CRITICISM OF NOT CONSIDERING NON-SURGICAL, CONSERVATIVE CARE: Cervical Radiculopathy and Lumbar Spine Stenosis
Conservative treatment – like chiropractic spinal manipulation
and Cox® Technic - of a couple of the most common spinal
pain conditions is often ignored in medical studies despite the abundance
of studies documenting benefit. (The “why?”
discussion is for another article.) Here are a
couple examples. (1) One case is in treating
cervical radiculopathy patients, patients with neck-related arm pain, and
myelopathy. The original study looked at the outcomes one year after cervical spine surgery for these conditions with no
comparison to conservative care for patients who ponder
what would ensue if they chose not to have surgery.
(1) The research about Cox® Technic for patients with cervical
spine radiculopathy show advantages for these
patients. Cervical radiculopathy because of a large C5-6 resolved
with flexion distraction. (2) In a 39-patient study, cervical radiculopathy
treated with Cox® Technic provided relief in a mean of 13.2 visits.
(3) At 2-year follow-up for a cervical disc herniation patient with arm pain after 15 treatments
in 10 weeks, relief stayed stable. (4) (2) The other example
is not suggesting non-surgical treatment for lumbar
spine stenosis. In a review of published clinical practice
guidelines for lumbar spine stenosis care,
researchers wrote that non-surgical treatments (28.6%) were not
as commonly recommended than injections (92.3%) and
surgery (66%). (5) The research on the advantage and value
of conservative care of lumbar spinal stenosis is growing, especially
with Cox® Technic. A case report stated that Cox® flexion
distraction decreased frequency and intensity of radicular leg
pain and back pain linked with lumbar spinal stenosis. (6) Another
described that 12 visits for flexion distraction treatment
and ancillary therapies relieved low back and leg pain symptoms
of stenosis. (7) In a 30-patient report of lumbar spine stenosis,
flexion distraction reduced pain and disability. (8) In a 57
lumbar spine stenosis patient study, Cox® improved pain by 76%. Disability
got better in 73%. (9) In a 30-patient study, Cox® was proved
to be a helpful intervention for treating pain and
dysfunction in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. (10) Now is the time for non-surgical, conservative care of conditions like cervical radiculopathy and lumbar
spine stenosis. OrthoIllinois Chiropractic offers such chiropractic care. Your McHenry
chiropractor is experienced in its delivery. Come see!
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Amanda Harris on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as she describes
her use of the Cox®
Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for lumbar spine stenosis.
McHenry CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE MONTH:
Practice Sit-To-Stand for Balance
OrthoIllinois Chiropractic talks with our McHenry chiropractic
patients about practicing sit-to-stand motion to keep and increase mobility and health. Sit-to-stand test is ascertained
by how many times you can get up from a fully seated sit
in 30 seconds. A smaller number of stands signifies
a greater risk of falling. By age, the number of
stands for risk differs. In women aged 60-64, less
than 12 is a higher risk; 65-69, less than 11; 70-79, less than 10; 80-84, less
than 9, 85-89, less than 8; 90-94, less than 4. Men 60-64, less than 14; 65-74,
less than 12; 75-79, less than 11; 80-94, less than 10; 85-89, less than 8;
90-94, less than 7. (11) The slower we move as we age, the less our quality
of life may be.
Increasing the speed of motion may increase
mobility in older people. (12) The faster the speed of
the STS, the more the knee and low back moved which
should be taken into consideration when testing back pain and
knee pain patients. (13) Check your sit-to-stand ability.
How did you do? OrthoIllinois Chiropractic can work with you to tackle
back pain and knee pain problems that may be slowing you down!
CONTACT OrthoIllinois Chiropractic
Thank you for confiding in McHenry chiropractic
care for your healthcare needs. We are
honored to be a member of your healthcare mobility
and spinal care team and look forward to visiting with you at OrthoIllinois Chiropractic
for your next appointment!