About Fort Wayne Chiropractic and Fort Wayne Persistent Post Surgical Low Back PainDefinition pain that persists or returns in the same or adjacent area following lumbar spine (low back) surgery (aka failed back surgical syndrome) Description Surgery done for a lumbar spine/low back pain condition may be as simple as removal of stray material in the spinal canal or spinal fusion of a couple vertebra or more advanced with the insertion of bolts and plates or disc replacement "cages". Whatever is done surgically will be worked around to attempt to relieve your existing pain conservatively, gently and safely. Video description of a post surgical artificial disc placement Surgical intervention for back pain or spine pain often leaves the discs adjacent to the surgical area hypermobile (overly movable) and lead to degeneration or herniation. Video description of a post-surgical fusion Examination A thorough, clinical examination that may include imaging is important to your recovery from post-surgical pain. Lumbar Spine Exam Description Treatment In office, Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc uses chiropractic Cox Technic Flexion Distraction and Decompression to widen the canal space, drop the intradiscal pressure and increase the disc height to relieve pain. You will welcome the Cox Technic manipulation that gently "pulls you apart," as many patients describe the treatment or say they need. Depending on the severity of your pain and symptoms, gentler Protocol I may be applied until 50% relief of pain or more restoring Protocol II may be applied to guide your recovery. Graphic Animation of Cox Technic - Lumbar Spine The disc is pressing on the nerve. Note that as the disc herniation reduces, the pinched nerve is relieved. This is an animation of the goal of Cox Technic Flexion-Distraction and Decompression: reduced irritation of spinal elements enough to relieve pain and help you regain your quality of life. The amount of decrease in size of the herniated disc necessary for pain relief varies from 0% to 100% for each individual patient. Cox Technic Protocol I - for severe pain or pain that extends below the knee Cox Technic Protocol II - for pain that is in the low back and stays above the knee In office adjunctive care may hasten your recovery. NOTE ON HEALING: Surely you have rested and rested and rested as you dealt with pain before and recovered from the surgery afterwards. You are probably ready to not rest anymore…which is great! A big part of your recovery from surgery and re-entry to a pain-free living is rehabilitation. Rehabilitation of weakened and painful muscles is hugely beneficial because muscles around the spine degenerate just as the discs in the spine degenerate. The combination of Cox Technic Flexion Distraction and Decompression spinal adjusting with exercise is a source of relief of post-surgical pain. At Home Care At home you will want to avoid sitting for long periods of time, wear a support brace if recommended, take nutritional supplements that help rebuild disc cartilage, sleep on a supportive mattress, sit in an ergonomically designed chair, avoid constipation which just forces you to use pressure that your spine doesn't need, and modify your daily activities as needed. Clinical Case Reports: Failed Back Surgical Syndrome: Lumbar Spine Failed Back Surgical Syndrome Pre-surgical and Post-surgical MRI Study of Lumbar HNP at L4-L5 and L5-S1 Following Non-traumatic Small Endoscopic Approach at L5-S1 MRI Study of a patient who was surgically fused at L4-5-S1 for low back and lower extremity pain due to degenerative spondylolisthesis of both L4 and L5 segments Far Lateral Disc Herniation -- Extremely Painful -- Patient Chooses Surgery for Immediate Relief of Pain and Cox® Technic for post-surgical management Butterfly Vertebra Treated Post Surgical Disc Removal Surgical Fusion And Hip Replacement Patient Treated For Back And Leg Pain Successfully With Cox® Flexion-Distraction Adjusting And Long Y Axis Decompression Unattended: Realistic Expectations Post Surgical Return Of Right Leg Pain. Treated Successfully With Cox® Flexion Distraction Compression Adjusting Chronic Low Back Pain Managed Successfully with Cox® Technic in a Diabetic, Post-Laminectomy Patient Case Of Facet Removal For Surgical Removal Of Large Extraforaminal Free Fragment Of L5-S1 Disc Post-Laminectomy Surgery Leaves Patient with Right Lower Extremity Pain and Low Back Pain - Cox Technic Relieves the Pain Perseverance of a Stenotic Patients Ends in Relief with Cox Technic Severe Post Surgical Stenosis Treated with Cox Technic Contact Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc for conservative care of your post-surgical low back pain. "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."