What is the best treatment for a herniated disc? Do some people get better results from surgery for their herniated disc than others?
As reported on MedicalNewsToday.com, a recent study published in the January 15th issue of Spine concluded that three factors that were independently associated to improved treatment effect of surgery for a disc herniation: married patients, those without other joint problems (knee, hip, etc), as well as those whose back pain symptoms worsened at the time of treatment.
Apparently, it is better to be married if you are going to have surgery on your herniated disc. According to the study, married patients with worsening symptoms saw the greatest improvement from surgery--a 38-point improvement with surgery compared with a 20-point improvement with nonsurgical treatment. Although researchers are unsure why marital status affects response to disc herniation surgery, investigations have demonstrated improved outcomes for a wide variety of health problems among married patients.
For single patients with stable symptoms the treatment effect was approximately 8 points: 35 points with surgery in comparison with 27 points with nonsurgical treatment.
If you or a loved one is suffering from a disc herniation, you should consult with a doctor about your treatment options. The presence of a herniated disc alone does not warrant surgery, but pay close attention to the symptoms from the disc herniation. Ignoring these symptoms could result in irreversible damage.
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