Chiropractic management and rehabilitation of a 38-year-old male with an L5-s1 disc herniation.
OBJECTIVE
To present a chiropractic treatment plan for a patient with lumbar disc herniation including radicular symptoms below the knee.


METHODS
A 38-year-old male experienced lumbar disc herniation with radicular symptoms to the lower extremities, below the knee. Etiology of this episode included a traumatic injury which was complicated by chronic degenerative joint and disc changes.


RESULTS
The treatment regime included chiropractic spinal manipulation, modalities and exercise rehabilitation. Specific rehabilitation exercises were used during various stages of healing in an attempt to stabilize a potential surgical case. Goals of care were to alleviate pain, increase function, and decrease peripheralization related to disc herniation in this case. The patient reached a level of functional biomechanical stability over 15 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
This case demonstrates that with proper management, rehabilitation of a patient with disc herniation can be reached in a short duration of time.
Hammer
Christopher J
CJ
Private practice of chiropractic, Hammer Chiropractic.
J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2001 Nov-Dec;24(9):596-602
11753334
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1990 Mar;15(3):211-3
2141186
Phys Ther. 1994 Dec;74(12):1093-100
7991650