Symptoms
Common symptoms
- Persistent or recurring back or leg pain after surgery
- New or different pain pattern than before surgery
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness
- Difficulty walking or standing
- Sleep disturbance and reduced quality of life
Failed
Back Surgery .
Failed Back Surgery Syndrome refers to persistent or recurring pain after spine surgery. It may result from scar tissue, ongoing nerve irritation, or underlying spinal problems that were not fully resolved, often requiring careful evaluation and individualized treatment.
Now Accepting · New Patients
Diagnosis first. Treatment second.
Whole spine spine condition treated with conservative options first and motion-preserving surgery when needed.
4
LA offices
Region
Whole spine
★★★★★
Welcomed
Failed Back Surgery Syndrome at a glance
- What it is: Failed Back Surgery Syndrome refers to persistent or recurring pain after spine surgery. It may result from scar tissue, ongoing nerve irritation, or underlying spinal problems that were not fully resolved, often requiring careful evaluation and individualized treatment.
- Common symptoms: Persistent or recurring back or leg pain after surgery; New or different pain pattern than before surgery; Numbness, tingling, or weakness.
- First-line treatment: Comprehensive re-evaluation — Dr. Yasmeh reviews prior operative reports, imaging, and current exam findings to identify the source of pain.
- When surgery is considered: progressive symptoms, neurological changes, or pain unresponsive to conservative care.
Symptoms & causes
Understanding failed back surgery syndrome
Causes
Common causes
- Scar tissue (epidural fibrosis)
- Adjacent-segment disease
- Incomplete decompression at the original surgery
- Hardware-related issues
- Recurrent disc herniation
How Dr. Yasmeh treats it
Treatment options
Dr. Yasmeh starts with the least-invasive option that fits your case and only escalates when clearly needed.
Conservative care
Step 1Conservative care first
Most patients improve without surgery. Dr. Yasmeh sequences therapy, medication, and targeted injections before considering operative options.
- Comprehensive re-evaluation — Dr. Yasmeh reviews prior operative reports, imaging, and current exam findings to identify the source of pain.
- Multimodal pain management — Physical therapy, neuropathic medication, and image-guided injections.
Surgical care
When neededWhen surgery is the right answer
When non-operative care has not worked or symptoms are progressive, Dr. Yasmeh offers motion-preserving techniques whenever clinically appropriate.
- Revision surgery (selected cases) — When a clear anatomic problem is identified, targeted revision can produce meaningful improvement.
Common questions
About failed back surgery syndrome.
- Most patients improve with conservative care — physical therapy, medication, and targeted injections. Dr. Yasmeh only recommends surgery when symptoms are progressive, when there is neurological compromise, or when conservative care has not resolved the problem.
- Diagnosis combines a careful history, physical exam, and imaging (typically MRI). Dr. Yasmeh reviews your imaging with you in plain language so you understand what's happening.
- Yes — Dr. Yasmeh offers second opinions, especially for patients told they need fusion. He evaluates motion-preserving alternatives like laminoplasty or artificial disc replacement when clinically appropriate.
- Dr. Yasmeh sees patients at four offices across Greater Los Angeles: East LA (1700 E Cesar Chavez Ave), Glendale (1505 Wilson Terrace), Santa Fe Springs (12215 Telegraph Rd), and Tarzana (18840 Ventura Blvd).
Related procedures
Procedures Dr. Yasmeh performs for this condition
Ready when you are
Get clarity on your failed back surgery syndrome today.
Same-week appointments. Four Greater LA offices. Most insurance accepted.