Herniated discs have tormented numerous patients that have visited our South Buffalo office. Fortunately, Dr. Nowak has assisted many of them recover swiftly and more completely. Herniated discs, sometime referred to as "slipped discs", can be treated with multiple strategies.
If you are experiencing irritation caused by a herniated disc, then you are likely asking which choice will work best for you. To help you in fielding that inquiry, let's review two of the most frequently used therapies: chiropractic/manipulative therapy and epidural.
Research Analyzed Improvements from Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT) and Nerve Root Injections (NRI)
A body of researchers from Switzerland compared 102 participants, all of whom had chronically herniated discs confirmed by medical imaging. Each cohort picked had previously undergone three months of treatment through other accessible remedies with no satisfaction.
The group of participants was split into two groups. The first half of the cohorts were treated with high-velocity, low-amplitude spinal manipulation treatment (chiropractic adjustments). The next half of people in the study were treated with nerve root injections (epidural).
The researchers collected ratings in regards to the pain levels of each person in advance of the treatment administered amid the study. Then, one month after the receiving of treatment, individuals scored their disc herniation discomfort on the same scale as before. The difference in the two grades was applied to measure how effective the treatment may have been for improving discomfort.
What did the study uncover in regards to spinal manipulations compared to epidural injections?
Greater than 76% of the individuals who were given chiropractic treatments reported a positive change in their pain. In the other group, less than 63 percent of the patients who received epidurals expressed an improvement in pain. The results suggest that chiropractic treatment could be more successful for looking to reduce herniated disc discomfort.
And, that isn't all. Beyond providing a higher quantity of people greatly appreciated reduction in pain, researchers also found that chiropractic treatment was less expensive. The nerve root injection treatments cost about $730 per a single recipient. The chiropractic treatment was less than $560 for the same timespan. This amount of savings may surely help with anyone’s budget. Saving money can make it easier to seek treatment of your disc herniation pain without extra anxiety.
If you want a higher probability of pain relief and fewer expenses when it comes to your herniated disc care, give Dr. Nowak a call today at (716) 825-4121 to schedule an appointment.
Reference
Peterson, CK et al. (2013, May). Symptomatic magnetic resonance imaging-confirmed lumbar disk herniation patients: a comparative effectiveness prospective observational study of 2 age-and sex-matched cohorts treated with either high-velocity, low-amplitude spinal manipulative therapy or image-guided lumbar nerve root injections. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 36(4), 218-225, doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2013.04.005
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