Augusta 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 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 experienced back surgery and still experience 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 lead to more fatigue and lack of productivity throughout 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 improve 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 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) Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic has gentle, safe, relieving treatment for post-back-surgery patients.
HOW DOES CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL MANIPULATION HELP?
Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic 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 managed 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 types (like discectomy with fusion or laminectory) reduced 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 responded with more than 50% relief of pain at the end of care (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?
Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic appreciates effective non-surgical means to elevate the positive relief outcome. Auricular acupressure is such an approach in which pressure is applied to particular points on the ear. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for a long time, but recently researchers have begun studying its potential as a type of treatment for PSPS patients. A Korean study found that auricular acupressure decreased both pain and neurological symptoms related to PSPS. Researchers described it as an effective, safe, cost-effective, non-invasive intervention that may well improve pain, neuropathy, and sleep in PSPS patients. (1) Well, you can’t argue with those outcomes! Augusta 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) Old and young alike, we all could use better sleep when having pain.
CONTACT Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic
Back pain after back surgery can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to keep you awake all night or trouble you as intensely. If PSPS is your issue and you’re experiencing poor sleep quality due to PSPS, schedule your Augusta chiropractic appointment with Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic today to explore how chiropractic can help you!