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The Truth About Failed Back Surgery

Why is it that whenever someone mentions the possibility of upcoming back surgery, there’s always someone in the crowd who states loud and clear, “Don’t do it! Back surgery is not the answer!”

Why? Because the incidence of Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBBS) is extremely high.

Failed back surgery syndrome occurs when a spinal surgery procedure fails to achieve the predicted or desired result. The affected patient may continue to experience the same level of pre-surgical pain, or even worse pain, which interferes with his/her ability to perform normal everyday activities. FBSS may also cause psychological stress, anger and depression.

The funny thing is…there’s no other type of surgery that has a corresponding failed surgery syndrome. There is no Failed Cataract Surgery Syndrome or Failed Gall Bladder Surgery Syndrome. So why is failed back surgery so common that it warrants its own “Failed Surgery Syndrome”?

Here are several reasons:

• The doctor who performed the surgery may not be all that reputable or the surgery was performed with a “hope and a prayer” that it would relieve the ailment that was causing the back pain.

• The back really wasn’t the primary pain center. While there may have been pain in the back, it might have originated in another area – feet, neck, hips, etc. So, misdiagnosis of the condition, with surgery that wasn’t needed, made a painful condition even worse.

• A number of complications can result from working so close to the spine and nervous system when performing back surgery. These include nerve damage, infection in the area where the surgery was performed and hardware malfunctions with a spinal fusion (screws or pins break/slip) which affect the ability of the bones to bond together properly, 

Certainly, complications can occur as the result of any surgical procedure; however, when 20 – 40% of all back surgeries result in either no improvement or even worse pain, it’s time to take a serious look at more conservative approaches to back pain.

Safe, gentle and all-natural chiropractic care has been shown to be effective in alleviating back and neck pain and in re-establishing vital communication between the brain and the body, which occurs in the nervous system.

If you have concerns or wish to speak to us about back surgery that may have been recommended to you, please bring them to us at your next visit. We are always here to help!