Chronic joint pain following a failed surgery can be disheartening, especially when treatments like medication, physical therapy, and lifestyle modifications fail to provide lasting relief. If you're living with persistent pain despite undergoing surgical intervention, you're not alone. Many patients find themselves facing ongoing discomfort, frustration, and reduced quality of life.
At Grand Rapids Pain led by board-certified interventional pain management physicians Keith Javery, DO, and Girish Juneja, MD, we specialise in innovative treatments that pinpoint and treat the precise sources of your chronic pain. Our approach eliminates unnecessary steps, ensuring direct communication and personalised care from your physician—no middleman involved.
Ready for relief from chronic joint pain after surgery? Contact Grand Rapids Pain Specialists at (616) 727-0083), or book your appointment online.
Understanding Chronic Joint Pain Post-Surgery
It’s not uncommon to feel some pain after a surgical procedure. But when that pain doesn’t go away and, in some cases, gets worse, you may be dealing with what’s known as persistent post-surgical pain or failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS).
Common causes of chronic joint pain after surgery include:
- Scar tissue formation compresses nearby nerves
- Misdiagnosed pain generators that surgery didn’t address
- Nerve damage or inflammation from the surgical procedure itself
- Referred pain from other joints, muscles, or the spine
This pain often leads to limited mobility, disrupted sleep, mental fatigue, and emotional stress, deeply impacting quality of life.
Why Some Surgeries Fail to Resolve Pain
Surgery is often intended to fix the root problem, but it doesn’t always succeed. Sometimes the actual pain source isn’t targeted. In other cases, the healing process is incomplete, or complications such as nerve sensitivity, inflammation, or arthritic progression get in the way.
Conditions that may contribute to ongoing pain include:
- Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
- Spinal stenosis
- Post-surgical nerve entrapment
- CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome)
If your joint pain after surgery has led to a cycle of medication, injections, or even more surgery, it’s time to consider a different approach.
The Limits of Conservative Pain Treatments
Typically, doctors recommend conservative treatments like medication, injections, physical therapy, or radiofrequency ablation to relieve pain. Although these treatments help many patients initially, their effectiveness may diminish over time, especially in complex or severe chronic pain cases.
Common limitations of conservative treatments include:
- Temporary pain relief without addressing the underlying causes.
- Potential side effects from prolonged medication or opioid use.
- Limited effectiveness in cases involving nerve damage or chronic inflammation.
When conservative treatments fail, patients often face difficult choices about ongoing medication or additional invasive procedures, causing further stress and diminished hope.
Why Choosing the Right Clinic—And the Right Procedure—Matters More Than Ever?
At Grand Rapids Pain, we don’t believe all pain clinics—or pain treatments—are created equal. Our board-certified team, led by Dr. Javery and Dr. Juneja, uses data-driven, minimally invasive solutions like PNS and spinal stimulation because they reflect the current standard of care—not outdated approaches.
We utilize MIST 2.0 (Minimally Invasive Surgical Therapeutics), a cutting-edge approach to pain relief that avoids general anesthesia, long recovery times, or destructive procedures. Despite the name, these aren’t surgeries in the traditional sense. They're highly targeted interventions designed to quiet pain at its source.
Techniques include:
- Peripheral Nerve Stimulator (PNS) Therapy
- Image-guided radiofrequency ablation
- Spinal cord stimulation and other neuromodulation techniques
- Diagnostic and therapeutic injections tailored to your exact condition
Most importantly, we find and treat the source, not just the symptom.
“Procedures like PNS aren’t just better—they’re what modern pain care should be.”
The Power of Peripheral Nerve Stimulator Therapy (PNS)
At Grand Rapids Pain Specialists, we use an advanced, minimally invasive treatment called Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS). Backed by peer-reviewed literature, PNS—and other Minimally Invasive Surgical Therapeutics (MIST)—are now considered the gold standard in interventional pain medicine.
PNS is FDA-approved, fully reversible, and precisely targeted. Here’s how it works:
- A small electrode is placed under image guidance near the affected nerve.
- It delivers gentle, customizable electrical pulses that block pain signals before they reach the brain.
- The system is safe, non-destructive, and opioid-free.
Comfortable Care—Without the Compromises
Patient comfort is our priority. When medically indicated, we can use:
- Moderate IV conscious sedation during the trial and permanent PNS placement.
- MAC (Monitored Anesthesia Care) for patients who require a deeper level of sedation—administered by an anesthesiologist in-room during the procedure.
Unlike old-school injections that now often restrict sedation due to insurance policies, procedures like PNS are performed with comfort and safety in mind. We ensure each patient is relaxed, responsive, and fully supported throughout.
How Grand Rapids Pain Specialists Truly Stand Apart
It’s not 1999 anymore. So why would you still be treating chronic pain with outdated methods and fragmented care?
At Grand Rapids Pain, everything starts and ends with your physician. You don’t wait weeks for a plan. You don’t bounce between assistants. You don’t get a printout and a prescription, and a six-month follow-up.
What you get is:
- Direct access to a board-certified specialist
- Shorter wait times
- No corporate red tape
- An advanced, personalised treatment plan built for your body and your goals
We're not a volume-driven “factory” pain clinic. We're West Michigan’s leader in interventional pain medicine—with the experience, compassion, and tools to truly change lives.
Join the Next Era in Pain Management
Pain management is evolving, and Grand Rapids Pain is leading the way. As members of respected national societies such as the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) and the American Society of Pain & Neuroscience (ASPN), we stay at the forefront of the latest advancements and research in interventional techniques.
We believe we are entering a new golden era in pain management, where treatment is less invasive, more precise, and more effective than ever before.
Take the First Step Toward Real Relief—No Middleman, Just Results
If your joint pain has persisted after surgery and conservative treatments haven’t worked, Grand Rapids Pain can help. Our approach is modern, safe, and supported by peer-reviewed research.
We offer physician-led care, proven therapies like PNS, and advanced comfort options including IV sedation and MAC, when medically indicated.
Call us at (616) 727-0083 or book online. There’s no middleman—just answers, relief, and care that respects your time and your pain.
