Question
Hi was diagnosed with a slipped disk L3-4 by my doctor. Steroids and muscle relaxers helped a little bit but she now wants me to go for traction 20 visits 1 hour per visit. I hate to be synical but she owns the back clinic also and says a chiropractor can't do what I need. It sounds to me like she wants my insurance money for the 20 visits. Can a person with a slipped disk and pinched nerve benefit for your type of treatment? And will it take 20 visits?

Thank you.

Answer
Craig,

Thanks for the question and I hope I can help.

First of all I have to touch one point as many doctors continue to use the term "slipped disk".  This is an erroneous term as disks do not and cannot "slip". A disk will either bulge or herniate. A bulge is when the inner fibers of the outer portion of the disc tear, allowing the inner material to cause a bulge, kind of like a bad tire.

A herniation is when the inner and outer fibers of the outer portion of the disk tear, allowing the inner material to actually "leak" out.  

A herniation is worse but often they both cause the same symptoms...back pain, leg and buttock pain, numbness, weakness are the most common.

In order to fully diagnose a disk condition, an MRI is a must.  The MRI is definitive in giving us the most accurate picture of what is going on. Have you had an MRI?

As for traction as a treatment method, it is a generally accepted method of care.  However, if a herniation is present, it most likely will not be the long term solution.

I have seen traction work very well with disk bulges.

As for the 20 visits, unfortunately, traction is a treatment method that does require a lot of visits.  I would initially recommend 12 visits over 3 weeks. You should see at least 50-70% improvement over that time span if traction is going to do the job.

I have treated hundreds of cases like yours using chiropractic manipulation, therapy, a traction method called flexion/distraction, and eventually rehab.  I would normally see a case like this probably 12-20 visits.  I would expect improvement with any treatment after 3-6 visits, even if it is minimal improvement.  This will indicate that you are likely to respond to the type of treatment.

If you have not had the MRI, you need one!  I would not undergo traction if an MRI does not show the need for it.

I hope this helps.

God Bless,

Dr. Boss