Background: A brief overview of failed back surgery syndrome, with emphasis on low back pain status post spinal cord stimulation, and post-surgical spinal manipulation is presented.
Case Presentation: Four cases of patients within the VA Connecticut Health Care System presenting between July 2014 and July 2015 reporting low back pain after surgical insertion of spinal cord stimulators are discussed. This study describes the outcomes experienced by four patients with low back pain status post implanted spinal cord stimulators receiving manual therapy in the form of lumbar spine manipulation or mobilization.
Conclusion: All four patients denied adverse effects to spinal manipulation/mobilization and onset of new symptoms after treatment; two patients reported durable reduction in low back pain with increased tolerance to walking, standing, or lying down, one reported temporary relief of low back pain, and one reported no change in symptoms. Further investigation is needed to determine the benefit of spinal manipulation in patients with implanted spinal cord stimulators, but this study has shown the absence of adverse effects from manipulation or mobilization treatment, in regards to SCS.
Author keywords: Chiropractic — Spinal cord stimulator — Failed back surgery syndrome — Post-surgical spine pain
Author affiliations: RMP: Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Rehabilitation Care Line, Houston, TX USA; CMC: VA Connecticut Healthcare System, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, West Haven, CT USA
This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher; click on the above link for free full text. PubMed Record

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