Spinal Surgery
Failed
back surgery syndrome. Walker, S, Cousins MJ. Australian
Family Physician Vol. 23 No. 12 December 1994.
From the introduction:
Persistent back pain after surgical
treatment presents a frustrating and difficult problem for
both patient and doctor. The authors review the postulated
causes for this condition and provide a brief summary of
specific entities resulting in lower back pain. Treatment
options are discussed. This article gives interesting information
on the magnitude of the failure of the medical/surgical approach
to low back pain. However, the anatomical/physiological information
is incorrect in light of recent findings, information the
authors should have known since it was available to them
during the writing of this paper. Chiropractic is not mentioned
in “treatment
options.”
An international comparison of back surgery
rates. Cherkin DC, Deyo RA, Loeser JD, Bush T, Waddell G.
Spine 1994, (19) 11:1201-1206.
The rate of back surgery in
the U.S. is 40% higher than in any other country and was
more than five times those in England and Scotland. According
to the article, “Back
surgery rates increased almost linearly with the per capita
supply of orthopaedic and neurosurgeons in the country.”
Chiropractic treatment of post surgical neck
syndrome utilizing mechanical force manually assisted short-lever
spinal adjustments. Polkinghorn,B and Colloca, C. Journal
of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, November/December
2001 • Vol
24, No 9.
This is the case of a 35-year-old female suffering
from chronic neck pain for over 5 years after two separate
surgeries on her cervical spine (a diskectomy at C3/4 and
a fusion at C5/6. She had undergone the surgeries to resolve
her neck pain. Her surgeon suggested a third surgery but
she decided on chiropractic care. Within 30 days of chiropractic
care all her chronic pain and muscle spasm resolved. A follow-up
two years later revealed no recurrence of her previous chronic
problem.
Copyright 2004 Koren Publications, Inc. & Tedd
Koren, D.C.