Is Back Surgery Effective?
According to Robert Mendelsohn, MD, “I have seen more than one case in which spinal surgery
was avoided by individuals who decided, as a last resort before going under the knife, to see a
chiropractor…” His remark has been underlined by many medical doctors and others who find
that many patients who decide to pursue a non-operative approach towards disc herniation may
avoid the surgery.
Back surgery for herniation should only be attempted as a last resort. That is because back
surgery is a dangerous procedure with a high failure rate. One reason for the high failure rate may
be that there is much controversy over whether the disc is really the source of spinal pain. A
certain percentage of the population has spinal disc degeneration with no symptoms.
The Chiropractic Record
A proper alignment between the disc, the vertebrae and other structures in the spine is the goal of
chiropractic care. Chiropractic has been able to save people from spinal surgery. There are
reports of an MRI or other imaging device revealing a disc herniation or protrusion in the neck or
low back which was reduced or completely reabsorbed under chiropractic care. Had they not
sought out chiropractic, many of these individuals undoubtedly would have had surgery. For
example, in one study 27 patients documented with disc herniation were given chiropractic care.
Post MRIs revealed that 63% of the patients had a reduced or completely reabsorbed disc
herniation. Seventy-eight percent were able to return to work.
In another study of 21 patients with CT scan diagnosed lumbar disc herniation, their pain
disappeared after chiropractic. A follow-up CT scan at least 6 months later showed the herniation
reduced or disappeared in most patients.
In another study of 517 patients with protruded lumbar discs, 76.8% had satisfactory results under
chiropractic care without surgery.
Is Surgery Never Needed?
Surgery is sometimes necessary. But surgery is an extreme form of health care and it has many
dangers. Many times spinal surgery fails and must be repeated, sometimes more than once. It
should only be considered as a last resort after more natural, less invasive methods have been
given a fair chance.
According to Robert Mendelsohn, MD, “I have seen more than one case in which spinal surgery
was avoided by individuals who decided, as a last resort before going under the knife, to see a
chiropractor…” His remark has been underlined by many medical doctors and others who find
that many patients who decide to pursue a non-operative approach towards disc herniation may
avoid the surgery.
Back surgery for herniation should only be attempted as a last resort. That is because back
surgery is a dangerous procedure with a high failure rate. One reason for the high failure rate may
be that there is much controversy over whether the disc is really the source of spinal pain. A
certain percentage of the population has spinal disc degeneration with no symptoms.
The Chiropractic Record
A proper alignment between the disc, the vertebrae and other structures in the spine is the goal of
chiropractic care. Chiropractic has been able to save people from spinal surgery. There are
reports of an MRI or other imaging device revealing a disc herniation or protrusion in the neck or
low back which was reduced or completely reabsorbed under chiropractic care. Had they not
sought out chiropractic, many of these individuals undoubtedly would have had surgery. For
example, in one study 27 patients documented with disc herniation were given chiropractic care.
Post MRIs revealed that 63% of the patients had a reduced or completely reabsorbed disc
herniation. Seventy-eight percent were able to return to work.
In another study of 21 patients with CT scan diagnosed lumbar disc herniation, their pain
disappeared after chiropractic. A follow-up CT scan at least 6 months later showed the herniation
reduced or disappeared in most patients.
In another study of 517 patients with protruded lumbar discs, 76.8% had satisfactory results under
chiropractic care without surgery.
Is Surgery Never Needed?
Surgery is sometimes necessary. But surgery is an extreme form of health care and it has many
dangers. Many times spinal surgery fails and must be repeated, sometimes more than once. It
should only be considered as a last resort after more natural, less invasive methods have been
given a fair chance.
Back Surgery - What Should Know
What are Discs and What Do They Do?
Between your spinal bones (vertebrae) are flexible,
gel-like pads called intervertebral discs (“discs”) for
short). Your discs help give your spine its curves and
flexibility (a curved, flexible spine is stronger than a
straight, rigid one); they also separate and join your
vertebrae together. Without them your spinal bones
would crash together whenever you walked—a very
painful occurrence. Discs affect your height too—you
are about ¼” – ½” taller when you wake up then when
you go to sleep. Why is that? Because gravity makes
your discs thin a little when you walk and sit during the
day and expand a little while you lie in bed (astronauts
gain about 1” in height due to weightlessness).
Spinal discs are being studied by many researchers
trying to understand how discs are involved in lower
back pain.
