Our necks help to stabilize our heads and the muscles in our backs. Since our necks play such an important role in our overall well-being, chronic neck pain can be extremely debilitating. Patients with severe pain may undergo neck surgery, but unfortunately, surgical procedures don’t always bring patients relief.
Some patients may experience a condition known as failed neck surgery syndrome that can have a significant and lasting impact on their quality of life. Thankfully, Carolina Spine & Pain is here to help if you need failed neck surgery syndrome treatment in Greenville, SC.
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What Is Failed Neck Surgery Syndrome?
While most people that undergo neck surgery see positive results, some continue to experience pain, discomfort, and other adverse symptoms. Not only can the surgery fail to fix the initial problem, but it can exacerbate existing conditions or create new issues.
Although the overall success rate of neck surgery is around 90%, these procedures can still fail, and patients experiencing failed neck surgery syndrome need relief. Patients must be examined by a professional that can identify the causes of these symptoms and recommend a suitable treatment.
What Are the Common Symptoms of Failed Neck Surgery Syndrome?
It’s normal to experience some soreness, swelling, and discomfort after surgery. When a procedure is successful, however, patients should see their symptoms diminish as they recover. Signs of failed neck surgery syndrome include:
Worsening Pain
Pain levels after surgery should gradually decrease. If patients are undergoing post-surgery rehabilitation, but are still seeing pain levels rise, that indicates a deeper issue.
No Relief
The primary goal of neck surgery is to relieve symptoms and reduce neck pain. If patients don’t see a difference in pain levels, the procedure has failed to deliver its desired results.
Numbness
It’s common for patients to experience some numbness and tingling sensations after surgery, but these symptoms can be a sign of a deeper problem, especially if the issue persists for weeks.
Loss of Mobility
Successful neck surgeries may slightly reduce a patient’s range of motion, but it shouldn’t have an impact on the ability to carry out daily tasks. Failed neck surgery may result in a significant reduction in mobility.
Spasms
Many patients experience muscle spasms after neck surgery, but the issue typically resolves within 14 days. Patients that continue to have spasms, cramps, and muscle pain may be suffering from nerve damage.
When neck surgery is successful, the body should adjust to the procedure quickly, causing symptoms to subside. If symptoms persist for more than two weeks, or if the pain can’t be managed by medication, patients may be suffering from failed neck surgery syndrome.
What Are Some of the Common Causes of Failed Neck Surgery Syndrome?
Neck surgery can fail for a number of reasons. In fact, there are many different types of failed neck surgery, including failed neck fusion and failed surgical cage. Although the issues that cause surgical procedures to fail can vary, some of the most common causes include:
Surgical Errors
Procedures can fail even when the surgery is performed perfectly. However, poorly performed surgery or other errors, like incomplete decompression, could leave a patient with lasting symptoms.
Failure to Follow Post-Surgical Instructions
Patients are typically given specific instructions to follow after neck surgery. As an example, patients should avoid strenuous activity and repetitive neck movements. When patients don’t comply with these instructions, it can interfere with the recovery process.
Other Health Issues
Diabetes and smoking put patients at increased risk for failed neck surgery syndrome. Smoking interferes with bone healing, making it harder for the body to recover. Diet can have an impact on a patient’s recovery as well.
Misdiagnosis
Some failed surgeries are the result of a wrong diagnosis. If a patient is treated for a condition that they’re not suffering from, it can lead to the development of new symptoms.
While care providers take precautions to reduce the risk of failed surgery syndrome, there’s no way to prevent it completely. Thankfully, there are ways for patients suffering from this condition to get relief.
What Are Some of the Available Treatments at Carolina Spine & Pain for Failed Neck Surgery Syndrome?
Carolina Spine & Pain offers a variety of treatments that are minimally invasive. The symptoms and causes of failed neck surgery can vary significantly from patient to patient, which is why all patients go through a detailed assessment. From there, patients will receive an individualized treatment plan that may include:
Medication Management
Both over-the-counter and prescription medications can help relieve symptoms, improving a patient’s quality of life. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce nerve inflammation. Muscle relaxants may be used to reduce muscle spasms and relieve severe pain.
Radiofrequency Ablation
This minimally invasive treatment is an effective way to treat pain in the joints of the neck. It uses radio waves to heat up the tissue in the neck, which keeps nerves from sending pain signals to the brain. Radiofrequency ablation usually provides between three and six months of relief.
Nerve Blocks
If pain signals are coming from a pinched or inflamed nerve root, a nerve block can provide temporary relief. Typically, medicine is injected around the target nerve.
Injections
In addition to nerve blocks, there are other targeted injections that can help to reduce pain and increase the range of motion in the neck. Injections can also be used as a diagnostic tool, helping to identify the source of a patient’s pain.
Spinal Cord Stimulator
A spinal cord stimulator is an implanted device that consists of electrodes and a battery pack. It can send low levels of electricity to the spinal cord, providing significant pain relief.
Orthopedic Surgery
While revision surgeries aren’t recommended for most patients, additional surgeries can potentially correct a failed surgery. In some cases, orthopedic surgery may be necessary to treat neck pain.
Kyphoplasty
This minimally invasive surgical treatment is an effective way to treat symptoms caused by a spinal compression fracture. While many surgical procedures have a long recovery time, most kyphoplasty patients can go home the same day as the procedure.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Chiropractic care is frequently used to treat neck pain and can provide relief to patients after a failed neck surgery. Spinal manipulation can provide minimally invasive, targeted relief.
Call Carolina Spine & Pain for Failed Neck Surgery Syndrome Treatment in Greenville, SC!
If you’ve experienced severe and persistent symptoms after your neck surgery, you need failed neck surgery syndrome treatment in Greenville, SC. At Carolina Spine & Pain, we can assess your symptoms and create a treatment plan that will give you the relief you need. Call us today at 864-539-4549 to learn more.