Study supports timely treatment for slipped disc

Published on 15 Mar 2010

Patients with lumbar disc herniation, also known as a slipped disc, are more likely to benefit from treatment if it is administered within six months of the onset of symptoms, new research suggests.

A slipped disc occurs when the inner contents of the affected spinal disc bulge through the inner fibrous ring and press on a nerve.

The condition usually affects adults between the ages of 30 and 40 years and tends to be caused by degenerative changes in the spine.

Pain often develops gradually, starting in the centre of the lower back and progressing until it may also affect the buttocks and legs.

Since the pain is not always extreme from the onset, some patients delay seeking treatment until it begins to affect their day-to-day life.

However, the latest study from Thomas Jefferson University and the Rothman Institute in Philadelphia suggests that failure to seek timely treatment could lead to poorer outcomes.

Researchers analysed 927 patients who had been experiencing symptoms related to a slipped disc for less than six months, as well as a further 265 patients whose symptoms had gone on for longer.

They compared the two groups and found that those whose symptoms had lasted for longer than six months tended to have worse outcomes following treatment, regardless of whether they had received surgical or non-surgical care.

Researcher Dr Jeffrey Rihn, assistant professor at Thomas Jefferson University's department of orthopaedic surgery, presented the findings at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

He commented: "The bottom line is patients who seek treatment, whether it is surgical or non-surgical, during the first six months of symptoms will respond better to treatment.

"We also learned that surgery offers advantages over non-surgical treatment, regardless of the duration of symptoms."

Arthritis Research UK is currently carrying out a clinical trial looking at the effectiveness of post-operative rehabilitation in patients who have undergone spinal surgery.

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