Disc Protrusion and Prolapse
As we age, our discs may lose fluid and small cracks
or lesions may form in the outer walls. This damage
may also be caused or accelerated by the vertebral
subluxation complex, a spinal distortion chiropractors
correct. Your disc may bulge, irritate nerves and
cause a lot of pain and discomfort. In severe cases
disc damage may affect sitting, standing, walking or
lifting and cause pain when urinating, defecating,
sneezing and coughing. Numbness of the leg or foot
or a loss of muscular control may also occur.
As we age, our discs may lose fluid and small cracks
or lesions may form in the outer walls. This damage
may also be caused or accelerated by the vertebral
subluxation complex, a spinal distortion chiropractors
correct. Your disc may bulge, irritate nerves and
cause a lot of pain and discomfort. In severe cases
disc damage may affect sitting, standing, walking or
lifting and cause pain when urinating, defecating,
sneezing and coughing. Numbness of the leg or foot
or a loss of muscular control may also occur.
An x-ray of a spine from the right side
showing three normal discs and one
prolapsed or herniated disc, where the
nucleus pulposus has burst through the hard
outer rim, rather like toothpaste from a tube,
and is pressing against the nerve running
just behind it
showing three normal discs and one
prolapsed or herniated disc, where the
nucleus pulposus has burst through the hard
outer rim, rather like toothpaste from a tube,
and is pressing against the nerve running
just behind it
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| Information and appointments: call (703) 757 - 5817 |
If you have a spinal disc injury or spinal trauma - schedule a consultation with Dr. Loebig
because it will give you the information you need to properly evaluate treatment alternatives to
surgery. As you can see from the data below, back surgery is rarely the best treatment protocol for
long term relief.
Dr. Glenn Loebig specializes in difficult spinal disc and spinal cord trauma cases. He has saved a
number of patients from the pain and uncertainty of back surgery while providing non invasive, long
term relief.
While alternatives to surgery often produce the best results, there are specific instances where
surgery is recommended (for example in the case of free floating disk fragments where a piece of
spinal disk has actually broken free and is floating, unattached, in the spinal column.
Dr. Loebig works in close corroboration with the Washington D.C. Metro area's leading spinal and
orthopedic surgeons. In instances where Dr. Loebig feels back surgery is indeed the best course
of action he consults with, and refers to, the selected surgeon.
because it will give you the information you need to properly evaluate treatment alternatives to
surgery. As you can see from the data below, back surgery is rarely the best treatment protocol for
long term relief.
Dr. Glenn Loebig specializes in difficult spinal disc and spinal cord trauma cases. He has saved a
number of patients from the pain and uncertainty of back surgery while providing non invasive, long
term relief.
While alternatives to surgery often produce the best results, there are specific instances where
surgery is recommended (for example in the case of free floating disk fragments where a piece of
spinal disk has actually broken free and is floating, unattached, in the spinal column.
Dr. Loebig works in close corroboration with the Washington D.C. Metro area's leading spinal and
orthopedic surgeons. In instances where Dr. Loebig feels back surgery is indeed the best course
of action he consults with, and refers to, the selected surgeon.
| Spinal Disc Injury Loebig Chiropractic provides an effective and healthier alternative to back surgery |
| Loebig Chiropractic |
Because you don't have to learn to live with the pain
Do You Have a Slipped Disc?
A disc cannot “slip” since it is knitted into the
vertebrae from both above and below. What
sometimes do slip are the vertebrae, which
may stress the disc and contribute to its
damage. Many “slipped discs” would be
more accurately called slipped vertebrae or
subluxations.
Organic Disease
Disc degeneration may lead to irritation of
spinal nerves and contribute to
endometriosis, infections (bladder, vaginal,
kidney), urinary retention, prostate
problems, miscarriage, sterility, sexual
impotence, cystitis, menstrual cramps and
constipation. It is not uncommon for an
individual who has a chronic back condition
to also suffer from one or more of the above
problems.
A disc cannot “slip” since it is knitted into the
vertebrae from both above and below. What
sometimes do slip are the vertebrae, which
may stress the disc and contribute to its
damage. Many “slipped discs” would be
more accurately called slipped vertebrae or
subluxations.
Organic Disease
Disc degeneration may lead to irritation of
spinal nerves and contribute to
endometriosis, infections (bladder, vaginal,
kidney), urinary retention, prostate
problems, miscarriage, sterility, sexual
impotence, cystitis, menstrual cramps and
constipation. It is not uncommon for an
individual who has a chronic back condition
to also suffer from one or more of the above
problems.
| Copyright 2008. Loebig Chiropractic |
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