Having back surgery to repair a herniated disc or treat a compression fracture may be effective at relieving chronic pain for many people, but some may still experience persistent post-surgical pain.
At LA Pain Doctor, interventional pain management specialists, Firas Hijazi, MD, and Satvik Munshi, MD, are highly skilled in addressing back pain after surgery. They customize pain management plans that focus on your unique health needs and the root cause of your pain.
Any type of surgery causes trauma to your body. Even if you undergo a minimally invasive surgical procedure, you may still develop pain after surgery as you go through the healing process due to:
It’s possible to experience post-surgical pain due to errors made during your surgery. While this isn’t a common occurrence, there are risks for bone fragments or parts of a herniated disc to remain in your spine that can press on your nerves and cause pain.
For many people, the underlying cause of pain is the development of scar tissue near the surgical site. Scar tissue is a normal part of your natural healing process, but it can also bind to the nerves in the treatment area, which triggers ongoing pain episodes.
Even after you undergo surgery to repair a herniated disc, you may still be at risk for a recurrence of disc damage or disc degeneration in the same disc that can cause pain.
Typically, if you’re still feeling back pain after three months of recovery from back surgery, you should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at LA Pain Doctor. The team can determine if scar tissue is pinching or pressing on surrounding nerves and create a pain management plan to help you recover more effectively and without pain.
At LA Pain Doctor, there are a number of treatment options to help you manage post-surgical pain. Medications are available that relieve severe pain and make it easier for you to exercise and support your own natural recovery.
However, medications can cause side effects and some types of pain relievers also increase your risk for dependence and addiction.
Rather than rely exclusively on medications, the providers at LA Pain Doctor use state-of-the-art technology to help you achieve long-term relief of pain safely.
Depending on the location and underlying cause of your pain, your provider may recommend treatments like:
You may also be a candidate for a follow-up surgery to relieve compression on your nerves or remove scar tissue that interferes with your healing process.
In addition to pain-relieving therapies, the LA Pain Doctor team also works closely with you on a rehabilitation program to strengthen the muscles in your back that support your spine. They may recommend physical therapy and at-home exercises and can help you manage your pain, so you can stay physically active.
While some pain after back surgery is to be expected, there’s no reason for you to live with chronic pain. Schedule a pain management consultation with the team online or by calling the LA Pain Doctor office nearest you today.
