Before and after spine surgery the surgeon and medical staff prepare you for recovery. The recovery process can take a long time and be extremely challenging. Pain after spine surgery is normal, but how to tell if itβs beyond the typical pain during recovery?
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Chiropractor Dr. Alex Jimenez has dealt with this issue throughout his career and discusses symptoms associated with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS, also known as failed back surgery (FBS) or post-laminectomy syndrome).
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Chronic back pain is the most common symptom of failed back surgery.
With FBSS, chronic pain in one patient can be very different from pain in another.
People with FBSS can experience a range of different types of pain based on:
Types of back and neck pain people with failed back surgery may experience. Some may have one or more types.
Localized pain can be dull or sharp.
This is the type of pain patients may experience immediately after surgery
Example: The pain felt around where the incision was made.
When most people think of pain, nociceptive pain is the type.
Nerve-related pain is caused by damage to the nerves or spinal cord.
Neuropathic pain shoots and moves around, thus affecting large areas of the body.
Examples of this type of pain include:
A branch of nerve pain (neuropathy) is called radiculopathy, or radicular pain.
Radicular pain radiates from one area to another.
Examples include the:
And then starts all over again, or goes in a different order.
When the symptoms that put the patient in the surgery room return, then there is a definite possibility of failed back surgery. New pain presents: meaning pain in a different part of the spine or a different type merits a discussion with your doctor.
It does take time to recover and that process can affect:
However, if mobility or limitation is different from what was talked about with the surgeon or develops after recovery, then it should be discussed with your doctor.
Example: A limited range of motion in the neck or low back.
If headaches were not an original part of your medical history, this may point to a nerve problem.
Neuropathic pain/ neuropathy or nerve-related pain is the most complex, debilitating, and difficult to treat.
People who experience this type of pain find it lowers their quality of life.
An online survey of 1,000-2000 patients that underwent low back surgery responded and revealed the following:
A separate study noted that nerve-related pain suffered by people with FBSS is more life-altering than pain caused by joint and nerve disorders.
Patients with FBSS and neuropathic pain go through higher levels of pain and have less quality of life/physical function compared with people with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia.
After surgery, it can be difficult to tell whether the pain is within the bounds of normal recovery pain.
At follow-up appointments ask questions about the progress of your recovery and about any concerns.
Pain after surgery is normal, but there are some signs and symptoms that merit emergency attention.
If you experience any of the red flag symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
This can be a sign of a spinal nerve disorder called cauda equina syndrome.
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Denise was involved in an auto accident which resulted in low back pain. When she realized she couldnβt sit, walk or sleep for extended periods of time without experiencing painful symptoms, Denise found chiropractic care with Dr. Alex Jimenez in El Paso, TX. Once she received treatment for her auto accident injuries, Denise experienced relief from her symptoms and she was able to perform her everyday activities once again. Thanks to the education and care Dr. Alex Jimenez provided, Denise regained her original health and wellness.
Back pain is common, with roughly nine out of ten adults experiencing it at some time in their life, and five in ten working adults developing it every year. Some estimate around 95 percent of Americans will experience back pain at some time in their lifetime. Itβs by far the usual cause of chronic pain, as it is also a significant contributor to missed work and disability. In the United States alone, acute cases of lower back pain are the fifth most common reason for physician visits and cause 40 percent of missed days off work. Furthermore, it is the only leading cause of disability globally.
Professional Scope of Practice *
The information herein on "Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS)" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.
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Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, acupuncture, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.
We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
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We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.
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Blessings
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182
Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
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