Still in Pain After Back Surgery? You Have Options

Back surgery does not always end the pain. Sometimes it comes back after a while, and sometimes it never fully goes away. If that is where you are, you are not alone, and you are not out of options. The first job is figuring out why you still hurt, because the answer points to what can help.

Step One: Find Out Where the Pain Is Coming From

Pain after spine surgery does not always mean the surgery failed. Often the operation fixed the problem it was meant to fix, but the pain is coming from somewhere else that was never the target. Common sources include the facet joints, the SI joint, a disc at a different level, or a new problem at the level next to your surgery. Many of these are very treatable.

Treating the Sources We Can Treat

‍When we find a treatable source, we go after it directly:

‍Facet joint pain responds to medial branch blocks and radiofrequency ablation, which calm the small nerves that carry the pain signal.

‍SI joint pain can be treated with targeted injections and, in many cases, ablation.

‍Nerve or disc-related pain at a new level may respond to epidural injections.

‍The point of a careful evaluation is to find these before assuming nothing more can be done.

When the Answer Is Chronic Nerve Damage

Sometimes the evaluation does not turn up a new, fixable source. In those cases, the pain often comes from chronic nerve damage. When a nerve is compressed or irritated for a long time, it can be injured in a way that lasts even after the pressure is removed. The surgery did its job, but the nerve itself does not fully recover.

Here is the honest part. Chronic nerve damage cannot be reversed. That does not mean you have to live in pain, though. There are good ways to turn the pain down.

Quieting Pain You Cannot Cure

The most effective option for ongoing nerve pain after back surgery is spinal cord stimulation. A small device sends mild signals to the spinal cord that block pain messages before they reach the brain. It does not repair the nerve, but it can substantially reduce the pain and help you do more.

One of the best parts is that you try it before you commit. A short trial lets you feel how much relief it gives, so you and the doctor know whether the full device is worth it. Nerve-calming medications and physical therapy can round out the plan, all without relying on opioids.

Working With Your Surgeon

Many patients come to us on a referral from the surgeon who did their operation, and that is a good thing. Your surgeon handled the structural problem, and we focus on the pain that is left. We keep your surgeon in the loop so your care stays coordinated.

Help for Post-Surgical Back Pain in Castle Rock

Dr. Carrera is double board-certified in interventional pain medicine and physical medicine and rehabilitation. The practice treats pain after back surgery and other spine, joint, and nerve conditions with non-opioid, procedure-based care for patients from Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Lone Tree, Parker, Highlands Ranch, Centennial, Denver, Monument, and Colorado Springs, and surrounding communities.

Still hurting after back surgery? Call 720-455-3775 to find out what is causing it and what can help.