If you’ve had spine surgery once, there are situations where you may find yourself considering it again. With fusion surgery, for instance, the spine can become weak in adjacent areas over time. As with any type of surgery, whether you’ve had it before or not, there are many factors to consider when making this decision.
Success of Your First Surgery
Confidence plays a big role in how comfortable you’re likely to feel about a second procedure. If your first procedure resulted in less pain and a better quality of life, it’s easier to make the case for having another procedure if your spine becomes unstable elsewhere. If, however, you’ve experienced a failed back surgery, it’s understandable to be hesitant.
Quality of Life and Level of Pain
The determining factor with any type of back or spine surgery is your overall quality of life without the procedure. If you’re not experiencing any additional pain or discomfort, even with an additional source of potential back pain identified, you may want to consider trying physical therapy, medications, and other treatments that may continue to minimize your pain until it reaches a point when your quality of life is seriously impacted.
The Immediate Need for Another Surgery
In the case of failed back surgery, a new combination of medications or another shot at physical therapy sometimes provides relief. If spinal instability is involved, you may not be able to absolutely rule out a second procedure, especially if your spine is likely to become progressively unstable.
The benefit of having spine surgery again is that you’ll have a fairly good idea of what to expect. At the same time, it’s still important to ask as many questions as necessary before the procedure. It’s also worth seeking input from other doctors to determine if there are any non-surgical spine treatments available.
If you’ve undergone one spine surgery and are considering a second, reach out to The Spine Institute Center for Spinal Restoration by calling (310) 828-7757. Our team of experienced board-certified spine surgeons can review your specific case and discuss further treatment options right for your individual needs and lifestyle.