Chiropractic Spinal Adjustments Considered Effective and Less Expensive Than Epidural for Treating Herniated Disc Patients

Herniated discs have annoyed a number of clients that have come to our New York practice. Fortunately, Dr. Valente has assisted most of them heal speedily and more completely. Herniated discs, or "slipped discs", can be treated with a handful of methods.

If you are experiencing irritation due to a herniated disc, then you are likely wondering which option will provide the best outcome for you. To help you in solving that search, let's inspect two of the most popularly selected treatment options: chiropractic/manipulative therapy and epidural injections.

Research Analyses Improvements from Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT) and Nerve Root Injections (NRI)

A body of researchers from Switzerland recruited 102 individuals, all having had chronically herniated discs validated by medical imaging. Every patient picked had previously undergone ninety days of care via alternatively accessible remedies without achieving satisfaction.

The body of cohorts was divided into two treatment paths. The first group of the participants were treated with high-velocity, low-amplitude spinal manipulation treatment (chiropractic adjustments). The second half of people in the study were given nerve root injections (epidural).

The conductors of the study obtained data in regards to the pain levels of each participant prior to the remedy given amid the research. Later, 30 days after care, patients rated their disc herniation pain on the same scoring system as previously. The difference in the two reports was applied to determine how effective the remedy may have been for improving pain.

What did the research uncover in regards to spinal adjustments against epidural injections?

Over 76 percent of the cohorts who were given chiropractic adjustments recorded a decrease in their discomfort. On the other side, not quite 63% of the individuals who were provided epidurals expressed an improvement in discomfort. These results indicate that chiropractic adjustments could be more successful for caring for to resolve herniated disc discomfort.

And, that is not all. Beyond granting a larger quantity of cohorts greatly appreciated pain relief, researchers also found that chiropractic care was less expensive. Nerve root injection treatments cost about $730 per each individual. Chiropractic treatment ran less than $560 for an equal timespan. This amount of savings could certainly assist with anyone’s budget. Spending less can make it more probable to obtain care for your disc herniation pain without extra worry.

If you want a higher probability of pain relief and fewer costs associated with your herniated disc treatment, give Dr. Valente a call today at (917) 338-7917 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