The impact of novel inflammation‐preserving treatment towards lumbar disc herniation resorption in symptomatic patients: a prospective, multi‐imaging and clinical outcomes study

Review written by Todd Hargrove info

Key Points

  1. An inflammation-preserving back pain treatment protocol for patients with acute disc herniation was found to be safe and effective.
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BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Acute disc herniation initiates a healing process that often leads to resorption of the disc. Because inflammation is central to this healing process, there is concern that use of anti-inflammatories might inhibit resorption.

This prospective study used multiple MRI’s to track the condition of the disc over one year in patients with acute disc herniation. The patients received “inflammation preserving treatment”, which means back pain treatment that does not use anti-inflammatories.

Acute disc herniation initiates a healing process that often leads to resorption of the disc.
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Clinicians may advise their clients with acute disc herniations that disc resorption is likely to occur within a year and that this will probably reduce leg pain symptoms.

METHODS

The study recruited 90 patients with acute disc herniation and leg pain. All patients received 12 sessions of acupuncture and gabapentin to relieve leg pain. They were instructed to avoid any anti-inflammatory medications and to not participate in physical therapy,

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