Introduction: Etiology, Diagnosis, and Therapy

Abstract

Management of a patient with a failed back following unsuccessful back surgery poses a serious problem to all health practitioners who attempt to aid these unfortunate sufferers. Neurosurgeons, orthopedists, psychiatrists, family practitioners, physical therapists, nurses, and even marriage counselors all too often find themselves frustrated in their therapeutic efforts. Many of these patients fail to respond to prolonged therapy, but the situation is certainly not hopeless. The list of therapeutic possibilities is, in fact, quite long and varied. Unfortunately, in many instances the failure to achieve success must be attributed to a lack of flexibility and versatility in the therapeutic efforts expended on these patients. One’s approach to these problems must be based on a systematic awareness of the potential therapies available and careful tailoring of therapeutic efforts to the patient’s specific symptoms, physical findings, and psychologic makeup.