info.srinakarin@samitivej.co.th
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