Full Title:Complete Resolution Of Subjective And Objective Findings With Chiropractic Care And Idd Therapy In A Patient With Disc Extrusion And Radiculuar Symptoms
Author: Jeffrey S Garofalo et all
Affiliation: SUNY at Buffalo
Publication: National Library of Medicine
Discussion: The patient is a 37-year-old female who presented with severe lower back pain with radiation and weakness in her left leg and foot after lifting a door 2 weeks ago. Her pain has increased with walking and working, which is preventing her from performing her daily activities. Left S1 dermatome was abnormal for sensation, and her left S1 myotome was weak upon testing. This resulted in immediate referral for a lumbar MRI. In the absence if cauda equina symptoms the patient was not referred for a neurosurgical consult. Straight Leg Raise Test [4] and Braggards Test were bot positive. X-Rays revealed loss of disc space between the L5-S1 vertebra, and hypolordosis. Spinal decompression was recommended and started with the patient [5]. The patient would be seen 3 times per week for 40 decompression therapy sessions followed by 10 minutes of ice to decrease inflammation, followed by a chiropractic adjustment [6]. Chiropractic has been shown to be an effective conservative option for lumbar disc injuries [7]. Chiropractic has been shown to be a safe conservative option for lumbar disc injuries [8]. The patient progressed through care and had complete resolution of all subjective and objective findings. Due to the patient’s subjective and objective findings an MRI was appropriately ordered to determine the cause of the patient’s findings and to rule in or out a disc herniation, bulge or some other space occupying lesion that was present [9]. Seeing the imaging helped create a proper diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan that resulted in a complete resolution in subjective and objective findings. The patient had a 0 out of 10 on a verbal pain scale both for lower back pain and leg pain. Straight Leg Test and Braggard’s Test were now negative for symptoms. The patient was able to get back to walking, exercising and working without pain present at all.