Managing The Mental Side Of Failed Spine Surgery

Much of the focus during the back pain treatment stage focuses on your physical health, but unless we also ensure that our mental health is improving, recovery can stagnate. Pain treatment problems are only further amplified when you do everything you can to overcome an issue, and you still run into a setback. Even if this setback was through no fault of your own, it can really weigh on your mental health.

This is an issue that we often see with patients who are dealing with the fallout of an issue called failed spine surgery. Whether they come to us following a procedure with another provider, or they didn’t quite achieve the results they had hoped for following a surgery we performed, there is typically a significant mental burden that co-exists in patients dealing with a failed spine surgery. We want to explore what you can do to get yourself back in a healthy headspace if you end up dealing with the aftermath of a failed spine surgery.

Failed Spine Surgery And Your Mental Health

If you haven’t achieved the results you were hoping for after your spine surgery, don’t just focus on your physical health. Work to improve your mental health by following these tips:

• Find Someone To Talk To – It is completely normal to feel angry, annoyed, upset, hopeless or lost. You assumed that surgery was going to give you the best chance at the fullest recovery, but those expectations went unmet. You’ll feel better if you can vocalize the feelings you’re experiencing. Whether that is to a spouse, a friend or a support group, find someone who is willing to listen to you talk about what you’re going through.
• Talk With Your Doctor – Don’t stop pursuing medical treatment just because this avenue let you down. Consult with the surgeon or consider talking to another spine specialist like Dr. Sinicropi to bring fresh eyes into the situation. Together, you and your medical team will want to pivot away from the failed treatment and towards a treatment that you can feel encouraged about. Never assume that a failed spine surgery is the end of the line for your back issue.
• Set Goals – Make it a point to set some realistic goals for yourself. You can bring your surgeon, your physical therapist or other members of your care team into the fold to assist with the development of your goals, but plan to set some short- and long-term goals for your health. Goal setting can help with motivation, and staying motivated is incredibly important after failed spine surgery.
• Control What You Can Control – Finally, we reiterate to all patients, no matter where they are in the process of overcoming back pain, that they can only control what they can control. You can do everything right and still end up with pain, but if you focus on the factors you can control, you stand to improve your odds of a successful outcome. Many patients also find mental peace when they realize that they are doing all they can to overcome back pain. Some things you can control include:
  • Prehabiliation
  • Weight management
  • Physical therapy
  • Healthy diet
  • Ideal sleep habits
  • Adherence to doctor recommendations

If you do these things and strive to treat all aspects of your health that are affected by spine pain, we’re confident you can successfully navigate life after a failed spine surgery. For more information, or for assistance with a new or chronic back issue, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi’s office today at (651) 430-3800.

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