No longer the ‘favored’ word
for back pain that hangs around following a
back surgery that was supposed to ease it,
failed back surgery syndrome has new names like ‘post-surgical continued pain’
and ‘persistent spinal pain syndrome’. Whatever its
name, 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 result in further
tiredness and lack of productivity during the
day. Fortunately, 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 reduce
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’s most common with lumbar spine surgery and deemed
‘chronic’ at 3-months after spine surgery due to quick onset of neuropathic pain. (1)
Back And Neck Care Center has gentle, safe, alleviating treatment for
post-back-surgery patients.
HOW DOES CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL MANIPULATION HELP?
Back And Neck Care 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 managed
with (Cox®) flexion distraction spinal manipulation and mobilization. Relief
was rated 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 combined
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 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 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?
Back And Neck Care Center welcomes effective
non-surgical means to elevate the positive relief outcome. 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 a
long time, but recently researchers have begun
analyzing its potential as a type of
treatment for PSPS patients. A Korean study revealed that auricular
acupressure lowered 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! Severna Park post back surgery continued pain patients
would certainly welcome them. Another study showed
that auricular acupressure was effective in lowering
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 having pain.
CONTACT Back And Neck Care Center
Back pain after back surgery can be irritating,
but it doesn’t 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
Severna Park chiropractic appointment with Back And Neck Care Center today
to explore how chiropractic can help you!