Post-Surgical Pain
Surgery didn't end the pain. That's more common than most patients are told — and for many, non-surgical decompression offers a path forward.
When Surgery Doesn't Resolve the Pain
Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is a recognized medical condition describing persistent or recurring spinal pain following surgery that was expected to resolve it. It's more common than the statistics suggested before the procedure: studies estimate that 10–40% of patients who undergo lumbar spine surgery continue to experience significant pain afterward.
The causes vary — scar tissue formation compressing nerve roots, adjacent segment disease where levels above or below a fusion begin to degenerate faster, residual disc pathology, or hardware complications. In many cases, patients are left with limited options: more surgery, pain management, or simply learning to live with it. But for appropriate candidates, non-surgical spinal decompression offers a genuinely different path.
How Spinal Decompression Helps After Failed Surgery
For post-surgical patients without spinal fusion at the affected level, DRX spinal decompression can be applied to address the residual disc pathology or adjacent segment involvement that may be driving the ongoing pain. The same principle applies: computer-controlled distraction reduces the compressive load at the targeted segment, bringing intradiscal pressure below atmospheric levels and enabling convective fluid exchange through the vertebral endplates — creating the environment where the body's own repair processes can get to work.
For patients with adjacent segment disease — where levels next to a fusion are now breaking down — decompression can be applied to those unfused segments with the same protocol used for primary disc conditions. Many post-surgical patients who were told there were no remaining options have found meaningful relief through this approach.
Dr. Fischer performs a thorough evaluation before recommending treatment, including review of prior imaging and surgical records. Not every post-surgical patient is a candidate — but for those who are, the outcome data is encouraging.
Learn More About DRX Spinal Decompression →Are You a Candidate for Spinal Decompression?
Decompression may be right for your post-surgical pain if any of the following apply:
- Persistent back or leg pain following spine surgery
- Adjacent segment disease at an unfused spinal level
- Residual disc pathology not addressed by prior surgery
- No hardware or fusion at the segment to be treated
- Desire to avoid additional surgery
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Fischer to find out whether you're a candidate and get a personalized plan.
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