Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation Concluded to Be Effective and Less Expensive Than Epidural for Treating Herniated Disc Pain

Herniated discs have burdened a number of people that have visited our Humble office. Fortunately, Dr. Groneck has helped a lot of them heal swiftly and more adequately. Herniated discs, sometime referred to as "slipped discs", can be treated with several different remedies.

If you are experiencing irritation because of a herniated disc, then you may be wondering which option will provide the best outcome for you. To help you in settling that search, let's look at two of the most frequently prescribed treatments: chiropractic and lumbar nerve root injection/epidural.

Research Analyzed Results from Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT) and Nerve Root Injections (NRI)

A group of researchers from Switzerland recruited 102 individuals, all of whom had chronically herniated discs confirmed by medical imaging. Every cohort picked had previously received ninety days of care through other applicable treatment options without achieving success.

The pack of patients was split into two treatment paths. One half of the participants were treated with high-velocity, low-amplitude spinal manipulation treatment (chiropractic adjustments). The next half of people in the study were given nerve root injections (epidural).

The organizers of the study collected ratings about the pain levels of each individual prior to the care provided in the time of the study. Then, 30 days after treatment, people in the study rated their disc herniation pain on the same scale as previously. The change between the two reports was used to measure how effective the remedy may have been for remediating pain.

What did the researchers uncover about spinal manipulations versus epidural injections?

Over 76 percent of the participants who were treated with chiropractic treatments recorded a positive change in their pain. On the other hand, fewer than 63% of the individuals who engaged in epidurals recorded an improvement in discomfort. The findings indicate that chiropractic care could be more successful for caring for to remediate herniated disc discomfort.

And, that isn't all. In addition to giving a higher amount of individuals highly desired pain relief, researchers also gleaned that spinal manipulation was more cost-effective. The epidural treatments approximately cost $730 for a single individual. Chiropractic treatment cost less than $560 for an equal time frame. This amount of savings may surely help with one’s medical expenses. A lower cost can make it more viable to seek care of your disc herniation pain without added worry.

If you are interested in a better chance of success and fewer costs associated with your herniated disc care, give Dr. Groneck a call today at (281) 540-7201 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