Concord, NC Chiropractic Help for Persistent Pain After Back Surgery
No longer the ‘desired’ term for back pain that hangs around after a back surgery that was supposed to relieve 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 take over your life, day and night. For many, this means not getting a good night’s rest, which can result in further fatigue and lack of productivity during the day. Fortunately, there is hope for those who have persistent spinal pain syndrome (PSPS) after back surgery. New studies have demonstrated 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 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 in lumbar spine surgery and deemed ‘chronic’ at 3-months after spine surgery because of the speed at which neuropathic pain sets in. (1) Pure Chiropractic has gentle, safe, alleviating treatment for post-back-surgery patients.
HOW DOES CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL MANIPULATION HELP?
Pure Chiropractic implements evidence-based, well-researched chiropractic technique, Cox® Technic. One 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 rated 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 experienced back surgeries that combined surgical types (like discectomy with fusion or laminectory) decreased even more with 5.7 out of 10. (2) Another study of 69 cases treated with (Cox®) flexion distraction documented 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 describes The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for post-back-surgery-continued back pain patients.
A HELPFUL ADJUNCTIVE APPROACH: WHAT IS AURICULAR ACUPRESSURE?
Pure Chiropractic appreciates effective non-surgical means to elevate the positive relief outcome. Auricular acupressure is such an approach in which pressure is used on specific points on the ear. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for a long time, but lately researchers have begun analyzing its potential as a type of treatment for PSPS patients. A Korean study found that auricular acupressure decreased both pain and neurological symptoms associated with PSPS. Researchers said it was 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! Concord, NC post back surgery continued pain patients would certainly welcome them. Another study found that auricular acupressure was effective in lessening pain and improving the sleep of elderly osteoarthritic persons living in nursing homes. (4) Old and young alike, we all could use better sleep when experiencing pain.
CONTACT Pure Chiropractic
Back pain after back surgery can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to keep you from sleeping or bother you as much. If PSPS is your issue and you’re experiencing poor sleep quality due to PSPS, schedule your Concord, NC chiropractic appointment with Pure Chiropractic today to explore how chiropractic can help you!