Revision Surgery

Most people have successful outcomes from back surgery, but sometimes pain persists after the expected recovery period should be over. This is called failed back surgery syndrome. If it happens to you, your doctor may recommend revision surgery, a type of back surgery that’s done to correct the original procedure.

When you’ve had back surgery, but experience disappointing results, you need to be evaluated by experts in the field of spinal care to see if you need revision surgery or if a different back condition has developed. You’ll find New Jersey’s top spine specialists at Premier Brain & Spine, the most advanced spine surgery and neurosurgery centers.

While operating on the spine is a complex process and surgical error sometimes causes spinal surgery to fail, other factors can sometimes cause failed spine surgery, including:

• Recurrence of a herniated disc
• Recurrence of spinal stenosis
• Formation of scar tissue at the surgical site
• Misdiagnosis
• Failure of discs to grow together after a spinal fusion
• Failure of implanted hardware, such as hardware that has pulled away from the bone
• Infection
• Complications due to medical conditions, such as osteoporosis or diabetes

While success rates in spinal fusion and other procedures are very high because of advances in surgical technology, you can reduce the risk of surgical complications by entrusting your back care to Premier Brain & Spine, where the doctors are among the most experienced in the greater NYC area.

If you’re still experiencing pain after back surgery, your New Jersey spine surgery center doctor usually begins with conservative treatment methods for pain relief. Examples of non-surgical treatments include:

• Physical therapy. Exercise helps recondition your spine. Working with a physical therapist helps you correct your posture, build strength and improve your range of motion.
• Pain management. Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. If these drugs don’t relieve your pain, your doctor may prescribe prescription medication.
• Steroid injection. An injection of corticosteroids helps reduce pain and inflammation.
• Hydrotherapy, exercising in water, is a way to improve muscle tone and flexibility.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of talk therapy that may help with the psychological effects of chronic pain.

Some serious symptoms or complications may lead your doctor to recommend immediate revision spine surgery, such as:

• • Spinal deformities such as scoliosis or kyphosis have progressed.
  • Bowel or bladder problems have developed.
  • Implanted hardware has broken or moved.
  • You’re experiencing worsening pain.

  Revision lumbar spine fusion surgery may resolve your pain if you’ve developed problems such as radiculopathy, which is the inflammation of a nerve in your back, or if the first surgery didn’t adequately decompress your spinal nerves. This procedure may also be recommended if you were originally misdiagnosed.

If you’re feeling hesitant about having a second back surgery, consider some of the benefits that include:

• Relief from debilitating pain
• Relief from pain-related psychological symptoms, such as depression, anxiety or a sense of hopelessness
• A better understanding of the cause of your pain

Surgical techniques are continually improving. There’s a trend toward more minimally invasive procedures, which usually have shorter recovery periods and fewer risks.

When you’ve already had spine surgery and your symptoms didn’t improve or got worse, you may have a hard time believing another surgery is the answer. Questions you should ask to relieve your anxiety before deciding whether to go ahead with complex revision spine surgery include:

• What happens if I don’t have this procedure?
• What are the benefits and risks of revision surgery?
• Is the procedure minimally invasive?
• Are there other forms of treatment you haven’t yet considered?

The compassionate team at Premier Brain & Spine answer any questions you may have about revision spine surgery or any other back conditions.

To decide if revision spine surgery is right for you, visit the nearest spine surgery center. Having a thorough evaluation and correct diagnosis by experts in the field of spinal abnormalities brings you peace of mind.

At Premier Brain & Spine, the most advanced surgical techniques, including cervical spine revision surgery and revision fusion surgery on the lumbar spine, are performed by highly experienced surgeons. Contact them to schedule a consultation today.