patch for herniations

[Guest guest]

Does anyone use a patch that they feel has been clearly successful in

healing disc herniation (not mild)? I have tried a few and am not convinced

they do that much. What are other experiences?

 

 

 

-Jason

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Hey Jason,

 

I'm wondering what you mean when you say " healing disc herniation " ? Do you

mean getting the patient out of pain and functional again? To my knowledge,

once a disc has herniated, that's how it stays without surgical

intervention. Of course there are degrees of herniation ranging from a disc

bulge to complete rupture of the nucleus pulposus and not every case is a

surgical candidate - just depends on the symptoms, the level of

dysfunction/pain and the presence/absence of red flag signs.

 

Also, I'm assuming you're talking about the initial acute phase of a disc

herniation (or even a later exacerbation of a preexisting condition) where

the patient is currently symptomatic with some form of radiculopathy and

debilitating pain/dysfunction.

 

What I have found both clinically as well as personally (I have a disc

herniation in the lumbar spine), is that the most important therapy at the

time of initial injury is rest and time. There is no getting around the fact

that someone will have to *STOP MOVING* in order to get the inflammatory

response to calm down (the spine is destabilized and very vulnerable to

micro-motion, irritation, inflammation - not to mention that the pain can be

excruciating and progressive). I also find that patients do not generally

want to hear this - they want the magic needle, herb, whatever so they can

get on with their life as soon as possible (or in some cases, never slow

down in the first place). And of course, there will always be those patients

who are able to deal with a certain degree of disability in order to keep

moving but I feel this just prolongs their injury and in some cases makes it

worse - which is usually what got them there in the first place (unless you

get launched off a horse like I did or had some other traumatic accident

leading to disc injury).

 

I seem to get a fair share of this type of patient - especially among the

equestrienne world and resulting sports injuries. So, I've tried a number of

approaches. But now, I will even do house calls for this kind of thing in

the early phases because personally I feel it is detrimental to their

recovery to make them get in a car, travel to my clinic, walk around,

maneuver onto the treatment table, etc. I know some may disagree with me

here...all I can say is if you've lived through it yourself, you may feel

differently (or not).

 

Anyway, I'm slightly off topic from your original question....

 

I have not found any patch to heal a disc herniation - if others have, I'd

love to hear it, too. I do however use liniments and internal herbs, and

even heat or ice as appropriate as supportive care in conjunction with

active treatments (acupx, e-acupx, cupping, etc). I am also not adverse to

the short-term use of pharmaceutical intervention for pain management

if/when someone is in severe pain because the pain mechanism itself slows

down the healing process (yes, I am aware of the catch-22 here).

 

But, imo, none of these treatments should replace the need for (bed)-rest

and time. As for how much time? My response is always " as long as it takes. "

Everyone heals at their own individual rate. Our form of treatment can help

shorten this window, but should not replace it altogether.

 

Once the acute/symptomatic nature of the herniation is under control and the

patient is no longer having radiculopathy, I will begin the patient on a

spine stabilization/strengthening exercise regime - mostly culled from the

pilates world with some qi gong. As one doctor so wisely said to me, I so

tell my patients " these will become your exercises for life, make it part of

your morning routine just like brushing your teeth - it's that important. " I

sure know when I've slacked off on these stabilization movements...

 

J

 

________

Joy Keller, LAc, Dipl.OM

Board Certified in Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine

Ramona Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine Clinic

Phone: (760) 654-1040 Fax: (760) 654-4019

www.RamonaAcupuncture.com