No longer the ‘preferred’ descriptor
for back pain that remains 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’. Whatever its
name, if you have experienced back surgery
and still experience 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 result in more
tiredness and lack of productivity during the
day. Fortunately, there is hope for those who have
persistent spinal pain syndrome (PSPS) after back surgery. Recent
studies have shown that using chiropractic spinal
manipulation and even auricular acupressure can effectively reduce
back pain and enhance the quality of sleep.
WHAT IS PSPS - Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome?
PSPS is described 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. It’s most common with lumbar spine surgery and deemed
‘chronic’ at 3-months after spine surgery due to quick onset of neuropathic pain. (1)
Chiropractic Solutions has gentle, safe, alleviating treatment for
post-back-surgery patients.
HOW DOES CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL MANIPULATION HELP?
Chiropractic Solutions uses evidence-based,
well-researched chiropractic technique, Cox® Technic. A chiropractic
study related the outcomes of 32 cases of post-surgical
continued lumbar spine pain post-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 decreased by 4.1 out of 10 in a mean number of 14
treatments. Patients who had back surgeries that combined
surgical approaches (like discectomy with fusion or laminectory) lowered
even more with 5.7 out of 10. (2) An additional study of 69 cases
treated with (Cox®) flexion distraction reported that 81% of
patients reacted with greater than 50% relief of
pain at the end of care (mean: 49 days, 11
treatments). At 2-years’ follow-up, 78.6% continued
with their pain relief. Mean relief of pain at the end of the treatment
period was 71.6% and 70% at two-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 a
long time, but recently researchers have started
evaluating its potential as a form of
treatment for PSPS patients. A Korean study revealed that auricular
acupressure lowered 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 go wrong with those
outcomes! San Jose post back surgery continued pain patients
would certainly appreciate 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) Regardless of age, we all could
use better sleep when having pain.
CONTACT Chiropractic Solutions
Back pain after back surgery can be irritating,
but it doesn’t have to keep you up
all night or bother you as much. 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 soon
to explore how chiropractic can help you!