The University of Pittsburg Health Center now requires a trial of chiropractic care before qualifying for surgery.
In guidelines published in 2012, the University of Pittsburgh Health Center requires a 3-month failed trial of physical therapy, chiropractic, and medication along with a low back pain health coaching program before a patient can qualify for spine surgery.
No wonder, given that overall it is estimated that 90% of low back disc herniations will improve within 3 months with conservative non-operative care. Additionally, considering that death rates from neck and low back surgery are in the range of .1% (1 in a thousand) and complication rates range from 5% to 19% for all types of back surgery, opting for a trial of conservative care before considering back surgery is the correct evidence based decision.
Chiropractic care is one of the safest alternatives. For treatment of lower back disc cases, the complication rate for clinically worsened disc herniation in the lower back from chiropractic treatment is estimated at less than .0000037% (1 in 3.7 million). Put another way, for every one patient worsened by chiropractic treatment, there are 3700 surgical complications.
If surgery has been recommended for your spine, insist on a trial of chiropractic care before consenting, except in cases of caudal equina syndrome, worsening and failing neurological signs, fracture, or infection.
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