Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation Reported as Effective and Less Expensive Than Epidural for Herniated Disc Diagnosis

Herniated discs have burdened uncounted people that have visited our Anchorage office. Fortunately, Mulholland Chiropractic Center, LLC has assisted a lot of them heal quickly and more adequately. Herniated discs, or "slipped discs", can be treated with several different strategies.

If you are suffering with irritation caused by a herniated disc, then you are likely wondering which selection may work best for you. To help you in finding an answer to that question, let's review two of the most frequently prescribed treatments: chiropractic/manipulative therapy and epidural.

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

A body of researchers from Switzerland compared 102 individuals, all having had chronically herniated discs verified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Each participant selected had already received ninety days of care via alternatively accessible treatment options without achieving satisfaction.

The group of cohorts was divided into two treatment paths. One group of the participants were assigned to receive high-velocity, low-amplitude spinal manipulation treatment (chiropractic adjustments). The next half of cohorts received nerve root injections (epidural).

The organizers of the study gathered data about the pain levels of every person before the care provided during the research. Later, one month after care, people in the study graded their disc herniation discomfort on the same scale as previously. The change between the two ratings was used to determine how effective the treatment may have been for relieving discomfort.

What did the study uncover about chiropractic adjustments compared to nerve root injections?

Greater than 76% of the people in the study who received chiropractic adjustments recorded a positive change in their pain. On the other side, fewer than 63 percent of the patients who engaged in epidurals recorded a minimization in pain. These scores offer that chiropractic care could be more effective for looking to reduce herniated disc discomfort.

And, that isn't all. Beyond providing a larger count of cohorts highly desired reduction in pain, researchers also identified that chiropractic care was lower in cost. Epidural treatments approximately cost $730 per each participant. The chiropractic treatment ran just under $560 for the same time frame. This cost savings could surely help with anyone’s medical expenses. Saving money may make it more probable to look for care of your disc herniation pain without additional anxiety.

If you would like a greater chance of success and lesser costs when it comes to your herniated disc care, give Mulholland Chiropractic Center, LLC a call today at (907) 770-5700 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