Had Spinal Surgery?

 

Surgical procedures are often not a simple, in and out occurence when it comes to our health.  Not only are there pre-surgical preparations, but there can be post-surgical complications and recovery that we often don't think about.  Even when the surgery goes exactly according to the doctor's plan, there is no guarantee that the surgery will fix the underlying problem.  Any time that you alter the original state of the body, no matter the reason, there will be changes that can cascade in other areas of the body post-surgery.   Most spinal fusion surgical patients often believe that once they have had a fusion done, chiropractic care is no longer an option for them.  However, the goal of chiropractic is to restore function back to the body, no matter how small the change may be.  

Last year, a case study was published in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science following a 56-year old female patient who sought chiropractic care 6 years after spinal fusion surgery.  This patient had still suffered from chronic neck pain after her surgery, and was relying on pain medications daily for those 6 years!  The chiropractic examination revealed distortions or subluxations in the head and neck.  Often, postural changes like hers can lead to headaches, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, neck pain, shoulder pain, numbness or tingling down the arms and hands, and difficulty concentrating.  Her pain ranged from a 3 out of 10 on a "good" day, and got to as bad as a 9 out of 10 on a "bad" day.  Her average pain scale rating on a daily basis was a 6 out of 10!  Not only was she on pain medications, she also was taking an anti-migraine medication, tricyclic antidepressants, anti-nausea medicines and muscle relaxers.  She was seeking help also because of her concern for addictive tendencies with her narcotic pain medications.  After 11 days of chiropractic treatment, this woman experiences a 50% improvement in her posture, and her pain level went to a 2/10 on her "bad" days and a 0 out of 10 on her "good" days.  This case study followed up with her at 7.5years after initial chiropractic treatment, as well as 11.5 years, and 14 years post chiropractic care.  She reported virtually no pain and was able to be removed from ALL medications entirely related to her neck pain!  

Even post-spinal surgical pain can be reduced or possibly eliminated when the body is returned to proper alignment with gentle, specific, chiropractic adjustments.  While I don't hope for surgery as an early option or treatment for spinal discomfort or disorders, I do believe that chiropractic can help everyone, no matter their age or health history. 

Yours in Health,

Dr. Nicholas J. Knutson, DC

Owner/Doctor

MOUNTAIN ISLAND CHIROPRACTIC

10917 Black Dog Ln., Suite 101 

Charlotte, NC 28214

Tel (704) 394-8556

Fax (704) 395-8556

mtnislandchiro.com

"If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special." JV

Oakley, P. A., & Harrison, D. E. (2018). Alleviation of pain and disability in a post-surgical C4-C7 total fusion patient after reducing a lateral head translation (side shift) posture: A CBP case report with a 14 year follow-up.  Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 30(7), 952-957. doi:10.1589/jpts.30.952