Are you suffering from persistent back pain even after your spinal surgery? Allow Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management to help you with personalized post-laminectomy syndrome treatment in OKC. Our pain specialist doctor develops a plan that targets your specific pain points to help you regain mobility and comfort. We use advanced pain management therapies like nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulation, facet joint injections, radiofrequency neurotomy, medications, and physical therapy. With our patent-centric approach, you can get accessible and affordable care and support throughout post-laminectomy syndrome treatment in Oklahoma City. Get in touch with us and discover the benefits of our highly effective treatment today!
Post-Laminectomy Syndrome Specialist in OKC
Your doctor may recommend a laminectomy if you have a chronic back condition. Even though this can be an effective procedure in certain situations, it can lead to significant pain and discomfort. In some cases, you might even develop the post-laminectomy syndrome.
Are you wondering what to expect following a postoperative laminectomy, and how do you know if you have a post-laminectomy syndrome? Take a look at a few important points below, and remember to rely on the offices of Dr. Darryl Robinson, MD for all your pain management needs.
What is Post-Laminectomy Syndrome?
Did you know? – Every year, about 50,000 Americans undergo spinal surgeries (i.e., laminectomy), and 20% of these patients suffer some degree of persistent back or neck pain after the surgery. The lack of post-surgical pain relief is called post-laminectomy syndrome. This syndrome is also called failed back syndrome or failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). A person can be sure of having post-laminectomy syndrome if the back pain persists for 3 months or more after surgery. This syndrome is related to laminectomy surgery, which is a back surgery.
A laminectomy, a spine surgery, is a process of removing the latter portion of the vertebrae in the spinal canal. With this surgery, the doctor enlarges the spinal canal which ultimately helps patients to relieve pressure on the spinal cord/nerves. The laminectomy procedure is the main reason for post-laminectomy syndrome and this reason is why doctors use this treatment as a last medical resort for your back pain.
What are the Main Causes of Post Laminectomy Syndrome?
Various factors may contribute to why you might develop post-laminectomy syndrome. Some of the most common causes include:
- A herniated disk in your back that hasn’t been treated properly
- Compressed nerves in the spinal column due to surgery
- Fibrosis or the significant amount of scar tissue built up in the back following surgery
- Issues with facet joints, the small joints on the sides of the vertebrae
- Problems related to spinal instability
Post-laminectomy syndrome is more likely to occur if you have certain conditions. For example, if you have diabetes or peripheral vascular disease, you might have a higher chance of developing post-laminectomy syndrome. In addition, people who smoke regularly, or those with ongoing mental health issues, might also be more likely to develop this condition.
What are the Most Common Symptoms of Post Laminectomy Syndrome?
Post-laminectomy syndrome can present differently depending on the underlying reason why you have back pain. This means that the original reason you sought out back surgery may impact the type of symptoms you developed following the procedure.
One of the most common symptoms is neuropathic pain. An injury to the nervous system typically causes this pain. Then, you may have issues with your nerves that cause them to function improperly. These nerve problems could lead to pain that radiates to a certain part of your body.
You might also have a condition called radicular pain. This means there might be pain along a nerve root in your back. Every nerve from your spinal cord is responsible for innervating a specific body part. If that nerve is compressed, you may start to develop pain in that particular location.
The most common underlying symptom is chronic pain. Given that there are plenty of conditions that can cause chronic pain, it can be more challenging to diagnose post-laminectomy syndrome. That is why you need to rely on the team from Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management to help you.
How is Post-Laminectomy Syndrome Diagnosed?
Usually, this condition is determined by combining a clinical history with imaging tests. The doctor may ask questions and look for the symptoms mentioned above. Additionally, a physical examination may be performed to reproduce some of the symptoms listed.
Then, the doctor may order tests and image scans to confirm the diagnosis. Examples of common imaging scans include an x-ray or an MRI. An examination of the back will allow the doctor to determine if the change is consistent with the post-laminectomy syndrome. Then, the doctor may also order electromyography studies, usually shortened to EMG, to look for changes in nerve conduction that are consistent with this condition.
How is Post-Laminectomy Syndrome Treated?
At Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management, we can treat post-laminectomy syndrome successfully with non-invasive procedures like nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulation, facet joint injections, and radiofrequency neurotomy. Our spinal pain specialist examines your condition and helps you explore post-laminectomy syndrome treatment options.
Here’s a snapshot of our treatments:
- Anti-inflammatory Medication: We use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce back inflammation. We use this treatment in conjunction with therapy as sometimes this is the only treatment a patient needs.
