healingways Chiropractic Care for
Herniated Discs 95% Reported Improvement
A
pproximately 70% of the population will have back pain at some point in time (according to Lehman et al. 2014). The pain ranges from mild to either moderate or severe and can often be debilitating and associated with or without leg pain if it’s originating from the lower back. Treatment for this common problem is usually broken up into two categories, surgical versus conservative care. However, I break it into three categories: surgical, medication and conservative care. This article is going to focus on the continual growing body of evidence for treatment of herniated discs via conservative care and, specifi cally, with a chiropractic spinal adjustment. It was reported (McMorland, Suter, Casha du Plessis and Hurlbertin 2010) that over 250,000 patients a year in the United States undergo elective lumbar discectomy (spinal surgery) for the treatment of low back disc issues. The researchers did a comparative randomized clinical study comparing spinal microdiscectomy (surgery) performed by neurosurgeons to non- operative manipulative treatments (chiropractic adjustments) performed by chiropractors. They compared quality of life and disabilities of the patients in the study. The study was limited to patients with distinct one-sided lumbar disc herniations as diagnosed via MRI and had associated radicular (nerve root) symptoms. Based upon the authors’ review of available MRI studies, the patients participating in the study were all initially considered surgical candidates. Both the surgical and chiropractic groups reported no new neurological problems and had only
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original complaint. Although one might argue that the patient would have gotten better with no treatment, it was reported that after two weeks of no treatment only 36% of the patients felt better, at 12 weeks up to 73% felt better. This study clearly indicates that chiropractic is a far superior solution to doing nothing and at the same time helps the patient return to normal life without pain, drugs or surgery.
Chiropractic Care and Herniated Discs with Leg Pain
2 Week Improvement 80.6%
1 Month Improvement 84.6%
3 Month Improvement 94.5%
The caveat is that there are patients
minor post-treatment soreness. Of the patients who underwent chiropractic care 60% reported a successful outcome while 40% required surgery. The 40% all reported successful outcomes. This study concluded that 60% of the potential surgical candidates had positive outcomes utilizing chiropractic as the alternative to surgery.
Although the previous report concluded that a chiropractic spinal adjustment is an effective treatment modality for herniated discs, a more recent study (Lehman et al. 2014), further clarifi es the improvement with chiropractic care. This study considered both herniated discs and radiculopathy (or pain radiating down into the leg) as a baseline for analysis. The study also considered acute and chronic lumbar herniated disc pain patients. In this study the acute onset patient (the pain just started) reported 80% improvement at 2 weeks, 85% improvement at 1 month, and a 95% improvement at 3 months. The study went on to conclude that the patient stabilized at both the six-month and one-year mark after the onset of the
Central Florida natural awakenings
who could need drugs or surgery and accurate diagnosis is paramount. It is incumbent upon the doctor of chiropractic to be fully-trained in both the diagnostic and treatment facets of care. It is also important that the chiropractor is well-versed in MRI protocols and interpretation as well as disc pathology to be able to triage the patient accordingly, based upon the clinical presentation including the MRI results. Chiropractic is one of the safest treatments currently available in health care. When there is a treatment where the potential for benefi ts far outweighs any risk, it deserves serious consideration. Whedon et al. (2014) based their study on 6,669,603 subjects (after the unqualifi ed subjects had been removed from the study) and accounted for 24,068,808 offi ce visits. They concluded, “No mechanism by which SM (spinal manipulation) induces injury into normal healthy tissues has been identifi ed.
For more information, Dr. Channing Bolick, D.C welcomes your calls at 407- 278-5253. The Bolick Clinic is located at 500 E. Horatio Ave, Maitland 32751.
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