According to the Global Burden of Disease 2010 study, low back pain ranks highest in terms of years lived with disabilities and sixth in terms of disability-adjusted life years ( 6). When neither pharmacological therapies nor alternative interventions provide sufficient pain relief, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) can be applied to treat FBSS ( 3, 4).Ĭhronic pain is strongly related to physical and emotional suffering, social problems, limitations in daily functioning, and absence from work through illness ( 5). In order to improve SCS-outcomes for both short- and long-term, these themes should be implemented as a multidimensional approach, both prior to implantation as during follow-up.įailed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS) is considered one of the iatrogenic etiologies of chronic low back pain ( 1) and is defined as persistent lumbar pain despite surgical intervention or radicular pain in the same topographical distribution emerging after spinal surgery ( 2). Multiple QoL- and psychosocial-related themes are related to SCS-outcomes.

Seven out of 13 (54%) reported a ≥50% increase regarding enjoyment of life. According to the BPI Questionnaire, four out of 13 patients (31%) had significant pain relief (≥50%).

Moreover, the realization of patients' expectations were variable throughout the presented themes. “Acceptance” and “coping” emerged as pre-eminent motifs throughout these themes. Seven themes regarding patients' experiences, subdivided into 15 categories, were identified, including an understudied theme within this field of research, Spiritual Well-Being. Materials and MethodsĪ qualitative study with in-depth semi-structured interviews, assisted by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI)-questionnaire. The aim of this study was to qualitatively and quantitatively map the FBSS patients' experiences with SCS and the effects of SCS on low back pain caused by FBSS. Although it seems reasonable that quality of life (QoL)- and psychosocial-related factors contribute to the outcome of SCS since pain is a multidimensional experience, few qualitative studies have explored the expectations of SCS and experiences on SCS to treat FBSS from the patient perspective. When neither pharmacological therapies nor alternative interventions provide sufficient pain relief, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) can be used to treat Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS).

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