Life Align Wellness Blog

Written by: Dr. Cherniawski
8/31/2009 3:11 PM 

A disc herniation occurs when bio-mechanical stress, either from injury or from wear and tear over time, forces a spinal disc to bulge outward.  If the herniation puts pressure on nerves, pain, numbness, weakness, and in extreme cases, bowel and bladder problems, can occur.

Treatment options include medicine, surgery, and chiropractic.

Study Findings:

• The cost of narcotics, other drugs, imaging, injections, and spinal surgery increased 423% from 1997 to 2005.
• The number of performed spinal surgeries doubled from 1992 to 2003.
• One study reported 40% of patients experienced no difference in back pain one year after surgery.
• Studies estimate 10-40% of patients experience Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS).
• Complications of spinal surgery include pain and incapacitation in varying degrees.
• One study reported 90% of back pain patients respond favorably to conservative, chiropractic, care.
• The risk of worsening herniation with chiropractic care is less than 1 in 3.7 million treatments.
• One study reported chiropractic care to be 1/3 the cost of physiotherapy or general practitioner care.

In summary, the safety, efficacy, and cost effectiveness of chiropractic care for spinal problems, including disc herniation, has been well documented.  In addition, medical guidelines state that surgery should only be considered an option after at least six months of aggressive non-operative care.

For more information and references:

The American Chiropractor, August 2009, volume 31, #8 http://www.chiro.org/LINKS/Disc_Herniation.shtml  http://www.chiropracticresearchreview.com/crr/article.php?id=80

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