Post-laminectomy syndrome, also known as failed back syndrome, is a condition in which patients continue to experience chronic back pain after surgery. Surgery is usually performed to correct anatomic problems in the spine that cause pain, such as deformed spinal structures, pinched spinal nerves, and unstable spinal motion. In addition to experiencing chronic pain, patients may experience stiffness, numbness, and weakness near the surgical area.
Such syndromes are one of the leading causes of chronic back pain and often lead to reduced quality of life, psychological impairment, and disability.
Approximately 500,000 spine surgeries are performed each year in the United States. Unfortunately, 20% of these people say they experience ongoing back pain after surgery.
In this article, Pembroke Pines Pain Clinic lists 5 facts about post-laminectomy syndrome.
1. Types of post-laminectomy syndrome
There are three types of post-laminectomy syndrome, affecting three main areas of the spine:
- Postthoracic laminectomy syndrome
- Post-cervical laminectomy syndrome
- Post-lumbar laminectomy syndrome
2. Causes of post-laminectomy syndrome
Persistent pain after spinal surgery can be caused by a variety of reasons, including:
- Nerve root compression
- recurrent disc herniation
- joint hypermobility
- scar tissue buildup
- small joint problems
- spinal fusion failure
- spinal instability
In some cases, post-laminectomy syndrome is caused by conditions such as diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, and autoimmune diseases. It may also be caused by sleep disorders, anxiety disorders, depression, sustained release of inflammatory mediators, and smoking.
Pembroke Pines Pain Management is dedicated to accurately diagnosing post-laminectomy syndrome by correctly identifying the underlying cause of the condition.
3. Symptoms of post-laminectomy syndrome
Common symptoms of post-laminectomy syndrome include:
- Persistent dull pain in your back or leg pain
- Persistent dull pain in your neck or arm pain
- Tingling, sharp pain, and stinging in the extremities.
Pain is often associated with nerve damage or irritation and inflammation of the root nerve after laminectomy surgery.
4. Diagnosis of post-laminectomy syndrome
Your doctor or pain management practitioner can make an accurate diagnosis using the following tests:
- X-ray
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MIR)
- Electromyography (EMG)
The following tests are performed to determine the primary cause of back pain and to develop a feasible treatment plan for the patient.
5. Treatment of post-laminectomy syndrome
The primary goal of a treatment plan is to help patients achieve lasting relief from chronic to severe back pain and restore normal function and quality of life. A patient’s treatment plan may be a combination of innovative surgical and conservative treatments, including:
- spinal cord stimulation
- epidural steroid injection
- PRP for Chronic Back Pain
- physical therapy
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- nerve blocking injection
Research shows that spinal cord stimulation (SCS) can relieve chronic pain caused by post-laminectomy syndrome without the need for repeat surgery. In fact, 40% of patients are able to control their pain with SCS.
Learn more about pain care specialists in Florida:
Pembroke Pines Pain Management Clinic offers comprehensive interventional pain management services. Our pain specialists specialize in performing procedures such as spinal cord stimulation, platelet-rich plasma injections, epidural steroid injections and other innovative techniques to help relieve your pain and restore your quality of life.
Would you like to learn more about our pain clinic in Pembroke Pines? Please feel free to contact us.
The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute the provision of medical advice and does not substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your health, always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider.