- Spinal Cord Stimulation: In this treatment, we place electrodes into the patient’s epidural space of the spinal cord where pain comes from. Through the placed electrodes, we supply electric current to interfere with pain conduction pathways.
- Epidural Nerve Block: This treatment includes nerve root injection into the epidural space of the spinal column. In 6 months, a patient will be injected with 3 injections.
- Physical Therapy & Exercise: We also recommend physical therapy and specific exercises to strengthen the muscles that are on the side of your spinal column.
- Facet Joint Injections: In this treatment, we inject a local anesthetic with anti-inflammatory medication, which relieves both pain and swelling in the back.
- Radiofrequency Neurotomy: With this process, we deaden the nerves with thermal energy, which provides pain relief for 6 to 12 months.
With these treatments, our patients typically experience:
- Reduced pain and inflammation
- Improved mobility and daily functioning
- Enhanced quality of life
- Accelerated recovery time
Call us today and make an appointment.
Call Dr. Robinson Today to Make an Appointment
Ultimately, there are many possible post-laminectomy syndrome causes, and you should consult an expert who can guide you through this condition as quickly and comprehensively as possible. At Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management, we have a tremendous amount of experience treating a wide variety of situations, and it would be our pleasure to help you manage your pain and discomfort. We consistently prioritize our patient’s needs and can do the same for you.
We look forward to hearing from you! Don’t hesitate to call us today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes! Post-laminectomy syndrome can be cured successfully. A noninvasive treatment for this condition includes Spinal Cord Stimulation, Nerve Blocks, Radiofrequency Neurotomy, and Facet Joint Injections. Doctors may also prescribe physical therapy and inflammation-reducing medications to treat Post-Laminectomy Syndrome.
Book a ConsultationThe coverage of Post-Laminectomy Syndrome depends on your insurance policy. The insurance provider determines the strength of your claim based on your pain intensity, the medication you use for pain treatment, and how your life and work are affected.
Book a ConsultationGenerally, if a patient is getting better within three months of the surgery, the chances are that they will continue to get better. However, suppose a patient is not feeling better within three months of surgery. If that happens, the surgery will be considered a failure. In such a case, the healthcare specialist will determine further treatment plans to cure Post-Laminectomy Syndrome, like Nerve Blocks and Spinal Cord Stimulation. There is no written rule on the time duration of Post-Laminectomy Syndrome.
Book a ConsultationLumbar Post-Laminectomy Syndrome is a term that refers to the condition where a patient has not had a successful result of a spine surgery. This surgery involves the lumbar area, the vertebrae on the lower end of the spinal cord. In Post-Laminectomy Syndrome, the patient continues to experience pain even after the surgery. Since spine surgery only has a success predictability of 95%, there are many reasons a surgery may not work, the most common being the misdiagnosis of the pain. This misdiagnosis results in Post-Laminectomy Syndrome.
Book a ConsultationCervical Post-Laminectomy Syndrome refers to when the patient who has been through a Cervical Laminectomy (spine surgery) still has the symptoms they had before the surgery. This surgery is performed on cervical bones (neck). Cervical Post-Laminectomy Syndrome may result from an unsuccessful surgery due to misdiagnosing the pain. However, doctors use several techniques to treat Cervical Post-Laminectomy Syndrome, such as Nerve Blocks, Facet Joint Injections, and Radiofrequency Neurotomy.
Book a ConsultationHealthcare professionals use different pain meds to treat Post-Laminectomy Pain Syndrome, some of which are:
- Tricyclic Antidepressants
- Anticonvulsants
- Anti-inflammatory Agents
- NSAIDs
- Opioid Pain Relievers
Chronic pain patients should go for spine surgery (Laminectomy) to get rid of the pain. If this surgery is performed on the lower back, it is known as Lumbar Laminectomy. Post Laminectomy Syndrome of the Lumbar Region is a condition in which the patient continues to experience pain and other symptoms after the Lumbar Laminectomy. This condition suggests that the surgery has failed to treat the pain. In such a case, doctors recommend other forms of treatment, like Nerve Blocks and Joint Injections.
Book a ConsultationRadiculopathy refers to the pinching of the nerve roots in the area where they exit the spine (lower back). This condition is also known as Lumbar Radiculopathy or Sciatica. If the pain due to Radiculopathy persists for more than 6 months, it becomes Chronic Radiculopathy. Chronic Radiculopathy can be the result of disc herniation, degeneration, or other trauma. Doctors perform Laminectomy to treat Chronic Radiculopathy. However, if this surgery does not go well, the patient continues to experience the symptoms of Radiculopathy even after the surgery. This condition is known as Post-Laminectomy Syndrome with Chronic Radiculopathy.
Book a Consultation
