Chiropractic Works for Disc Herniation

Baker Chiropractic Wellness Center sees many people weekly in our busy Parma, Middleburg Heights chiropractic office who are searching for relief from the pain and agony they feel due to herniated discs. Our experience isn't unique; the medical research verifies that chiropractic care 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, reduced range of motion, and sensory problems bad enough to keep them off work.

During the course of the research period, the subjects were managed using one of two common chiropractic practices: traction for herniated discs in the cervical area or flexion distraction for the people who had herniation issues in the lumbar area.

Each person was treated four or five times per week for the first two weeks, then three times each week, and then as needed for the remainder of the study. Depending on the seriousness of the disc herniation, treatment varied 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.

The authors discovered that 80 percent of the subjects enjoyed a "good clinical outcome," meaning reduced pain and a reduction in other issues, 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 percent of the study subjects being able to return to their place of employment and led the researchers to conclude that chiropractic is both "safe and helpful" for disc herniations.

If you have a herniated disc and you're near Baker Chiropractic Wellness Center in Parma, Middleburg Heights, 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.