All healthcare providers may be bias about certain things. If a patient with neck and arm pain presents to a chiropractic clinic, the chiropractor will recommend a non-surgical trial of care as long as “red flags” don’t exist. (“Red flags” are “bad” things like bowel/bladder weakness, rapidly worsening symptoms, and a few others). Frequently, the patient asks, “…should I just have the surgery…am I just postponing the inevitable?” Here’s what we know…
Surgery vs Non-Surgical Care
A 2015 study compared non-surgical physical therapy vs surgery. The conservative approach used exercises, therapy, and self-management strategies. The surgical approach used ACDF – anterior cervical decompression and fusion plus post-surgical physical therapy. Twelve months after treatment, they found that 87% of the patients in the surgical group reported a “better/much better” result. This compares to 62% of patients in the non-surgical group.
Within a year, 62% of those treated WITHOUT surgery reported a “better/much better” result. This later improved to 69% by year two. Those receiving surgery DROPPED from 87% to 81% after two years. Degeneration occurs more rapidly above and below a fusion due to the increased biomechanical load. This can lead to the need for further treatment.
The study’s “conclusion” states that a structured NON-SURGICAL treatment approach “…should be tried before surgery is chosen.”
Chiropractic Care
A very similar 2013 study followed 50 patients with herniated cervical disks and arm pain who received chiropractic treatment. After two weeks, 55.3% reported they were “better” or “much better.” After one month, 68.9% reported improvement and the percentage increased to 85.7% after three months.
Conclusions
The guidelines for treating neck pain recommend that patients undergo a course of non-surgical care FIRST before surgical care. In fact, many guidelines DON’T even recommend MRI or EMG/NCV initially unless the result from the non-surgical care is not satisfactory, usually by the four-to-six week point into treatment.
These studies show that patients with neck and arm pain (most commonly caused by herniated disks) are frequently successfully managed WITHOUT SURGERY and hence, this approach should be tried FIRST and surgery be reserved ONLY to the non-responders.
We realize you have a choice in whom you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs. If you, a friend, or a family member is searching for care in North Dallas for neck pain or headaches relief, we would be honored to provide a consultation for conservative chiropractic care.
