Size of Ashburn and Herndon Disc Herniation in Canal Is Not That Important

Disc herniations abound! 76% of us have one. (1) Do 76% of us have back pain right now? Thankfully, no! The presence of a disc herniation on imaging is not the chief issue. The issue is whether that disc is causing pain either mechanically (by pressing on a nerve) or chemically (by irritating a nerve). Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn determines this in the course of the all-important physical exam. The MRI and other imaging studies are extras that can assist - or distract - the chiropractic back pain treatment approach if the doctor and patient let it. So let’s not let it! 

PERCENT OF SPINAL CANAL A DISC TAKES UP DOESN’T MATTER

Some imaging studies or MRI images will show huge discs in back pain sufferers who have minimal or no pain while back pain sufferers who are in excruciating pain may show a minimal disc herniation. It can be upsetting. Fortunately, research continues to comfort all involved by explaining that size is not everything. A research paper documented that there was no correlation of pain and disability with the size of a disc herniation seen on MRI. (2) Another study of 368 patients who had a lumbar disc herniation said that 91.3% of them did not have back surgery within a year. The surgery patients’ discs occupied 31.5% of their spinal canal while the non-operative patients’ discs took up 31.2% of their spinal canals. That is not much of a difference. Researchers wrote that this does not predict which patients will fail nonoperative treatment and need surgery within 2 years after undergoing a lumbar spine MRI scan. (3) In light of these findings, Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn chooses conservative treatment of these disc herniations.

CONSERVATIVE CARE EFFECT ON DISC SIZE

Chiropractors are back pain specialists. Your Ashburn and Herndon chiropractor is the Ashburn and Herndon back pain specialist. Disc herniations causing pain are welcome at Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn as the spinal research shows that, though painful, disc herniations large and little react well to conservative treatment. Actually, in following up with patients who underwent conservative treatment for their disc herniation, 35% to 100% of the cases showed a decrease in the size of the herniation. (4) Two years after conservative care, herniated disc patients had a 16.5% reduction in size. 57% of patients showed a reduction, 40% demonstrated no change in size, and 3% showed a larger herniation. (5) More specifically, conservative treatment of the disc herniation with flexion distraction Cox® Technic delivered increases in the measurements of the spinal canal by as much as 28% in area, 17% in height and 7% in width. (6) Ashburn and Herndon back pain sufferers are grateful for such improvement in their disc herniations as pain relief results.

CONTACT Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn

Listen to the PODCAST with Dr. George Joachim on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson. Dr. Joachim presents the case of a patient with a disc herniation resulting in spinal stenosis that created considerable pain and alteration to her lifestyle which was enhanced with his use of the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.

Schedule your Ashburn and Herndon chiropractic appointment today. No matter its size, your disc herniation is in good company and in good hands at Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn.