Dr. Holland sees many patients weekly in our busy North County St. Louis, MO chiropractic office who are searching for relief from the discomfort and agony they feel due to herniated discs. Our experience isn't unique; the medical research confirms that chiropractic treatment is a successful way to treat herniated disc problems.
One particular research project involved 27 people, 8 male and 19 female, who had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirming a disc herniation in either their neck or lower back. The subjects reported that they were experiencing pain, diminished range of motion, and sensory issues bad enough to keep them off work.
Over the course of the research study, the participants were treated using one of two common chiropractic techniques: traction for herniated discs in the cervical area or flexion distraction for the patients who had herniation issues in the lumbar area.
Each person was seen four or five times per week for the first two weeks, then three times weekly, and then as needed for the rest of the study. Based on the severity of the disc herniation, therapy ranged anywhere from six weeks to six months, with MRIs being conducted at various stages to determine what impact, if any, the chiropractic care was having in regard to the disc herniation.
The investigators reported that 80% of the subjects obtained a "good clinical outcome," meaning reduced discomfort and a reduction in other issues, such as numbness. Additionally, 77 percent of these subjects also showed MRI evidence that their disc herniation was either reduced or resolved completely. This resulted in 78 percent of the study participants being able to return to their place of employment and led the researchers to conclude that chiropractic care is both "safe and helpful" for disc herniations.
If you have a herniated disc and suffer from chronic back pain and are near Dr. Holland in North County St. Louis, MO, contact our office today to see what chiropractic treatment can do for you!
Reference
BenEliyahu, DJ. Magnetic resonance imaging and clinical follow-up: study of 27 patients receiving chiropractic care for cervical and lumbar disc herniations. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 1996;19(9):597-606.