No longer the ‘preferred’ term
for back pain that lingers after 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’. 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 lead to more
tiredness and lack of productivity during 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 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. It
is most common with lumbar spine surgery and deemed
‘chronic’ at 3-months after spine surgery because of the speed at
which neuropathic pain sets in. (1)
Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre has gentle, safe, relieving treatment for
post-back-surgery patients.
HOW DOES CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL MANIPULATION HELP?
Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre uses evidence-based,
well-researched chiropractic technique, Cox® Technic. A 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 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 underwent back surgeries that blended
surgical approaches (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 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
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?
Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre 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 a
long time, but lately researchers have started
evaluating its potential as a form of
treatment for PSPS patients. A Korean study revealed that auricular
acupressure decreased 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! Toronto post back surgery continued pain patients
would surely welcome them. Another study found
that auricular acupressure was effective in lowering
pain and improving the sleep of elderly osteoarthritic persons living
in nursing homes. (4) Old and young alike, we all could
use better sleep when experiencing pain.
CONTACT Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre
Back pain after back surgery can be irritating,
but it does not have to keep you from sleeping or trouble you as intensely. If PSPS is
your issue and you’re experiencing poor sleep quality due to PSPS, make your
Toronto chiropractic appointment with Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre soon
to explore how chiropractic can help you!