San Jose Chiropractic Help for Persistent Pain After Back Surgery
No longer the ‘desired’ descriptor for back pain that hangs around following a back surgery that was intended to ease it, failed back surgery syndrome has new names like ‘post-surgical continued pain’ and ‘persistent spinal pain syndrome’. Despite its name, if you have had back surgery and still have back pain, you know how the pain can alter your life, day and night. For many, this means not getting a good night’s rest, which can lead to more tiredness and lack of productivity throughout the day. Fortunately, there is hope for those who have persistent spinal pain syndrome (PSPS) after back surgery. Recent studies have demonstrated that using chiropractic spinal manipulation and even auricular acupressure can effectively decrease back pain and enhance the quality of sleep.
WHAT IS PSPS - Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome?
PSPS is defined as persistent, new, or recurrent low back with or without lower extremity (radicular pain for 10%-40% of patients) pain after at least one or more back surgeries. PSPS is most common with lumbar spine surgery and considered ‘chronic’ at 3-months post-spine surgery because of the speed at which neuropathic pain sets in. (1) Chiropractic Solutions has gentle, safe, alleviating treatment for post-back-surgery patients.
HOW DOES CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL MANIPULATION HELP?
Chiropractic Solutions implements evidence-based, well-researched chiropractic technique, Cox® Technic. A chiropractic study related the outcomes of 32 cases of post-surgical continued lumbar spine pain after back surgery who were treated with (Cox®) flexion distraction spinal manipulation and mobilization. Relief was measured by numerical pain scale scores (0/no pain to 10/worst pain) and dropped 4.1 out of 10 in a mean number of 14 treatments. Patients who had back surgeries that combined surgical types (like discectomy with fusion or laminectory) reduced even more with 5.7 out of 10. (2) Another study of 69 cases treated with (Cox®) flexion distraction reported that 81% of patients responded with greater than 50% relief of pain at the end of the treatment period (mean: 49 days, 11 treatments). At 2-years’ follow-up, 78.6% still had their pain relief. Mean relief of pain at the end of the treatment period was 71.6% and 70% at 2-year follow-up. (3) Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Byron Folwell on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for post-back-surgery-continued back pain patients.
A HELPFUL ADJUNCTIVE APPROACH: WHAT IS AURICULAR ACUPRESSURE?
Chiropractic Solutions appreciates effective non-surgical means to help our chiropractic patients get that extra edge of relief. Auricular acupressure is such an approach in which pressure is applied to specific points on the ear. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, but lately researchers have started analyzing its potential as a form of treatment for PSPS patients. A Korean study found that auricular acupressure reduced both pain and neurological symptoms of PSPS. Researchers described it as an effective, safe, cost-effective, non-invasive intervention that can improve pain, neuropathy, and sleep in PSPS patients. (1) Well, you can’t argue with those outcomes! San Jose post back surgery continued pain patients would surely welcome them. Another study found that auricular acupressure was effective in lowering pain and improving the sleep of older osteoarthritic persons residing in nursing homes. (4) Old and young alike, we all could use better sleep when experiencing pain.
CONTACT Chiropractic Solutions
Back pain after back surgery can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to keep you from sleeping or bother you as intensely. If you are dealing with post-surgical back pain or poor sleep quality due to PSPS, schedule your San Jose chiropractic appointment with Chiropractic Solutions today to explore how chiropractic can help you!