Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

Failed back surgery syndrome ( also called FBSS, or failed back syndrome) is a misnomer, as it is not actually a syndrome - it is a very generalized term that is often used to describe the condition of patients who have not had a successful result with back surgery or spine surgery and have experienced continued pain after surgery.

There are many reasons that a back surgery may or may not work and even with best surgeon and for the best indications, spine surgery is no more than 95% predictive of a successful result.

Spine surgery is basically able to accomplish only two things:

1) Decompress a nerve root that is pinched, or
2) Stabilize a painful joint.

Unfortunately, back surgery or spine surgery cannot literally cut out a patients pain. It is only able to change anatomy, and an anatomical lesion ( injury ) that is a probable cause of back pain must be identified prior to rather than after back surgery or spine surgery. 

Try all available non-surgical treatments before considering back surgery.