St Peters Chiropractic Help for Persistent Pain After Back Surgery
No longer the ‘desired’ descriptor for back pain that lingers 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 undergone back surgery and still experience back pain, you know how the pain can alter 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 suffer from persistent spinal pain syndrome (PSPS) after back surgery. Recent studies have demonstrated that using chiropractic spinal manipulation and even auricular acupressure can effectively reduce back pain and enhance sleep quality.
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. PSPS is most common with lumbar spine surgery and considered ‘chronic’ at 3-months after spine surgery due to quick onset of neuropathic pain. (1) Old Mill Chiropractic has gentle, safe, alleviating treatment for post-back-surgery patients.
HOW DOES CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL MANIPULATION HELP?
Old Mill Chiropractic 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 post-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 underwent back surgeries that blended surgical approaches (like discectomy with fusion or laminectory) reduced even more with 5.7 out of 10. (2) Another study of 69 cases treated with (Cox®) flexion distraction reported that 81% of patients reacted 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 two-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?
Old Mill Chiropractic 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 specific points on the ear. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, but lately researchers have started evaluating its potential as a form of treatment for PSPS patients. A Korean study found that auricular acupressure decreased both pain and neurological symptoms of 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 go wrong with those outcomes! St Peters post back surgery continued pain patients would surely welcome them. Another study showed that auricular acupressure was effective in reducing 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 Old Mill Chiropractic
Back pain after back surgery can be irritating, but it doesn’t have to keep you from sleeping or bother you as intensely. If PSPS is your issue and you’re experiencing poor sleep quality due to PSPS, schedule your St Peters chiropractic appointment with Old Mill Chiropractic soon to explore how chiropractic can help you!