Chiropractic Methods Found Effective and More Economical Than Epidural for Treating Herniated Disc Diagnosis

Herniated discs have tormented a number of patients that have come to our Hyattsville, District Heights office. Fortunately, Dr. Aazami has assisted many of them rebound speedily and more effectively. Herniated discs, or "slipped discs", can be treated with multiple methods.

If you are suffering with pain due to a herniated disc, then you are likely wondering which selection may work best for you. To help you in solving that inquiry, let's review two of the most commonly prescribed treatments: chiropractic/manipulative therapy and epidural injections.

Research Analyzing Outcomes from Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT) and Nerve Root Injections (NRI)

A body of researchers recruited 102 participants, all having had chronically herniated discs verified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Any participant picked had previously received ninety days of care through alternatively applicable remedies without achieving significant improvement.

The pack of individuals was split into two treatment paths. The first group of the patients were treated with high-velocity, low-amplitude spinal manipulation treatment (chiropractic adjustments). The rest of people in the study were administered nerve root injections (epidural).

The organizers of the study obtained data regarding the pain levels of every cohort prior to the care administered in the course of the research. Then, 30 days following care, patients rated their disc herniation discomfort on the same range as at the beginning. The difference in the two scores was used to determine how effective the treatment was for improving pain.

What did the researchers uncover about chiropractic adjustments against epidural injections?

Greater than 76 percent of the cohorts who were treated with chiropractic treatments expressed a positive change in their pain. In the other group, fewer than 63% of the patients who were provided epidurals indicated a minimization in pain. These figures imply that chiropractic treatment may be more effective when treating to remediate herniated disc pain.

And, that isn't all. In addition to giving a higher quantity of patients highly desired pain relief, researchers also identified that spinal manipulation was lower in cost. Epidural treatments were roughly $730 per a single patient. The chiropractic treatment cost less than $560 for the same duration. This cost savings can surely assist with anyone’s health care expenses. Saving money can make it more conceivable to obtain treatment for your disc herniation pain without extra stress.

If you want a higher chance of effectiveness and lower expenses when it comes to your herniated disc care, give Dr. Aazami a call today at (301) 322-7777 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