Baton Rouge Chiropractic Help for Persistent Pain After Back Surgery

No longer the ‘preferred’ term for back pain that hangs around following a back surgery that was intended to ease it, failed back surgery syndrome has new names like ‘post-surgical continued pain’ and ‘persistent spinal pain syndrome’. Whatever its called, if you have undergone 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 lead to more fatigue and lack of productivity throughout the day. Luckily, there is hope for those who suffer from persistent spinal pain syndrome (PSPS) after back surgery. Recent studies have indicated that using chiropractic spinal manipulation and even auricular acupressure can effectively reduce back pain and improve sleep quality.

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 is most common with lumbar spine surgery and considered ‘chronic’ at 3-months post-spine surgery due to quick onset of neuropathic pain. (1) Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers has gentle, safe, relieving treatment for post-back-surgery patients.

HOW DOES CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL MANIPULATION HELP?

Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers uses 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 approaches (like discectomy with fusion or laminectory) lowered 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 responded with more than 50% relief of pain at the end of care (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 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? 

Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers 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 lately researchers have started analyzing its potential as a type of treatment for PSPS patients. A Korean study revealed that auricular acupressure reduced both pain and neurological symptoms related to 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! Baton Rouge post back surgery continued pain patients would surely appreciate them. Another study showed that auricular acupressure was effective in lessening pain and improving the sleep of elderly osteoarthritic persons living in nursing homes. (4) Regardless of age, we all could use better sleep when experiencing pain.

CONTACT Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab 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 you are dealing with post-surgical back pain or poor sleep quality due to PSPS, schedule your Baton Rouge chiropractic appointment with Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers soon to explore how chiropractic can help you!