What Can Be Done When Spine Surgery Fails to Relieve Pain?

Have you experienced chronic back pain? When it goes on long enough with no relief, surgery is often recommended. So you undergo risky back surgery, hoping for the best, only to experience little to no relief of your back pain. You still have pain, either the same or even worse than it was before, and you feel frustrated and perhaps defeated. 

But don’t give up. There are still treatment options that could provide you with relief of your back pain. Here are some options for pain relief after failed back surgery.

One of the most common types of pain relief is injections. The medication injected is sometimes a steroid and sometimes another type of pain reliever. Injections are effective because the medicine is applied directly into the area where the pain originates from, providing instant relief. The pain relief from injections can last a few months.

A nerve block is another type of injection that serves to block the nerve that is causing the pain. If the specific nerve that is affected can be located, a nerve block can be applied that will essentially “block” the nerve from transmitting pain messages to the brain. A nerve block can be temporary or permanent. A temporary nerve block will last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. A permanent nerve block destroys the nerve that is causing the pain for long lasting relief.

When it comes to pain of any kind, temporary or chronic, physical therapy is often recommended. Physical therapy can relieve pain by strengthening the muscles and bones and helping the patient learn how to move properly without doing more damage to the affected area. In many cases physical therapy can treat the pain at the source and eliminate it permanently.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PSP) is used to treat many different health issues, and it has been found to be an effective pain relief treatment. The procedure involves drawing blood from the patient and putting it in a centrifuge that will separate the platelets from the blood. Then a portion of the blood with a higher concentration of platelets is injected in the area where the pain resonates. Platelets are the blood cells that promote healing, and applying them directly to the affected area accelerates healing and pain relief.

For some patients, chronic pain can be managed with the right medication or combination of medications. The key to pain relief medication is proper management to avoid addiction. Some medications are more habit forming than others, such as opioids. But the right combination of pain relieving medications can be effective with a lower risk of drug abuse. Working closely with your doctor can help you properly and effectively manage your pain medication.

Another pain treatment option is implantable devices. This involves surgical placement of a device that emits an electric pulse that can interfere with the nerve signals to prevent pain. These devices can provide long term relief of pain.

If you’ve had spine surgery that failed to relieve your pain, you’re not alone. Many patients have experienced this same disappointment. But the American Pain Institute can help. We specialize in pain management for patients with a wide range of types and sources of pain. We can create a customized treatment plan just for you that will target and treat your pain. 

Call 603-766-8500 today to schedule a consultation or request an appointment. We look forward to providing you with effective relief of your back pain.