Sweeney Chiropractic sees many patients weekly in our busy Nashville chiropractic office who are looking for relief from the pain and agony they feel due to herniated discs. Our experience isn't unique; the medical research confirms 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 people documented that they were experiencing pain, limited range of motion, and sensory issues bad enough to keep them off work.
During the course of the research period, the individuals were managed using one of two common chiropractic techniques: traction for herniated discs in the cervical area or flexion distraction for the people who had herniation issues in the low back.
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. Based on the seriousness of the disc herniation, treatment varied anywhere from six weeks to six months, with MRIs being carried out at various stages to identify what impact, if any, the chiropractic care was having in regard to the disc herniation.
The researchers found that 80 percent of the subjects enjoyed 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 percent of the study subjects being able to return to their place of work and led the authors to conclude that chiropractic care is both "safe and helpful" for disc herniations.
If you have a herniated disc and you're near Sweeney Chiropractic in Nashville, 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.
Dr. Jim Sweeney & Dr. Jon Sweeney, your Nashville Chiropractors and Palmer College of Chiropractic West graduates, provide quality chiropractic care to patients in Nashville, TN. If you suffer from back pain, neck pain, headache, sciatica or have been in an auto collision, Sweeney Chiropractic can get you back on the road to health.
