If you’ve had back surgery—whether it was months or years ago—you might think your options for relief are limited. Perhaps you’re experiencing new pain, stiffness in areas that weren’t a problem before, or you’re concerned about the long-term health of your spine. As one of Charleston’s trusted chiropractor for post-surgical back pain, I have good news: chiropractic care can still help, even if you have rods, screws, or spinal fusion hardware.

What is Adjacent Segment Disease?

One of the most frequent complications after spinal fusion is Adjacent Segment Disease (ASD). When vertebrae are fused together, the segments above and below that fusion must work harder to compensate for the lost movement. Studies report that within two to seven years after fusion surgery, 36% of patients develop adjacent segment degeneration and 11% develop symptomatic adjacent segment disease (Rizvi et al., 2010).

Think of it like this: if you immobilize your knee, your hip and ankle have to pick up the slack. The same principle applies to your spine. The areas above and below a spinal fusion carry exponentially more stress, which can lead to accelerated wear and tear, disc degeneration, and pain in areas that weren’t originally problematic.

The concerning reality? The cumulative incidence of patients requiring revision surgery shows a progressive increase over time, reaching 6.3% at 5 years, 23.6% at 10 years, and 66.7% at 15 years post-fusion (Lee et al., 2025). This doesn’t mean surgery was wrong—it means your spine needs ongoing care and support.

Charleston Chiropractic Care After Spinal Fusion: Safe and Effective

Many patients worry that having hardware in their spine means they can no longer receive chiropractic adjustments for back pain relief. The truth is more nuanced and encouraging.

Here’s what you need to know about post-surgical chiropractic care:

• The fused segment itself is not adjusted. As a chiropractor, I will not apply force directly to the area where you have rods and screws. That area is permanently stabilized and doesn’t need manipulation.
• The surrounding segments can and should be adjusted. The segments above and below your fusion are under increased stress and can benefit tremendously from proper alignment and movement restoration. This is exactly where chiropractic spinal adjustment becomes crucial for preventing further degeneration.
• Gentle, specific techniques are used. Post-surgical patients receive modified chiropractic techniques that are safe, comfortable, and appropriate for their specific hardware and fusion level.

Our goal isn’t to “undo” your surgery—it’s to help the rest of your spine function as optimally as possible given the new biomechanics created by the fusion. By maintaining proper spinal alignment and movement in the unfused segments through chiropractic care, we can help reduce the stress that leads to Adjacent Segment Disease and keep patients more comfortable long-term.

Prevent Back Surgery with Chiropractic Care in Charleston, SC

For Charleston area residents who haven’t had surgery yet but are considering it, the research is equally compelling. Studies show that 42.7% of workers with back injuries who first saw a surgeon eventually had surgery, while only 1.5% of those who first saw a chiropractor ended up requiring surgery (Keeney et al., 2013).

This dramatic difference suggests that many back surgeries could potentially be avoided with conservative chiropractic care. Research published in JAMA found that 94% of patients receiving chiropractic manual manipulation achieved greater than 30% reduction in pain compared with 69% receiving usual medical care (Goertz et al., 2018).

Even the Journal of the American Medical Association now recommends that people suffering from low back pain and sciatica try chiropractic care before resorting to surgery. The science is clear: for many Charleston patients, surgery can be the last resort rather than the first option.

Why Try Chiropractic First for Back Pain Relief?

• Non-invasive back pain treatment: No incisions, no hardware, no lengthy recovery period
• Addresses the root cause: Restores proper spinal alignment and function rather than just managing symptoms with pain medication
• Lower complication rate: Chiropractic care has an excellent safety profile with minimal side effects
• Cost-effective: Significantly less expensive than surgical intervention
• Maintains mobility: Keeps your spine flexible and functional rather than permanently fusing segments
• Natural pain relief: Drug-free approach to managing chronic back pain and sciatica

Comprehensive Chiropractic Solutions in Charleston, SC

Whether you’ve already had back surgery or you’re trying to avoid it, at my office we offer comprehensive care.

For Post-Surgical Back Pain Patients:

• Careful evaluation of your surgical history and current hardware placement
• Gentle chiropractic adjustments to non-fused spinal segments to reduce compensatory stress
• Targeted rehabilitation exercises to strengthen supporting muscles
• Lifestyle and ergonomic guidance to protect your spine
• Ongoing monitoring to help prevent Adjacent Segment Disease
• Coordination with your orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon

For Patients Considering Surgery:

• Thorough chiropractic assessment to determine if conservative care is appropriate
• Specific spinal adjustments to restore proper alignment
• Treatment for herniated discs, bulging discs, and degenerative disc disease
• Sciatica pain relief without surgery
• Rehabilitation exercises to support long-term spinal health
• Education on prevention strategies for chronic back pain
• Coordination with your medical providers as needed
• Decompression

The Bottom Line: Chiropractic Care Works for Charleston Back Pain

Your back surgery doesn’t have to be the end of your story. Whether you’re dealing with post-surgical complications, trying to prevent additional surgeries, or hoping to avoid surgery altogether, chiropractic care offers a safe, effective, and research-backed approach to better spinal health in Charleston, SC.

Having rods and screws in your back doesn’t disqualify you from chiropractic care—in fact, it makes ongoing spinal maintenance even more important. The unfused segments of your spine need support to handle the increased demands placed on them, and that’s exactly what our Charleston chiropractic office provides.

References:

• Keeney BJ, Fulton-Kehoe D, Turner JA, et al. Early predictors of lumbar spine surgery after occupational back injury: results from a prospective study of workers in Washington State. Spine 2013;38(11):953-964.
• Goertz et al. (2018) JAMA Open Network
• Rizvi et al. (2010). Adjacent segment degeneration after lumbar or lumbosacral fusion
• Lee et al. (2025). Temporal Patterns of Risk Factors for Adjacent Segment Disease After Lumbar Fusion

Our Charleston chiropractic doctors are experienced in working with post-surgical patients and coordinating care with orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons throughout South Carolina.