Still Hurting After Back Surgery? Why Spinal Cord Stimulation May Be Your Solution

Surgery is often considered a last-resort option for treating back pain, yet the complexities of the spine lead to higher risks of failure, medically known as failed back surgery syndrome, or FBSS. 

At Metro Anesthesia & Pain Management in West Des Moines and Des Moines, Iowa, we can help when back surgery doesn’t meet your expectations. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is often effective when pain remains after your surgical procedure.

SCS is a minimally invasive procedure that produces significant pain reduction for many patients by modulating back pain signals that persist after surgical repairs. Let’s look at how this may be the solution you need when FBSS presents. 

Why back pain survives surgery

Persistent pain that remains or develops after a surgical procedure on the spine may result from factors that include: 

• Degeneration or instability in the spine adjacent to the surgery targets
• Nerve pain that remains after a successful repair to spine structure
• Scar tissue affecting nerves
• Permanent nerve damage or irritation

FBSS is often idiopathic, meaning that postsurgical pain doesn’t have a clear explanation. Whenever possible, we try to find an underlying cause before selecting an appropriate treatment.

SCS is often helpful for pain of an unknown origin that responds well to nerve block injections. 

How SCS works

Pain impulses are electrical in origin, small biological currents that the brain interprets as pain. Using an implanted device to generate mild impulses into the nerve tissue where pain originates, SCS therapy disrupts the signals generated by the tissue. 

The brain essentially fails to interpret the signals treated with SCS as painful. It’s not a cure for the reason why you have chronic pain after back surgery, but it effectively scrambles the pain-reporting process. 

When pain stems from nerve-related reasons rather than mechanical issues, SCS can be highly effective at relieving pain. 

The benefits of SCS

You can benefit from SCS after failed back surgery through: 

• Moderate to significant reductions in chronic pain
• Reduced reliance on pain medications, including opioids
• Improved physical function when performing regular activities
• Better sleep
• Customized and selectable settings based on your current needs
• Overall improvement in your quality of life

SCS therapy starts with a trial to ensure the technology works for you before you’re scheduled for a permanent implant. 

You’re a strong candidate for SCS when:

• Pain remains after back surgery and isn’t responding to conservative care
• Your back pain is nerve-based, including referred pain conditions such as sciatica
• You’re physically able to receive an implanted medical device

We discuss with you how your particular condition might respond to SCS, so your expectations for treatment are reasonable. 

The process starts by contacting Metro Anesthesia & Pain Management at our nearest location. Call or click for an appointment today.