La Grande Chiropractic Help for Persistent Pain After Back Surgery
No longer the ‘favored’ term for back pain that hangs around after a back surgery that was supposed 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 had back surgery and still have back pain, you know how the pain can cloud your life, day and night. For many, this means not getting a good night’s rest, which can result in more tiredness and lack of productivity during the day. Fortunately, there is hope for those who suffer from persistent spinal pain syndrome (PSPS) after back surgery. Recent 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 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 considered ‘chronic’ at 3-months post-spine surgery because of the speed at which neuropathic pain sets in. (1) Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC has gentle, safe, alleviating treatment for post-back-surgery patients.
HOW DOES CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL MANIPULATION HELP?
Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC 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 rated 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 experienced back surgeries that blended surgical approaches (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 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% 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 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?
Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC appreciates effective non-surgical means to elevate the positive relief outcome. 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 centuries, but recently researchers have begun analyzing its potential as a type of treatment for PSPS patients. A Korean study revealed that auricular acupressure reduced 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 go wrong with those outcomes! La Grande post back surgery continued pain patients would surely welcome them. Another study found that auricular acupressure was effective in decreasing 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 Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
Back pain after back surgery can be irritating, but it doesn’t have to keep you from sleeping or bother you as intensely. If you are dealing with post-surgical back pain or poor sleep quality due to PSPS, make your La Grande chiropractic appointment with Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC today to explore how chiropractic can help you!