Failed Back Surgery Syndrome Treatment in Granada Hills, CA
If you’ve had back surgery but are still living with chronic pain, you are not alone. Failed Back Surgery Syndrome affects a significant proportion of patients who undergo lumbar spine surgery, and it is one of the most challenging chronic pain conditions to manage. At Modern Pain Solutions, Dr. Jungjae Lim specializes in advanced interventional approaches that offer meaningful relief to FBSS patients who feel they have run out of options.
What Is Failed Back Surgery Syndrome?
Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS) is a clinical description applied to patients who continue to experience persistent or recurrent back and leg pain following one or more spinal surgeries. FBSS does not necessarily mean the surgery was performed incorrectly — in many cases the procedure was technically successful but did not achieve expected pain relief due to factors such as epidural fibrosis (scar tissue around nerve roots), adjacent segment disease, incorrect surgical level selection, persistent nerve sensitization, or underlying pain conditions too complex to fully address surgically.
FBSS can be profoundly demoralizing — patients often feel dismissed after surgery fails to deliver the relief they were promised. At Modern Pain Solutions in Granada Hills, CA , Dr. Lim takes a fresh, comprehensive approach to evaluating post-surgical pain, identifying the specific contributors, and delivering targeted treatments that many FBSS patients have never been offered.
FBSS Treatments at Modern Pain Solutions
Dr. Lim offers a full range of interventional treatments for FBSS, including targeted epidural injections, nerve blocks, and radiofrequency ablation to address residual pain generators. Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) has the strongest evidence of any treatment for FBSS and is often the most effective long-term solution for appropriate candidates. Regenerative therapies may support tissue healing in select patients. Call Modern Pain Solutions at (818) 826-4145 for a consultation with Dr. Lim.
Frequently Asked Questions About Failed Back Surgery Syndrome
What causes pain to persist after back surgery?
Persistent pain after back surgery can result from several factors. Epidural fibrosis — scar tissue formation around spinal nerve roots following surgery — is one of the most common causes and can compress or tether nerves, recreating pain similar to the original condition. Adjacent segment disease occurs when increased mechanical stress on spinal levels adjacent to a fusion causes degeneration at those levels. Other causes include central sensitization (where the nervous system remains in a heightened pain state), surgical treatment of the wrong level, incomplete decompression, and the development of new problems unrelated to the original surgery. Dr. Lim will carefully evaluate your post-surgical imaging and history to identify the specific drivers of your FBSS.
Is more surgery the answer for failed back surgery syndrome?
In most cases, repeat surgery is not the preferred approach for FBSS and carries significant risks including further scar tissue formation, adjacent segment complications, and — in many cases — no improvement in pain. Before pursuing revision surgery, patients should be evaluated for interventional alternatives. At Modern Pain Solutions, Dr. Lim offers a full range of non-surgical options for FBSS, with spinal cord stimulation representing the most evidence-backed treatment for long-term FBSS pain management.
Can spinal cord stimulation help after failed back surgery?
Yes. Spinal cord stimulation has the strongest clinical evidence of any treatment for FBSS. Multiple large randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that SCS is superior to repeat surgery and conventional medical management for reducing pain and improving quality of life in FBSS patients. At Modern Pain Solutions, Dr. Lim performs a trial stimulation before permanent implantation to confirm that SCS will provide meaningful benefit for your specific pain pattern. Learn more on our Neuromodulation page.
What is epidural fibrosis and how is it treated?
Epidural fibrosis is the formation of scar tissue in the epidural space around nerve roots following spinal surgery. This scar tissue can compress and irritate the nerves, causing pain and neurological symptoms similar to the original disc or stenosis problem. It is one of the most common contributors to FBSS. While scar tissue cannot be fully reversed, its impact on pain can often be addressed with targeted epidural injections, lysis of adhesions procedures, and — for persistent cases — spinal cord stimulation.
How soon after back surgery can FBSS develop?
Some patients notice that their pain is not adequately relieved immediately following surgery. Others experience initial improvement followed by a gradual return of pain over months to years. In cases where scar tissue formation or adjacent segment disease is the cause, symptoms may develop or worsen over a period of months to years post-operatively. There is no fixed timeline — FBSS can present at any point after spinal surgery. If you are experiencing persistent post-surgical pain at any stage, an evaluation at Modern Pain Solutions can help identify the cause and appropriate treatment.
Are there non-surgical options for FBSS pain besides spinal cord stimulation?
Yes. While SCS has the strongest overall evidence for FBSS, several other interventional options may be appropriate depending on the specific cause of your post-surgical pain. These include targeted epidural steroid injections and nerve blocks for residual nerve inflammation, radiofrequency ablation for facet joint contributions, regenerative therapies for soft tissue healing, and dorsal root ganglion stimulation as an alternative neuromodulation approach. Dr. Lim will assess all available options and match the treatment to your specific pain generators.
Does insurance cover treatment for failed back surgery syndrome?
Most major insurance plans — including Medicare — cover evidence-based treatments for FBSS when clinical criteria are met. This includes epidural injections, radiofrequency ablation, and spinal cord stimulation following documentation of appropriate trial and prior treatment. Modern Pain Solutions will assist you with the prior authorization and insurance verification process. Call (818) 826-4145 for more information about your coverage options.