Non-Surgical Treatment for Herniated and Degenerative Disc Conditions - Beware of the Hype    

There has been a lot of advertising about spinal decompression recently.  Several companies are selling large, very expensive, computer driven spinal decompression machines to chiropractic and medical offices.  While these devices may be effective there is no evidence that they are any more effective than hands-on spinal decompression techniques.  Insurance companies have noticed this and are questioning the very large price tag of this kind of therapy. 

What is often missing is precise diagnosis and a comprehensive treatment plan that goes beyond passive treatment.  Healing a disc herniation typically requires that you understand and participate in the treatment process.

I have been offering spinal decompression for 20 years.  I have had great results with the overwhelming majority of patients.  I have no doubt that I have saved many patients from surgery.  I often find nerve compression that had been missed or misdiagnosed by others.  To treat these conditions I have brought together a comprehensive treatment program including patient education, home treatment and office treatment that I believe provides the quickest resolution of spinal compression due to disc herniation.  My methods rely on hands-on diagnosis which has frequently been confirmed by MRI studies. 

It is very rewarding to be able to help people who have, in many cases, suffered for years because no one found they had a disc herniation or no one was able to help them with an effective treatment plan.  In many cases the symptoms are things like hip pain, knee pain, foot pain, arm pain, shoulder joint pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome, all caused by nerve compression and the muscle imbalances resulting from the nerve compression.  Many of these disc herniation are small enough that they do not create the typical symptoms of intense nerve pain but still result in considerable pain and dysfunction.

 I see many patients who have chronic nerve compression, which has gone on for years if not decades.

Untreated disc herniation is the main cause of spinal degeneration - disc thinning, bone spurs and ultimately spinal stenosis.  This process can be halted or greatly reduced with proper treatment.  Untreated disc herniations are the main cause of spinal disc degeneration.  In many cases there is a chronic disc herniation with no pain or pain at the site of the herniation.  For example in many cases of carpal tunnel syndrome or other hand pain syndromes the underlying problem is spinal nerve compression.  In many cases there is no neck pain or only minimal neck pain.  This is one reason why so many of these patients continue to suffer because they have not received an accurate diagnosis,

 The techniques I have developed typically do not require the kind of lengthy treatment everyone associates with chiropractors.  Many patients recover in a month.  There are exceptions. Because I emphasize self-care and self-treatment most people with truly chronic problems can do most of their own maintenance.

Disc herniations typically produce many secondary symptoms because of nerve compression and resulting muscle weakness and/or spasm.  These include pain in the muscles themselves, tendonitis, ligament strain, wear and dysfunction in joints that are not properly stabilized by weak muscles, etc.  Treating these conditons without treating the source of the problem can be frustrating and ultimately futile.  Once the underlying spinal compression is healed, then it makes sense to treat any remaining soft tissue pain.  These usually resolve fairly quickly.  I have a wide range of techniques including active muscle release, active isolated stretching, kinesio taping, microcurrent, interferrential muscle stimulation and acupuncture.  

Help me spread the word. 

There are people you know who are suffering needlessly that can find relief from pain.  I will gladly arrange a complimentary phone consultation with anyone who needs help.

Related Articles on this site:

Disc pain, Nerve Pain, Sciatica   Bulging discs can cause severe pain which can be both alarming and disabling.  A disc herniation is a common cause of spinal surgery.  I have developed a protocol for treating disc herniations without surgery or drugs which is safe and extremely effective.  High tech mechanical treatments have been highly advertised and promoted in the news, but there is little evidence that these are any more effective and certainly are not more cost effective.  And what they leave out is teaching you how to help yourself -- the critical component in effectively treating your pain and helping you prevent future pain.

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Research on Manual Spinal Decompression: 

-FLEXION DISTRACTION (McManis Table) HELPS REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF SPINAL CANAL OCCUPIED BY DISC HERNIATION Size of Disc Doesn’t Matter (J Of The Neuromusculoskeletal System 1998; 6(3):114-126)

-NEW STUDY OF COX® DISTRACTION MANIPULATION IN THE TREATMENT OF LUMBAR SPINE STENOSIS PATIENTS IMPROVED BY 76% AND DISABILITY IMPROVED IN 73% (BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2006; 7:NIL_1-NIL_8)

-FLEXION DISTRACTION GIVES BEST CLINICAL OUTCOME (JNMS 2000;8(2):39-48)

-DECREASE IN INTRADISCAL PRESSURE REDUCES THE DISC BULGE DURING THE FLEXION-DISTRACTION PROCEDURE (Proceedings of the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine, Singapore 1997)

© 2008 George Manlove, DC   All rights reserved. 

Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Dr. Manlove, unless otherwise noted. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Manlove. Dr. Manlove encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.