Persistent Back Pain after Multiple Operations: Case Presentation From Israel With Commentaries From Austria and The Netherlands

ABSTRACT

A case of chronic back pain following multiples spine surgeries is presented as an example of postlaminectomy (failed back surgery) syndrome. The roles of physical modalities and spine rehabilitation rather than additional surgery and pharmacotherapy are described. In the commentaries the potential usefulness of adjunctive pharmacotherapy with opioids and tricyclic antidepressants is mentioned, as is the potential future need for more invasive procedures.

KEYWORDS :

• Back pain
• failed back surgery syndrome
• myofascial
• postlaminectomy syndrome
• spine rehabilitation

Notes

Dr Ekkehard Schweitzer is Consultant and Head of the Interdisciplinary Pain Clinic, Abteilung für Anästhesie und Intensivmedizin, Krankenhaus Hietzing mit Neurologischem Zentrum Rosenhügel, Vienna, Austria.

Dr. Peter J. Theuvenet is an anesthesiologist and pain specialist at the Medisch Centrum Alkmaar, The Netherlands.