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Vancouver Chiropractic Help for Persistent Pain After Back Surgery: Auricular Acupressure and Manipulation

No longer the ‘desired’ descriptor for back pain that lingers following a back surgery that was supposed to alleviate 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 experience 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 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 improve the quality of sleep.

WHAT IS PSPS - Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome?

PSPS is identified 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 post-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. 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 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 experienced back surgeries that blended surgical types (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 documented that 81% of patients reacted with greater 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 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 appreciates effective non-surgical means to elevate the positive relief outcome. Auricular acupressure is such an approach in which pressure is used on specific points on the ear. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for a long time, but recently researchers have started analyzing its potential as a type of treatment for PSPS patients. A Korean study revealed that auricular acupressure decreased both pain and neurological symptoms related to PSPS. Researchers described it as an effective, safe, cost-effective, non-invasive intervention that can improve pain, neuropathy, and sleep in PSPS patients. (1) Well, you can’t go wrong with those outcomes! Vancouver 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 older osteoarthritic persons living in nursing homes. (4) Old and young alike, we all could use better sleep when experiencing pain.

CONTACT Vancouver Disc Centers

Back pain after back surgery can be irritating, but it doesn’t have to keep you up all night or bother you as much. If PSPS is your issue and you’re experiencing poor sleep quality due to PSPS, schedule your Vancouver chiropractic appointment with Vancouver Disc Centers soon to explore how chiropractic can help you!  

 
Vancouver chiropractic relief for back pain after back surgery 
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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."