Dr. Holland sees many people weekly in our busy Downtown St. Louis, MO 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 adjustments 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 people documented 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 man or woman was seen four or five times per week for the first two weeks, then three times weekly, and then as needed for the remainder of the study. Depending on the extent of the disc herniation, treatment varied anywhere from six weeks to six months, with MRIs being carried out at various stages to determine what impact, if any, the chiropractic care was having in regard to the disc herniation.
The researchers found that 80% of the patients experienced a "good clinical outcome," meaning reduced pain and a reduction in other symptoms, such as numbness. Additionally, 77 percent of these individuals also showed MRI evidence that their disc herniation was either reduced or resolved completely. This resulted in 78% of the study subjects 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 Downtown St. Louis, MO, contact our office today to see what chiropractic care 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.