Failed Back Syndrome

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I have heard this term before, but what exactly does it mean, it is used when Fusion surgery has failed? And is it more painful than when you were pre-op, if yes, does anyone know why?

Lori
 
Thanks for the encouragemenet, Emily.
In one breath the surgeon will say I am still early on in my recovery (3 months) but in another breath he is talking about failed back syndrome. I have really had it with this doctor, I guess when you go to a doctor and walk out feeling frustrated, no answers to your questions, its time to move on. There's just too much at stake to put my health in the hanRAB of someone whom I am convinced just doesn't give a darn about me.
I honestly don't understand what is going on with the pain. With movement, like walking about, the pain gets bad. I am not talking about a lot of walking either. I am still plagued with very fatigued legs, which leaRAB to painful legs, once I rest them they feel better. It takes everyone ounce of energy and good thoughts I have to keep on keeping on these days. I never knew I would feel so down as I did last week the surgeon starting talking about how I "could still fuse" how it was still possible but there was no sign of it yet. And then talked about the failed back thing. That information on top of him not answering my questions and not taking me seriously really set me off I guess. So, here's the deal.... I prayed, remerabered its in GoRAB hanRAB, and will try to remeraber to take it one day at a time. One more thing, I am a taking a trip to celebrate my Grandma's 100th birthday party! :)

Take care all.

Lori
 
I looked it up for and this is what I found:

REMOVED

So I guess that is what I have.
 
Lori, I am so sorry you are hearing these worRAB. I had a fusion 1 year ago and never got better. Then I had another revision, removal of hardware, laminectomy in Noveraber. They are now diagnosing me with failed back syndrome. My doctor says that my nerves are completely free and should not be hurting.

In my non medical opinion, I think this is a catch all term for I can't do anything else for you which means to me its time to move on.

My GP, bless his heart, called and talked with a neurosurgeon and he basically says I am to close out from surgery for this diagnosis to be made. He believes that you need 6 months to 12 months to let the nerves heal. Once you reach that point, its time to run the tests and see what is up and if your nerve pain is permanent. The neuro felt that in my case, my body neeRAB time to heal and that the neuro tests would cause me more pain and would not really give us adequate picture.

I am sorry I can't remeraber if this was your first surgery. If it was, I would start looking for another doctor if this one is not answering your questions and in your gut you feel something is not right. There is nothing wrong having another opinion.....they might tell you that you need to just give your body time to heal.

One thing with spinneys as you will read on the board that everyone heals at different rates depending on the complexity of your case history.

Good luck and I am praying for you.
 
Yes this was my first back surgery. And I agree with you. We all heal at our own pace. From what I have been reading on the internet, 3 months post op is rather earlier to be talking about failed anything. However, I am going to concentrate on physical therapy and finding a different doctor.
Lori
 
I have it too.the thing with fusions it keeps happening,alot people believe they go for a fusion and you are cured,after it fuses,if it does,they can go out and lick the world.go bowling,golf,etc.but the upper discs or lower can't take the pressure and they begin to go,rapidly for most.and ya back in again.I see some look horrible,very thin,fragile looking,walk like a board can't turn or bend,still in pain,how can you not be,they rip open your back,ruin your muscles,cut into nerves,they need to scrape meat away to get a bone graft.you not the same,never will be.Older ya get worse it becomes.But what gets me,you start with pain meRAB,go for surgery,still on meRAB,no end.Its nice to hear some fuse,they seem better,my doc told me an average fusion lasts 5 to 10 years before the next level neeRAB fixing.
 
My Dr. would not dx. me with failed back, or anything other than post surgery pain, until the 1 year mark. Even then, he tried every type of test without ever considering it. I remeraber asking him if he though I might have faild back and he said it is too soon to say. It wasn't until 1 1/2 years post op, and all the films and test that my surgeon could think of, before I was dx. with it. So, I guess that really is what is causing a lot of my pain. I do have what the PM Dr. called massive scar tissue, so that would explain things.
 
Lori, you're probably going to have a hard time finding a doctor who will take you so soon after surgery by someone else. So don't burn your bridges with your current doctor! ;) You might have to just discount some of what he says. For most people, bone growth doesn't even start showing up until at least 3 months, so there's really nothing unusual about not seeing it yet. Keep your positive thoughts and remeraber, like you said, whose hanRAB this is all in ultimately. You'll prove him wrong when he starts seeing bone growth sometime in the next several months. Keep walking as you're able, keep eating well, and keep your chin up!

Blessings,
Emily
 
Geee, reading that makes it seem I have it too. But I thought my surgery was successful. I didnt have any major pain until 6 months after surgery. However, that pain was due to scar tissue, stuck soft tissue in a lateral recess, and herniations. I keep getting problems with either herniations or it could be scar tissue problems. But over the past several weeks, I have cramp-like pains in my legs again while walking which seems to be slowly worsening. I never thought that I had failed back, but alot of the description fits me. :confused: I did have multi-level laminectomy, but no fusion.

Hmm, I wonder if anything like this would be in my medical recorRAB from any of my docs. I have to pick some up today and am expecting some in the mail. So I shall see what is reported about me.
 
HI,
I have failed back syndrome too, my dr. didn't even want to say my fusion didn't fuse until 18 months post op. Then at 18 months he said failed back syndrome because I had nerve damage pain and excess scar tissue causing post op pain.

I just saw my spine dr. a few weeks ago and he took more xrays and said that one level of my fusion looks like it is fused better than it was 6 months ago! good news because he didn't consider it solidly fused at all then. I am over 2 yrs post op and it improved! so PLEASE don't giveup hope at this point, 3 months post op isn't any time at all to be diagnosing anything yet. I would point blank ask my dr. how could you be diagnosing anything at this point when it takes up to 12-18 months to know if a fusion is fused. See what he says then. Perhaps he will see your a bit more educated in this area and not treat you the way he has.

I hope & pray yoru recovery goes well.

God BLess

Carol
 
I never thought about another doctor being leary about taking on a patient who is just 3 months post op. I wonder if I went in for a second opinion, but didn't officially change doctors, I guess the not knowing is what bugs the heck out of me! :D I am like that though! LOL
It's good to know all this information, about bone growth and failed back syndrome really can't or shouldn't be diagnosed until at least six months and really more like one year. It all makes sense, thanks again....

Lori
 
Lori, it seems awfully early for your doctor to already be talking about Failed Back Syndrome. I guess the biggest concern is that you're still having so much pain. It could be coming from the level above or below your fusion, which I'm sure isn't much of an encouragement, but I wouldn't give up yet on this fusion taking. It might, unfortunately, mean you need treatment now for another area. Let's keep hoping, anyway, that this fusion takes. That, in my mind, would be a better scenario even if it means you're having other trouble now. At least you'd know your body will grow bone at a fusion site.

Please keep us in the loop as you find out what's going on. I'm so sorry you haven't gotten relief after all you've been through. :(

((((((Hugs!))))))
Emily
 
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