According to a new study in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, patients suffering from ruptured disks in their lower backs tend to recover regardless whether they underwent back surgery or not.
Dr. James Weinstein, who led the two year study, is a professor of orthopedic surgery at Dartmouth. Nearly 2,000 patients were included in the study. Most of the participants were randomly assigned either back surgery to repair their ruptured disks or non-surgical treatment that included physical therapy, counseling and anti-inflammatory drugs to help treat their associated pain.
Ruptured disk tends to run in families. The condition occurs when the gel-like material inside a spinal disk protrudes through the outside of the disk lining. A bubble forms that compresses and inflames the root of the sciatic nerve.
Some symptoms experienced by patients with this condition are searing pain in the buttocks or leg. This, in turn, can prevent the
back-pain-sufferer from walking or even sitting. Operations to the spine to relieve pressure in the disk and return the nerve to the normal position generally relieve pain quickly. However, such procedures can be expensive and often require long waiting
periods.
Many of the roughly 300,000 Americans who have disk surgery each year believe that, if they delay surgery, they risk permanent nerve damage or loss of bowel and bladder control. Weinstein’s study, however, found that patients who decided against the surgery experienced the same benefits of those who chose to go under the knife.
Patients in the study who chose surgery reported immediate pain relief. However, within three to six months both the waiting group and the surgery group reported marked improvements.
Major improvements were reported by 70 percent of patients in the two groups. No one in either group reported negative results.
While the study wasn't able to determine which option is better for the patients, continuing research in underway to determine which option makes the most financial sense. Due to the fact that 40 percent of patients in the trial did not stick with their assigned treatment, the results could not be considered conclusive. Many who were assigned waiting opted for surgery to help with intense pain. On the other hand, many who were initially assigned to surgery decided to wait.
Many surgeons believe the study will have a major impact on the way ruptured disks are treated since the study determined that waiting does not harm patients.
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Study Shows Chronic Back Pain can be Healed by Natural Means
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