Minster Chiropractic Help for Persistent Pain After Back Surgery: Auricular Acupressure and Manipulation

No longer the ‘preferred’ word for back pain that hangs around after 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 cloud your life, day and night. For many, this means not being able to get a good night’s rest, which can lead to further 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 decrease back pain and improve the quality of sleep.

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’s most common in lumbar spine surgery and deemed ‘chronic’ at 3-months post-spine surgery due to quick onset of neuropathic pain. (1) Minster Chiropractic Center has gentle, safe, relieving treatment for post-back-surgery patients.

HOW DOES CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL MANIPULATION HELP?

Minster Chiropractic Center 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 decreased by 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 documented that 81% of patients reacted 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% still had their pain relief. Mean relief of pain at the finish 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? 

Minster Chiropractic Center 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 lately researchers have started analyzing its potential as a form of treatment for PSPS patients. A Korean study found that auricular acupressure lowered both pain and neurological symptoms of 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! Minster post back surgery continued pain patients would certainly 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 having pain.

CONTACT Minster Chiropractic Center

Back pain after back surgery can be frustrating, 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, schedule your Minster chiropractic appointment with Minster Chiropractic Center soon to explore how chiropractic can help you!  

 
Minster chiropractic relief for back pain after back surgery 
« View All Featured Articles
"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."