Prospective medium-term results of multimodal pain management in patients with lumbar radiculopathy.
Lumbar radiculopathy is one of the most common diseases of modern civilisation. Multimodal pain management (MPM) represents a central approach to avoiding surgery. Only few medium-term results have been published in the literature so far. This study compared subjective and objective as well as anamnestic and clinical parameters of 60 patients who had undergone inpatient MPM because of lumbar radiculopathy before and 1 year ±2 weeks after treatment. The majority of patients were very satisfied (35%) or satisfied (52%) with the treatment outcome. Merely 8 patients commented neutrally and none negatively. The finger-floor distance had decreased significantly (p < 0.01), and 30 patients (50%) had shown improved mobility of the spine after therapy. The need for painkillers had also been significantly reduced after 1 year. The arithmetical average of pain on a visual analogue scale was 7.21 before treatment, which had significantly decreased to 3.58 at follow-up (p < 0.01). MPM is an effective approach for treating lumbar radiculopathy by mechanical nerve root irritation. Therefore, in the absence of an absolute indication for surgery or an absolute contradiction for MPM, patients should first be treated with this minimally invasive therapy.
Orthopädische Klinik für die Universität Regensburg, Asklepios Klinikum Bad Abbach, Kaiser-Karl-V-Allee 3, 93077 Bad Abbach, Germany.
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Benditz
Orthopädisches Versorgungszentrum München Innenstadt, Sendlinger Str. 14, 80331 München, Germany.
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Madl
Caritas Krankenhaus St. Josef, Landshuter Strasse 65, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
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Loher
Orthopädische Klinik für die Universität Regensburg, Asklepios Klinikum Bad Abbach, Kaiser-Karl-V-Allee 3, 93077 Bad Abbach, Germany.
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Grifka
Orthopädische Klinik für die Universität Regensburg, Asklepios Klinikum Bad Abbach, Kaiser-Karl-V-Allee 3, 93077 Bad Abbach, Germany.
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Boluki
OZA München, Englschalkinger Str. 12, 81925 München, Germany.
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Linhardt
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000628:therapy*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000700:Analgesics