​Recent research suggests that a multimodal chiropractic treatment can effectively ease radicular pain.

Radiculopathy, or radicular pain, is a condition related to compression of the spinal nerve roots. This nerve impingement can lead to  pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in parts of the body far from the original source. Radiculopathy is often disabling, and there is little information regarding the most effective course of treatment, though both surgical and non-surgical approaches are common.

A recent review examined the outcomes of conservative, non-surgical treatment of patients with radiculopathy. This review involved 162 patients with a diagnosis of radiculopathy who were treated with chiropractic spinal adjustments, neuromobilization, and exercise stabilization. The frequency and duration of care were determined on an individual patient, though most patients underwent treatment 2 to 3 times per week.

85.5% of the patients experienced resolution of their radicular complaints, after undergoing an average of 9 treatment sessions. Patients experienced an average change in numeric pain scale of 4.2 between the initial and final visit. 23 cases were considered unresolved; those patients were referred for steroid injection, further medication management, or surgery. The researchers concluded that the conservative management strategy explored here produced favorable outcomes for most radiculopathy patients.

This study adds to the knowledge surrounding radiculopathy treatments by demonstrating that a conservative approach utilizing spinal adjustments, in combination with neuromobilization and stabilization exercise, may be effective for the majority of patients with radicular pain.

Reference

Christensen KD, Buswell K. Chiropractic outcomes managing radiculopathy in a hospital setting: a retrospective review of 162 patients. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine 2008; 7 (3): 115-25.