Back surgeries are performed to reduce or eliminate chronic back or leg pain due to spinal nerve compression. Should surgery fail to achieve all of its desired outcomes, the result is known as Post Laminectomy Syndrome (sometimes called Failed Back Syndrome). This can also occur after neck surgeries, where it is called Post Laminectomy Syndrome, rather than Failed Back Syndrome.
- Diffuse, dull and aching pain involving the back and/or buttocks and legs, similar to sciatic pain.
- When the neck is involved, pain radiates to shoulder areas and down the arms, similar to cervical radiculopathy.
- Numbness and/or tingling can also be present.
- Residual or recurrent disc herniation, causing persistent pressure on spinal nerve.
- Joint hypermobility or instability.
- Scar tissue formation (fibrosis).
- Permanent damage to spinal nerves, manifested as abnormal sensitization, producing chronic pain.
- Fixing of one or more spinal joints during spinal fusion may increase the strain on nearby joints (levels above and below), causing pain.