Ashburn and Herndon Chiropractic Help for Persistent Pain After Back Surgery

No longer the ‘desired’ descriptor for back pain that hangs around after 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’. Despite its name, if you have had 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 being able to get a good night’s rest, which can lead to further fatigue 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 indicated that using chiropractic spinal manipulation and even auricular acupressure can effectively reduce back pain and improve 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. PSPS 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) Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn has gentle, safe, alleviating treatment for post-back-surgery patients.

HOW DOES CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL MANIPULATION HELP?

Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn 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 after 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 dropped 4.1 out of 10 in a mean number of 14 treatments. Patients who had back surgeries that blended surgical approaches (like discectomy with fusion or laminectory) decreased even more with 5.7 out of 10. (2) Another study of 69 cases treated with (Cox®) flexion distraction documented that 81% of patients responded 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% continued with their pain relief. Mean relief of pain at the finish 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 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? 

Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn appreciates effective non-surgical means to elevate the positive relief outcome. 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 a long time, but recently researchers have begun studying its potential as a type of treatment for PSPS patients. A Korean study found 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 argue with those outcomes! Ashburn and Herndon post back surgery continued pain patients would certainly welcome them. Another study showed that auricular acupressure was effective in decreasing pain and improving the sleep of older osteoarthritic persons residing in nursing homes. (4) Old and young alike, we all could use better sleep when having pain.

CONTACT Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn

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 you are dealing with post-surgical back pain or poor sleep quality due to PSPS, schedule your Ashburn and Herndon chiropractic appointment with Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn soon to explore how chiropractic can help you!