Herniated Disk

Hey, thanks for the info...

I have had an MRI about 2 years back... apparently there was nothing there. I was seeing a sport med at the time... he pretty much said there was nothing there. I guess he didn't have anything else to say since he told me I was good to go and said there was no need to book any further appointments.

The chiro I see only does ART on me... no actual adjustments... and no insistance on the perpetual return. He helps me get my pain to a manageable amount and that is it. I see him when I feel I need a little help.

I am glad the surgery helped you... I have heard that they try to avoid back surgery in lieu of other treatments, but it is good to know it helps some people.

A while back, on this very same message board, I posted some information about herniated discs that I thought would be of interest. The above is further indication that people need much more information about this common injury. It is also reflective of America's fascination with high tech diagnostics that add tremendous cost to the system with little benefit.

Doctors are supposed to make diagnoses clinically - from a combination of the patient's complaints and a thorough physical exam. In the case of a herniated disc, an MRI should be done to CONFIRM the diagnosis, not to make it. All too often patients with lower back pain are sent for MRI without clinical correlation (appropriate examination findings that support the need for the test) and are subsequently "diagnosed" with a "herniated disc."

It is essential that we remember that fully 50% of every person walks around with a "disc injury," but no active symptoms. Having an MRI that shows a disc injury is NOT definitive - it must be correlated through physical exam. In the case posted above it is very conceivable that the patient has signs of a disc injury but since he responds to treatment an MRI is not indicated. Spending money just for the sake of spending money is poor health management.

Secondly, chiropractic (or physical therapy or pain management) demand multiple, sometimes periodic visits. Disc herniations, unlike bronchitis or a rash, do not disappear with a pill and a few days rest. They can be a bear to treat, requiring a significant amount of time (and, yes, of money) and can rear their ugly heads seemingly on a whim. Most disc herniation patients I see I manage, I don't fix.

However, when the option is more aggressive, invasive procedures like epidural injections or surgery, many people opt for taking the time and spending the money. While there's no guarantee (with anything!), the good thing is that with chiropractic or physical therapy, you can always go the other route.

Hope this is of interest and of benefit.

Steve