Is failed spinal fusion a disability?

If you have suffered from a spinal disorder that has resulted in you undergoing spinal fusion, but you are still unable to work, you may be eligible to qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

What if a spinal fusion doesn’t work?

The condition only needs to be corrected if it isn’t providing the stability your spine needs to function normally. If you do have pain, you will need to re-stabilized the segment with additional instrumentation. In most cases this will require a new fusion, but some patients can be converted to a motion procedure.

Can a spinal fusion be redone?

Pseudoarthrosis is very common, occurring in up to 68\% of lumbar fusions, according to Auerbach. Of these, between 6 and 36\% require a re-operation, he says. Some things that may play a role in the development of pseudoarthrosis after your first surgery include: The nature of your original diagnosis.

Is failed back surgery a disability?

While the Social Security Administration (SSA) doesn’t recognize back surgery specifically as something that will get you a grant of automatic disability benefits, the pain caused by your surgery and your underlying back problems may be enough to get you SSDI or SSI disability benefits if you are unable to work.

What are the symptoms of failed back surgery?

Common symptoms associated with Failed Back Syndrome include diffuse, dull and aching pain involving the back and/or legs. Patients may also complain of sharp, pricking, burning or stabbing pain in the extremities.

Can you feel the hardware after spinal fusion?

“If the hardware is prominent under the skin the patient may feel a painful bump,” Dr. Lieberman explains. “If the hardware loosens or is irritating the surrounding tissue and nerves, the patient may feel pain or may feel and hear crepitus—a crackling sound or popping sound.”

What are the symptoms of a failed lumbar fusion?

In addition to chronic back pain, other symptoms of failed back surgery include neurological symptoms (eg, numbness, weakness, tingling sensations), leg pain, and radicular pain (pain that spreads from one area of the body to another, such as from your neck down to your arm).

How do you treat failed back surgery?

What are the Treatments for Failed Back Surgery Syndrome? Treatment for failed back surgery syndrome may include physical therapy, nerve blocks, medications, injections or a chronic pain management program. If the pain is possibly coming from the facet or sacroiliac joints, chiropractic care may be recommended.

What can cause a spinal fusion to fail?

Causes and Risk Factors

• Smoking.
• Formation of scar tissue.
• Recurring or persistent disc disease at adjacent levels.
• Continued pressure from spinal stenosis.
• Instability or abnormal movement.
• Pseudoarthrosis or failure of the fusion.
• Nerve damage within the nerve, arachnoiditis.

What are the limitations after spinal fusion?

Avoid strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, until your doctor says it is okay. Do not drive for 2 to 4 weeks after your surgery or until your doctor says it is okay. Avoid riding in a car for more than 30 minutes at a time for 2 to 4 weeks after surgery.

What does lucency around screws mean?

Lucency around a screw was defined as a 1mm or greater radiolucent halo surrounding a pedicle screw. All radiographic assessments were made by the senior author.

What to do if a lumbar fusion fails?

Revision Surgery. When a spine fusion fails, a revision surgery may be the best approach. In the lumbar spine, a combination posterior and anterior fusion can help better stabilize the area. The fusion can be performed with different, more effective methods as well.

What are the most common failed spinal fusion surgeries?

Failed Spinal Fusion Surgery 1 Failure of Solid Fusion After Spine Surgery. When the fusion is for back pain and/or spinal instability, there is a correlation (although weak) between obtaining a solid fusion and having 2 Implant Failure in Spine Surgery. 3 Transfer Lesion to Another Level after a Spine Fusion.

What is a lumbar fusion?

Lumbar fusion is a procedure that stops vertebral motion in the lumbar spine to reduce back pain. The surgery involves adding a bone graft to the spine, which creates a bone fusion by growing between two vertebral elements. Unfortunately, there are numerous complications that can arise due to lumbar fusion—the effects of which can be debilitating.

Can multiple spinal fusions be reversed?

If you’ve already had multiple fusions and continue to experience back and leg pain, there’s little you can do to reverse the effects of the surgeries that have already been done on your spine. However, you can try to break the cycle by looking into alternatives to another spinal fusion.