Symptom guide
Chronic Back Pain After Spine Surgery
Ongoing or returning back and leg pain following a prior spine surgery. Patients may describe pain that either never fully improved after surgery or returned after an initial period of improvement.
When to seek emergency care
- New neurological symptoms (leg weakness, bladder changes) after prior surgery — seek prompt evaluation
- Fever or wound changes near a surgical site
Conditions commonly associated with this symptom
Patients describing chronic back pain after spine surgery are commonly evaluated for these conditions. Only a clinician can determine which applies to you.
Which specialist typically evaluates this
The right provider depends on your specific situation. These are the specialties that commonly evaluate chronic back pain after spine surgery.
Frequently asked questions
- What is failed back surgery syndrome?
- Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is a term used when persistent or recurrent pain follows spine surgery. It is a recognized condition — not a surgical failure in all cases — and is commonly evaluated by pain management and PM&R specialists.
- What causes pain to return after spine surgery?
- Adjacent segment disease — where spinal levels above or below a fusion develop new degeneration — and scar tissue formation are among the conditions commonly associated with recurrent pain after spine surgery.
- Which specialist handles chronic pain after spine surgery?
- Pain management specialists and PM&R physicians commonly manage failed back surgery syndrome. Surgeons may be involved if structural revision is being considered.
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