What is Failed Back Surgery Syndrome?
Patients who have not had a successful outcome with back or spine surgery and continue to have pain after surgery is called Failed back syndrome aka failed back surgery syndrome aka FBSS. Spine or back surgery is able to accomplish only two things:
1. Decompression of a nerve root that is compressed, or
2. Stabilize a dysfunctional or painful joint.
The problem is that spine surgery is unable to surgically remove the patient’s pain. Surgery can only modify the structures, alter the biomechanics and remove the lesion or injury that is the predictable cause of the pain or symptoms. The primary explanation as to why back or spine surgeries are not advantageous and why some continue to experience symptoms and pain post procedure is due to the fact that the area where the surgery was performed was not causative factor producing the pain or symptoms.