Robert C Slater, DC sees many patients weekly in our busy Highland Park, Saint Paul, Minnesota chiropractic office who are looking for relief from the pain and suffering they feel due to herniated discs. Our experience isn't unique; the medical research confirms that chiropractic care is an effective way to treat herniated disc pain.
One particular study 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 individuals documented that they were experiencing pain, limited range of motion, and sensory issues bad enough to keep them off work.
Over the course of the research study, the subjects were treated using one of two common chiropractic techniques: traction for herniated discs in the cervical area or flexion distraction for the men and women who had herniation issues in the lumbar area.
Each individual was treated 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 seriousness of the disc herniation, treatment ranged anywhere from six weeks to six months, with MRIs being conducted at a variety of stages to determine what impact, if any, the chiropractic care was having in regard to the disc herniation.
The investigators discovered that 80 percent of the subjects enjoyed a "good clinical outcome," meaning reduced pain and a reduction in other symptoms, such as numbness. Furthermore, 77 percent of these men and women 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 authors to conclude that chiropractic care is both "safe and helpful" for disc herniations.
If you have a herniated disc and you're near Robert C Slater, DC in Highland Park, Saint Paul, Minnesota, contact our office today to see what chiropractic 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.
