Injections For Back Pain – More Harm Than Help?

Did you know researchers have discovered a correlation between epidural steroid injections and spinal fracture risk? Specifically, new studies have indicated that there is a 21% increase in the risk of a patient experiencing a cracked or broken back after receiving an epidural steroid injection. The scary part is, over 9 million of these injections are given every year for spinal pain!

Why it Matters:

As you can imagine, spinal fractures HURT. They require significant treatment and some patients even undergo surgery to find relief. If you are currently experiencing back pain, know that you can reduce your risk of experiencing a fracture and get the relief you desire through conservative care. Research has shown that spinal adjustments are, in fact, one of the best care options at your disposal for reducing your pain, increasing your function and improving your overall quality of life.

Why? Chiropractors focus on restoring function and treat the cause of your back pain rather than treating symptoms. A shot does not correct the cause of your pain – at best, that shot only temporarily masks the cause. Knowing that and the increased risk of spinal fracture following an injection, the smart decision is to get well and stay well using conservative, natural healthcare like Chiropractic.

▪    New research has indicated a 21% increased risk of spinal fracture following an epidural injection.

▪    A fracture, or broken back, can cause tremendous pain and even result in surgery.

▪    Seeking conservative treatment first, such as Chiropractic care, is recommended over riskier spinal injections.

Next Steps:

Share the science. Being well informed comes with the responsibility of sharing what you know with others who don’t, and we encourage you to share what you know with others who are curious and would benefit from understanding this research. If you’re experiencing back pain, or would like to know more, ask us! We’re here for you.

Resources:

Spinal Manipulation Post-epidural Injection for Lumbar and Cervical Radiculopathy: A Retrospective Case Series. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. September 2004

Symptomatic MRI-Confirmed Lumbar Disk Herniation Patients: A Comparative Effectiveness Prospective Observational Study of 2 Age- and Sex-Matched Cohorts Treated with Either High-Velocity, Low Amplitude Spinal Manipulative Therapy or Imaging-Guided Lumbar Nerve Root Injections. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. May 2013

A Retrospective Analysis of Vertebral Body Fractures Following Epidural Steroid Injections. The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. June 2013This entry was posted in Whole Health Blog on by Michael Poplak.

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