Carrolltown Chiropractic Help for Persistent Pain After Back Surgery
No longer the ‘favored’ descriptor for back pain that remains following a back surgery that was supposed to alleviate it, failed back surgery syndrome has new names like ‘post-surgical continued pain’ and ‘persistent spinal pain syndrome’. Despite its name, if you have experienced back surgery and still experience back pain, you know how the pain can cloud 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 during the day. Luckily, there is hope for those who suffer from persistent spinal pain syndrome (PSPS) after back surgery. New studies have shown 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 identified 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 is most common in lumbar spine surgery and considered ‘chronic’ at 3-months after spine surgery because of the speed at which neuropathic pain sets in. (1) Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation has gentle, safe, relieving treatment for post-back-surgery patients.
HOW DOES CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL MANIPULATION HELP?
Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation uses 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 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 underwent back surgeries that blended surgical types (like discectomy with fusion or laminectory) lowered 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 more 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 experienced their pain relief. Mean relief of pain at the finish 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?
Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation 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 used on specific points on the ear. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, but recently researchers have begun analyzing its potential as a type of treatment for PSPS patients. A Korean study revealed that auricular acupressure reduced both pain and neurological symptoms associated with 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! Carrolltown post back surgery continued pain patients would certainly appreciate them. Another study found that auricular acupressure was effective in reducing pain and improving the sleep of older osteoarthritic persons living in nursing homes. (4) Regardless of age, we all could use better sleep when having pain.
CONTACT Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation
Back pain after back surgery can be frustrating, but it does not have to keep you from sleeping or trouble you as intensely. If you are dealing with post-surgical back pain or poor sleep quality due to PSPS, schedule your Carrolltown chiropractic appointment with Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation soon to explore how chiropractic can help you!