If you’ve recently made the decision to undergo failed back surgery syndrome surgery, you may be feeling a bit apprehensive about your upcoming operation. This is quite normal, but there are several steps you can take to feel a bit more confident in your choice, as well as a bit more prepared for the process.

1. Ask as many questions as you need. It can be intimidating to have a long discussion with your physician, but this is precisely what you need to do at this time. Don’t feel as though you’re being intrusive or difficult by making sure you’re fully educated about your options — it’s your physician’s job to empower you to make your own choices. It’s perfectly fine to head to your next appointment with a comprehensive list of questions and discuss each one until you’re ready to move forward.
2. Reach out to friends and family. Spine pain is more common than you think, and there’s a good chance that someone you know has also had a neck or back operation. While you’ve already been through the process once, you can make the second time around less uncertain by reaching out to friends and family members to compare your experiences. Consider asking not only when and where they had their procedures performed, but also what sort of steps they took to help achieve the desired results.
3. Mentally prepare yourself. Right now, you’re probably spending a great deal of time thinking about your physical situation, but don’t overlook your mental well-being as well. Having a failed back surgery can be extremely stressful, both emotionally and socially. You likely had to lean on your support system quite a bit after your last surgery and may have to do the same after your upcoming failed back surgery syndrome surgery. In addition to discussing your personal concerns with your Care Partners, you may wish to try yoga, massage therapy or other relaxation techniques to help you feel more centered as you prepare for surgery number two.

At USA Spine Care, we recognize that preparing for a secondary back surgery is complicated. We perform minimally invasive alternatives to open back procedures that, among other benefits, have just a 2.26 percent complication rate. ^ To find out if you are a candidate for failed back surgery syndrome surgery at USA Spine Care, contact us today.

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