Researchers from Boston University and the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center have examined one solution for those experiencing failed back surgery syndrome (FBBS). The study, “The Simplified Epiduralysis After Laminectomy/Fusion (SEAL) Procedure for Postsurgical Radicular Low Back Pain,” appears in the October 10, 2018 edition of Pain Medicine.
Michael D. Perloff, M.D., Ph.D., with the Department of Neurology at the Boston University School of Medicine in Massachusetts tells OTW, “The epidural space can have subacute or chronic inflammation after lumbar spine surgery. Many times a patient would do well after surgery, if chronic inflammation would calm down.”
“Simplified epiduralysis after laminectomy/fusion (SEAL) is a modified epidural/epiduralysis procedure that puts medications and local volume pressure very proximal to the (previous) surgical location. Conventional epidural injections are not good at this. SEAL does not do as extensive epiduralysis as the Racz procedure or specialty catheters, but it does offer some epiduralysis to the perisurgical area and may benefit many patients with failed back surgery syndrome.”
According to the Boston University news release, simplified epiduralysis after laminectomy/fusion “… was performed on 30 patients who continued to experience low back and leg pain after back surgery. Short-to moderate-term pain relief was reported in 74% of these patients. Nearly 40% reported greater than 50% pain relief. After three years of follow-up, only one patient went on to repeat lumbar spine surgery.”
Dr. Perloff explained his experience with this novel procedure to OTW, “Some patients may just need one SEAL procedure, some may need repeat SEALs as therapy. Of course, it won’t help all failed back surgery syndrome patients, and in those cases, more complex (specialty catheter) epiduralysis may help, or spinal cord stimulators. The SEAL procedure offers a good initial procedural trial for failed back surgery syndrome that is low risk, low cost, and done in one short outpatient visit.”
My uncle has a hard time walking around after an accident because he hurt his spine bad. It was explained here that there are a lot of benefits of spine surgery to minimize short-to moderate term pain. Moreover, it’s recommended to go to a trusted health professional when in need of spine surgery.
I had L1-3 level decompression and spinal fusion in 1996 for herniated discs. I have had suffered lumber pain since then for failed back surgery .having had 2 denervations which have lasted for approximately two years max eaxh. It is abt 8 yrs since my last denervation and four days ago l was stopped suddenly when bending slightly by intense pain, moaning, it eased momentarily until l tool one step gaining balance by holding the walk, my 7yr old grandson raced from adjoining room after hearing my moans. Since then l get intense, deep spasms in my lumber area, making me feel like opening my bowels causing a toilet visit to open my bowels. What would you consider my issue please. Is it worth investigating .
With thanks
Lynette from Australia