An editorial in the Journal of Pain Research is supporting updated terminology for patients with chronic spine pain.
The authors described terms such as "failed back surgery" can imply blame on the patient or surgeon and doesn't help the stigma that comes with chronic pain.
In 2019, the International Association for the Study of Pain recommended using the term "chronic pain after spinal surgery." However, the authors say "persistent spinal pain syndrome" better accounts for all patients with chronic spinal pain.
The editorial concluded: "The Journal of Pain Research and the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience supports the new terminology of PSPS to improve the research and treatment, and reduce the stigmatization of this patient population."
Read the editorial published June 8 here.