Fernandina Beach Chiropractic Help for Persistent Pain After Back Surgery
No longer the ‘favored’ term for back pain that lingers following a back surgery that was intended to alleviate 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 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 shown that using chiropractic spinal manipulation and even auricular acupressure can effectively decrease back pain and improve sleep quality.
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 in lumbar spine surgery and deemed ‘chronic’ at 3-months post-spine surgery because of the speed at which neuropathic pain sets in. (1) Amelia Chiropractic Clinic has gentle, safe, relieving treatment for post-back-surgery patients.
HOW DOES CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL MANIPULATION HELP?
Amelia Chiropractic Clinic uses 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 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 dropped 4.1 out of 10 in a mean number of 14 treatments. Patients who had back surgeries that combined surgical types (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 reported 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 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?
Amelia Chiropractic Clinic appreciates 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 used on particular 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 found that auricular acupressure reduced both pain and neurological symptoms associated with PSPS. Researchers said it was an effective, safe, cost-effective, non-invasive intervention that can improve pain, neuropathy, and sleep in PSPS patients. (1) Well, you can’t argue with those outcomes! Fernandina Beach post back surgery continued pain patients would certainly appreciate them. Another study found that auricular acupressure was effective in reducing 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 Amelia Chiropractic Clinic
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 PSPS is your issue and you’re experiencing poor sleep quality due to PSPS, make your Fernandina Beach chiropractic appointment with Amelia Chiropractic Clinic today to explore how chiropractic can help you!