Pain After Neck Or Cervical Surgery
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SamWell Institute for Pain Management
Pain Management Specialist located in Colonia, NJ, Livingston, NJ & Englewood, NJ
If you experience pain after neck or cervical surgery, also known as failed-neck surgery syndrome or post-laminectomy pain, it doesn’t have to be long-lasting. At SamWell Institute for Pain Management in Colonia, Englewood and Livingston, New Jersey, pain management specialist Jay Shah, MD, and the team offer a variety of pain relieving interventions including: epidural injections, nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, and spinal cord stimulation (SCS) to relieve back discomfort with minimal downtime. Their goal is to alleviate discomfort, restore your function, and give you a better quality of life. Book an appointment over the phone or online to learn more about your treatment options.
Pain After Neck or Cervical Surgery Q & A
What is pain after neck or cervical surgery?
Pain after neck or cervical surgery (post-laminectomy pain or failed neck surgery syndrome) can occur for numerous reasons. Not every pain-relieving surgery works for every patient, and many patients may incur post-surgical nerve pain that can become chronic.
New spinal injuries, improper healing after surgery, or undergoing the wrong type of surgery for your condition can contribute to pain after neck surgery. Treatment with the team at SamWell Institute for Pain Management can offer relief.
What does pain after neck or cervical surgery feel like?
Common signs and symptoms of pain after neck or cervical surgery include:
- Dull, aching neck pain into the shoulders
- Shooting or stabbing pain
- Headaches
- Numbness and Tingling
- Burning pain
- Stiffness
- Decreased range of motion
- Radiating pain down the arm or into hands/fingers
Neck pain after surgery might be mild, moderate, or severe. It can come and go or be a constant, steady source of discomfort.
How does my provider diagnose neck pain after surgery?
To determine what’s causing the pain you’re still feeling after neck or cervical surgery, Dr. Shah and his team review your symptoms, medical history, and any medications you may be taking.
They complete a comprehensive physical examination and might recommend that you undergo nerve tests, blood tests, CT scans, X-rays, MRIs, or other imaging procedures to develop a treatment plan.
What are my neck pain treatment options?
Dr. Shah tailors each neck pain treatment to match your individualized needs. Treatment options for pain after neck or cervical surgery include epidural injections, nerve blocks or radiofrequency ablation. More advanced procedures that provide long-term relief of this pain include:
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS)
Spinal cord stimulation at SamWell Institute for Pain Management uses acurate doses of electrical stimulation to to block pain signals and relieve your residual post-surgical neck or arm pain.
During spinal cord stimulation, which uses doses of electrical stimulation to block pain signals and relieve pain, Dr. Shah places a spinal cord stimulator and leads and electrodes within the epidural space behind your spinal cord during a minimally invasive procedure. Dr. Shah performs an external trial of the procedure first for 7 days, to accurately assess your candidacy for a long-term implant of the pain relieving device. Thanks to anesthesia, you don’t feel any pain during stimulator implantation, which often takes about 60-90 minutes in a same-day oupatient setting.
The procedure is performed under direct live fluoroscopic or X-ray image guidance for accuracy, precision, and safety.