No longer the ‘preferred’ descriptor
for back pain that remains following 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 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 being
able to get a good night’s rest, which can result in further
tiredness and lack of productivity during the
day. Luckily, there is hope for those who have
persistent spinal pain syndrome (PSPS) after back surgery. Recent
studies have shown that using chiropractic spinal
manipulation and even auricular acupressure can effectively reduce
back pain and enhance 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 in lumbar spine surgery and deemed
‘chronic’ at 3-months after spine surgery due to quick onset of neuropathic pain. (1)
New Roads Chiropractic Center has gentle, safe, alleviating treatment for
post-back-surgery patients.
HOW DOES CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL MANIPULATION HELP?
New Roads Chiropractic Center uses evidence-based,
well-researched chiropractic technique, Cox® Technic. One chiropractic
study reported on 32 cases of post-surgical
continued lumbar spine pain after 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 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) An additional study of 69 cases
treated with (Cox®) flexion distraction reported 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 end 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?
New Roads Chiropractic Center 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 particular
points on the ear. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, but recently researchers have started
analyzing its potential as a form of
treatment for PSPS patients. A Korean study revealed that auricular
acupressure lowered 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! New Roads post back surgery continued pain patients
would surely welcome them. Another study found
that auricular acupressure was effective in lessening
pain and improving the sleep of elderly osteoarthritic persons residing
in nursing homes. (4) Regardless of age, we all could
use better sleep when experiencing pain.
CONTACT New Roads Chiropractic Center
Back pain after back surgery can be irritating,
but it does not 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, make your
New Roads chiropractic appointment with New Roads Chiropractic Center soon
to explore how chiropractic can help you!