Auburn Chiropractic Help for Persistent Pain After Back Surgery
No longer the ‘desired’ descriptor for back pain that lingers after a back surgery that was intended to relieve it, failed back surgery syndrome has new names like ‘post-surgical continued pain’ and ‘persistent spinal pain syndrome’. Whatever its called, if you have experienced 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 lead to more tiredness and lack of productivity during the day. Luckily, 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 in lumbar spine surgery and deemed ‘chronic’ at 3-months after spine surgery due to quick onset of neuropathic pain. (1) Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. has gentle, safe, relieving treatment for post-back-surgery patients.
HOW DOES CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL MANIPULATION HELP?
Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. 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 experienced back surgeries that blended surgical types (like discectomy with fusion or laminectory) decreased 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 greater than 50% relief of pain at the end of care (mean: 49 days, 11 treatments). At 2-years’ follow-up, 78.6% still had their pain relief. Mean relief of pain at the finish 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?
Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. 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 particular 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 type of treatment for PSPS patients. A Korean study found that auricular acupressure lowered both pain and neurological symptoms associated with PSPS. Researchers said it was 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! Auburn post back surgery continued pain patients would surely 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 having pain.
CONTACT Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C.
Back pain after back surgery can be irritating, but it does not have to keep you from sleeping or trouble you as intensely. If PSPS is your issue and you’re experiencing poor sleep quality due to PSPS, schedule your Auburn chiropractic appointment with Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. today to explore how chiropractic can help you!