Manahawkin 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’. Whatever its called, 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 being able to get a good night’s rest, which can result in further 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 decrease back pain and improve 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. It’s most common with lumbar spine surgery and considered ‘chronic’ at 3-months after spine surgery due to quick onset of neuropathic pain. (1) Manahawkin Chiropractic Center has gentle, safe, relieving treatment for post-back-surgery patients.
HOW DOES CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL MANIPULATION HELP?
Manahawkin Chiropractic Center 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 blended surgical approaches (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 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 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?
Manahawkin Chiropractic Center welcomes 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 particular points on the ear. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for a long time, but lately researchers have begun evaluating its potential as a type of treatment for PSPS patients. A Korean study revealed that auricular acupressure reduced 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 go wrong with those outcomes! Manahawkin post back surgery continued pain patients would surely appreciate them. Another study showed that auricular acupressure was effective in decreasing pain and improving the sleep of elderly osteoarthritic persons residing in nursing homes. (4) Old and young alike, we all could use better sleep when experiencing pain.
CONTACT Manahawkin Chiropractic Center
Back pain after back surgery can be frustrating, but it does not have to keep you awake all night or trouble you as intensely. If you are dealing with post-surgical back pain or poor sleep quality due to PSPS, schedule your Manahawkin chiropractic appointment with Manahawkin Chiropractic Center today to explore how chiropractic can help you!