If you are living with persistent or recurring pain after a previous spine surgery, you are not out of options — and it is not in your head. There is almost always a real, identifiable reason. Dr. Tyndall specializes in finding the true cause of continued pain and offering a clear, honest path forward.
Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) — also called post-laminectomy syndrome or persistent spinal pain syndrome — is an umbrella term for back or leg pain that continues, or comes back, after spine surgery. The name sounds discouraging, but it is important to understand what it really means: it is not a single disease, and it does not mean nothing can be done.
It is simply a description of an outcome — the surgery did not relieve the pain as hoped — and that outcome can have many different underlying causes. Sometimes a disc re-herniates. Sometimes a nerve was never fully freed. Sometimes the spine has changed in the years since surgery, or the original problem was never the true source of pain in the first place.
The single most important step in treating FBSS is not the next procedure — it is correctly identifying why the first surgery did not work. Once the real pain generator is found, the path forward usually becomes much clearer. That careful, detective-style evaluation is exactly where Dr. Tyndall, with his specific expertise in complex revision spine care, focuses his attention.
Continued pain after spine surgery almost always traces back to one of a handful of specific, identifiable causes. Tap each one to see what it is in plain language.
Check any of the following that sound like your experience since spine surgery.
This self-check is for education only and is not a diagnosis. Only a thorough evaluation with a spine specialist, including a physical exam and imaging, can determine what is actually causing your pain.
Too often, patients with FBSS are simply offered another operation without a clear answer to the most important question: why did the last one not work? Dr. Tyndall takes the opposite approach. He begins with a fresh, comprehensive re-evaluation — treating you as a new puzzle to be solved, not a repeat of the prior plan.
That evaluation includes a full history, a careful physical examination, a review of your prior operative records, and the advanced imaging needed to answer specific questions. The goal is to identify the actual pain generator before recommending any treatment at all.
Conservative care comes first. Once the cause is understood, Dr. Tyndall favors the least invasive path that can relieve your pain — which often means non-surgical options such as pain management, targeted injections, and physical therapy, and referral for neuromodulation (such as a spinal cord stimulator) when that is the most appropriate fit.
Revision surgery is recommended only when a clear, correctable structural cause is found and conservative measures have not provided enough relief. When surgery is the right answer, Dr. Tyndall favors minimally invasive and motion-preserving techniques to address the specific problem while protecting the rest of your spine. If surgery is not the answer, he will tell you honestly and help you find the care that is.
Every patient's path is individualized. The right next step depends entirely on what the evaluation reveals about the true source of your pain.
Certain symptoms can signal a serious problem that needs immediate attention. If you experience new or progressive weakness, worsening numbness, or any loss of bladder or bowel control, do not wait — go to the nearest urgent care or emergency room, or call 911. These can be signs of a surgical emergency.
When a previous surgery has not delivered relief, the surgeon you turn to next matters more than ever. Dr. Tyndall pairs deep revision expertise with the judgment to recommend surgery only when it is truly the right answer.
If you are still in pain after spine surgery, a fresh, comprehensive evaluation can find what was missed. Bring your prior records and imaging — Dr. Tyndall will help you understand what is going on and what your real options are. Call today to schedule your consultation.
(219) 250-5035Monday – Friday · 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
500 E. 109th Avenue
Crown Point, IN 46307
833 W. Lincoln Highway, Suite 110
Schererville, IN 46375