Vancouver Chiropractic Help for Persistent Pain After Back Surgery
No longer the ‘preferred’ term for back pain that lingers after 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 had 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 more fatigue and lack of productivity throughout the day. Fortunately, there is hope for those who have persistent spinal pain syndrome (PSPS) after back surgery. New studies have demonstrated that using chiropractic spinal manipulation and even auricular acupressure can effectively decrease back pain and enhance 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 is most common with lumbar spine surgery and considered ‘chronic’ at 3-months after spine surgery due to quick onset of neuropathic pain. (1) Vancouver Disc Centers has gentle, safe, relieving treatment for post-back-surgery patients.
HOW DOES CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL MANIPULATION HELP?
Vancouver Disc Centers 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 post-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 decreased by 4.1 out of 10 in a mean number of 14 treatments. Patients who underwent 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 documented that 81% of patients responded 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% continued with their pain relief. Mean relief of pain at the end 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?
Vancouver Disc Centers welcomes effective non-surgical means to elevate the positive relief outcome. 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 lately researchers have started analyzing its potential as a form of treatment for PSPS patients. A Korean study found 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 argue with those outcomes! Vancouver post back surgery continued pain patients would certainly welcome them. Another study found that auricular acupressure was effective in decreasing pain and improving the sleep of elderly osteoarthritic persons living in nursing homes. (4) Regardless of age, we all could use better sleep when having pain.
CONTACT Vancouver Disc Centers
Back pain after back surgery can be frustrating, 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, make your Vancouver chiropractic appointment with Vancouver Disc Centers soon to explore how chiropractic can help you!