Sweeney Chiropractic sees many patients weekly in our busy Nashville chiropractic office who are trying to find relief from the pain and agony they feel due to herniated discs. Our experience isn't unique; the scientific literature confirms that chiropractic treatment is an effective way to treat herniated disc pain.
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 men and women documented that they were experiencing pain, diminished range of motion, and sensory issues bad enough to keep them off work.
During the course of the research study, the subjects were managed using one of two common chiropractic practices: traction for herniated discs in the cervical area or flexion distraction for the patients who had herniation issues in the lumbar area.
Each man or woman was treated four or five times per week for the first two weeks, then three times each week, and then as needed for the rest of the study. Depending on the severity of the disc herniation, treatment varied anywhere from six weeks to six months, with MRIs being carried out at a variety of stages to identify what effect, if any, the chiropractic care was having in regard to the disc herniation.
The authors discovered that 80 percent of the subjects experienced a "good clinical outcome," meaning reduced discomfort and a reduction in other issues, such as numbness. Additionally, 77% of these men and women 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 employment and led the authors to conclude that chiropractic is both "safe and helpful" for disc herniations.
If you have a herniated disc and suffer from chronic back pain and are near Sweeney Chiropractic in Nashville, contact our office today to see what chiropractic adjustments 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.
