Failed Back Syndrome

Failed back syndrome refers to chronic back and/or leg pain that is experienced after spine surgery. The term implies that the patient had an appropriate surgery but is continuing to experience pain. Common symptoms include dull, persistent, and aching back pain, often at the incision site. The patient may also experience sharp, stabbing pain in the extremities. Many factors can contribute to failed back syndrome including residual or recurrent disc herniation, post operative pressure on the spinal nerve root, scar tissue pulling on a spinal nerve root, depression, anxiety, and sleepiness. Smoking may predispose an individual to the development of this chronic pain. The syndrome can be prevented by avoiding back surgery, but if this is the only option, non-smoking patients in good physical and mental health are unlikely to experience this syndrome.

Treatments for failed back syndrome include medications, steroid injections, physical therapy and exercise therapy. Alternative medicine approaches include spinal cord stimulation or pump/catheter implants to deliver pain medications directly to the spine.