Failed Back Syndrome

Failed Back Syndrome Treatment in Newport Beach

Failed back syndrome is an unfortunate disorder in which pain continues after surgery that was intended to fix a back problem.

Causes

Failed back syndrome happens when back and leg pain continues after back surgery. Nerve damage may have occurred during the surgery and reoccurring back disorders are also causes of failed back syndrome.

Symptoms
Although back pain is the most common symptom, other conditions may increase your chances of failed back syndrome.
The most common risk factors are:

  • Continued pressure from spinal stenosis
  • Formation of scar tissue
  • Persistent or recurring disc disease at adjacent levels
  • Pseudoarthrosis or failure of the fusion
  • Instability or abnormal movement
  • Smoking
Diagnosis

To diagnose arthritis of the neck, your Newport Beach orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Todd Peters will perform a complete and thorough physical examination as well as a medical history check. He may also request X-Rays, MRIs, and CT scans to better assess your case.

X-Rays – A type of quick imaging process using electromagnectic waves to better show Dr. Peters bones of the body to pinpoint possible sources of pain.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) – This type of imaging uses radiology to show Dr. Peters the soft tissues of the body like muscles, disks, nerves, and the spinal cord.

Computerized tomography (CT) – CT scans are X-ray scans taken from various angles to create a cross-section of bones and soft tissues of the body.

Treatment
There is no known cure for failed back syndrome, only pain management. Depending on the severity of your pain, Dr. Todd Peters may recommend different ways to manage the pain. He will first recommend non-surgical spine treatments to help manage pain. If a case is extreme, he may recommend corrective surgery.

Dr. Todd Peters specializes in minimally invasive orthopaedic surgery to treat Failed Back Syndrome. For appointments, please call (949) 383-4182 or Contact Us.