Have you recently had back surgery to relieve the persistent pain you have been experiencing? Unfortunately, your symptoms don’t seem to improve after the surgery, and the pain persists or is back after some months. This could be demoralizing, and you can end up having more questions than answers. If this sounds like your current situation, Hamilton failed back surgery incorporates integrative approaches for pain management. Are you still concerned about your failed back surgery syndrome? Below are some reasons why it didn’t work.
- Poor Candidate for the Surgery
Some individuals have spine conditions that would cause surgery to do more harm than good. For example, you shouldn’t undergo surgery if you have disc degeneration in multiple regions. Any surgery conducted while in this condition would cause you to lose even more mobility around your spine. Moreover, some conditions should be properly examined since they could be manageable with some conservative treatments. A psychological review is also important, as the factors such as depression, anxiety, and hypochondriasis, could also hinder your surgery’s success.
- Incorrect Diagnosis or Procedure
An incorrect diagnosis could cause havoc for the whole operation. Surgeons rely on different ways to determine the cause of your back pain. Others make their diagnosis through clinical observation, while others will recommend several imaging tests. If you have a problem with your spine, your surgeon may have trouble locating the specific area that needs surgical intervention. As a result, they may remove a nearby disc and mistakenly forgo the one causing you pain. As such, it is important that you receive a thorough examination from a skilled spine specialist before you commit to the surgery. Moreover, seeking a second or third opinion doesn’t hurt.
- Scar Tissue Formation
Even though your back surgery can be successful, it is possible to develop issues one to three months later. This could occur due to scar tissue formation near a root nerve. Moreover, the scarring could occur in the area of operation, and this results in continued pain.
- Recurrent Disc Herniation
The inner spine can press past the damaged outer spine layer, causing a shift or bulge of the vertebra. This could put pressure on the nearby nerves causing you agonizing back pain. Many people receive a microdiscectomy to treat the condition, which removes a small portion of the bulged disc. This procedure eases the pressure on the nearby nerves. However, it is possible to suffer a recurrent disc shift when the spine cannot bear all the load of your movement. Even so, the procedure is well tolerated by some people.
- Surgeon Error
Sometimes, errors are inevitable, and back surgery can be so complicated, bearing in mind that everyone’s back is unique and presents different challenges. Minimally invasive procedures present less damage to the soft tissues and use smaller incisions compared to open-back surgery. However, a good percentage of the procedures fail due to the surgeon’s error. If the surgeon doesn’t do enough decompression of the spine, chances are he will have less exposure to the affected area. Moreover, the spine is super sensitive, and nerve damage is likely to occur during the procedure.
If you have suffered from unyielding back surgeries, it is only human to not want any more dealings with your doctor. However, a more integrative approach to managing back pain can help improve your symptoms and earn back your lucrative life. Do not rush to have the surgery done. At least consider the opinions of another party, and if they all recommend surgery, only then should you consider it.