Still Hurting After Back Surgery? Discover Lasting Relief with Spinal Cord Stimulation

Following back surgery, most people experience noticeable pain relief and improved mobility. However, about 15% of people develop recurrent or persistent back pain after surgery, significantly impacting their quality of life. 

If you find yourself in this situation, you’ve probably wondered if there are any other treatment options besides a second surgery. Thanks to spinal cord stimulation (SCS), the answer is often yes. 

Our team of interventional pain doctors at Sunshine Spine and Pain Specialists, PLLC, in Sarasota, Florida, often uses spinal cord stimulation to help ease persistent back pain and neck pain after surgery. 

This article explains why post-surgery back pain sometimes happens and how SCS may provide ongoing relief.

Why some people experience back pain after spine surgery

Spine surgery is often used to treat structural problems, such as spinal stenosis and vertebral compression fractures. It’s great at making repairs and providing additional spine support, but surgery doesn’t always eliminate pain.

At the same time, various factors can affect how your body heals after surgery, including:

• Nerve damage or irritation
• Inflammation
• Scar tissue around spinal nerves
• Changes in pain signaling

Experiencing persistent back pain after surgery is frustrating. The good news is that spinal cord stimulation may provide ongoing pain relief.

When to consider spinal cord stimulation

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) uses an implantable device called a spinal cord stimulator to change the way pain signals reach your brain. It’s a safe and effective treatment option for many people who experience persistent back or leg pain after spine surgery.

No two people are exactly alike, but you may benefit from SCS if you have back pain that:

• Persists despite surgery and other treatments
• Extends into your legs
• Affects mobility
• Interferes with daily activities

Before recommending this approach, we review your health history, ask about your symptoms, and complete a comprehensive exam. We may also order diagnostic imaging to look at your vertebrae and the surrounding soft tissues.

What to expect from SCS

If we determine you may benefit from SCS, we complete a trial period with the device outside your body. During the trial, we see if a spinal cord stimulator provides meaningful pain relief and helps you move more comfortably. 

If your results are positive, we implant the permanent device. Spinal cord stimulators are typically placed just beneath the skin in the buttocks or abdomen. Placement only takes a few incisions, and for many people, recovery is quick and pain-free.

Don’t let post-surgery back pain keep you sidelined

Persistent back pain following surgery can make even small movements uncomfortable. If you’re tired of sitting on the sidelines, SCS may help.

To see if you’re a candidate, schedule an appointment at Sunshine Spine and Pain Specialists, PLLC.