how much treatment should I receive based on spinal decompression literature for treatment of sciatic nerve pain and disc problems
treatment for sciatic nerve pain
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the Short answer for improvement with spinal decompression is 3-5 times per week for 20 visits.
I’ll keep this non surgical non drug spinal decompression literature review simple. In the text description underneath the study title I will bold a sentence that is the highlight. If that sentence is complicated then I’ll write a brief “translation” and underline it for ease of comprehension.
This weeks review will be about: how much treatment should I receive based on spinal decompression literature.
Gose E, Naguszewski W&R: Vertebral axial Decompression for Pain associated With Herniated and Degenerated Discs or Facet syndrome: an Outcome Study. Neuro Research, (20) 3, 186-190, 1997.
A retrospective analysis of over 770 cases, many assumed to be unresponsive to previous therapies showed a 71 % good-excellent success rate with -20 treatments on the prone VAX-D traction device. All patients treated prone with 65-95 lbs. of force 3-5 times per week.
[Tweet “71% #spinalDecompression success rate for #disc #pain with 20 visits”]Gallucci G [1438 S.O.M. Center Road, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124 — (216)461-4848]:The effectiveness of chiropractic treatment for disc syndrome. A Study by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ohio and Physicians First, Inc. (1996)
A study was conducted as a joint venture between Physicians First, an established chiropractic clinic, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ohio. The purpose was to compile statistics on the effectiveness of chiropractic treatment of back injuries that might otherwise require surgical intervention. The study was composed of a total of 10 patients with diagnosed intervertebral disc syndrome. All 10 subjects had received treatment from a medical doctor for the diagnosed conditions. The subjects were treated under a twelve week plan which included the utilization of Cox Distraction Technique. Post-treatment surveys revealed that all 10 patients reported improvement.
tColachis S, Strohm BR: Effects of Intermittent Traction on Vertebral Separation. Arch of Phys Med & Rehab, 50: 251-258,1969.
Subjects were subjected to a supine angled traction force of up to 100 lbs. with x-ray examination. A rope angle of 18 degrees revealed separation greatest at L4-5 (Note: we speculate a more acute angle –10 degrees affords greater separation at LS-S 1). The separation was obvious up to T 12-L 1 with total elongation of the spine approaching +5mm. The vertebra separation is greater on the posterior vs. anterior aspect of the vertebra.
Mathews, JA: Dynamic Discography: A Study of Lumbar Traction. Annls of Phys Med, IX (7), 265-279, 1968.
3 patients with a ruptured lumbar disc had contrast medium and radiographic images taken during and after a lumbar traction procedure. The protrusions were shown to lessen considerably with the 30 minute prone 1 traction sessions and a dimpling of the outer annulus suggested a negative intradiscal force was created.
Lidstom, A Zachrisson M: PT of the low back pain and sciatica. Scan Joul of Rehab Med, 2: 37-42, 1970.
Intermittent supine traction with -+50% body-weight, (10) 20 minute sessions with added exercises showed considerable improvement in over 90% of the 62 patients.
Cox, JM, Feller JA, Cox JA: Distraction Chiropractic Adjusting: Clinical Application,Treatment Algorithms, and Clinical Outcomes of 1000 Cases Studied. Topics in Clinical Chiropractic 1996; (3)3:45-59, 79-81
An overview of Cox® distraction manipulation protocols is presented including diagnosis and treatment decision making in low back pain and sciatica cases and proper utilization of flexion distraction in treating lumbar spine and lower extremity pain. In addition, the outcome of 1,000 cases involving low back and/or leg pain treated with chiropractic adjusting (92% utilizing flexion distraction) is presented. A qualitative clinical and literature review provides the basis of the overview of diagnostic and treatment protocols. A descriptive case series design was used to collect outcome information on 1,000 patients with low back and/or leg pain; patients were pooled from two separate studies. Patients were treated by 30 different chiropractors, and a minimum of 20 cases was supplied by each physician. A descriptive review of cases showed that less than 4% of patients with low back or leg pain were candidates for surgery. Less than 9% of patients reached the chronic stage of care. The mean number of days to maximum improvement under care was 29, and the average number of treatments to maximum improvement was 12. The results of this study provide some evidence for the use of chiropractic management, particularly flexion distraction manipulation, in the treatment of back pain problems due to a variety of mechanical causes.
Dr. Justin Trosclair Chiropractor
Serving Arnaudville, Breaux Bridge, Cecilia, Lafayette, Parks, St. Martinville and Youngsville
