Disc Herniation and Chiropractic

Dr. Matthisen sees many patients weekly in our busy Anchorage chiropractic office who are looking for relief from the pain and distress they feel due to herniated discs. Our experience isn't unique; the medical literature verifies that chiropractic is a successful way to treat herniated disc problems.

Don't Suffer! Dr. Matthisen and Chiropractic Care Helps With Disc Herniation

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 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 individuals were managed using one of two common chiropractic methods: 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 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 severity of the disc herniation, therapy ranged anywhere from six weeks to six months, with MRIs being performed at various stages to identify what impact, if any, the chiropractic care was having in regard to the disc herniation.

Research Shows Chiropractic Helps With Back Pain and Herniated Disc

The investigators found that 80 percent of the subjects obtained a "good clinical outcome," meaning reduced pain and a reduction in other issues, such as numbness. Furthermore, 77 percent of these individuals 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 work and led the researchers to conclude that chiropractic adjustments is both "safe and helpful" for disc herniations.

If you have a herniated disc and suffer from chronic back pain and are near Dr. Matthisen in Anchorage, 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.