Lumbar Facet Pain After Failed Back Surgery

Dr. Robert Schwartz

Posted on February 18, 2018, updated on September 30, 2019

66 yo male with a chief complaint of low back pain that radiated to BLE.  He is s/p failed lumbar fusion X 3, at L2-L5. Spinal cord stimulator has also been placed 7 years earlier.  He presented still looking for pain relief. Cold stress sympathetic skin response thermology showed an asymmetry pattern over the left L12, L23 facet with lateral radiation.  Thermographic impression restated findings.  Diagnostic Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography revealed a hypoechoic response over the deep multifidus and inter spinous ligaments L12, L23.  Successful pain relief was accomplished with lumbar facet region block followed by stem cell grafting.