In the article “Failed back surgery syndrome” (2003), general medicine registrar Lina Talbot notes that 5-10% of patients in the UK who have back surgery will not find relief from radiating pain, and many will in fact develop what is often referred to as “failed back surgery syndrome.”

Talbot also observes that these “failed back surgery” syndrome patients will suffer chronic pain for years.

Worst of all, the author notes that these patients are rarely improved with orthopaedic, neurological, radiological consultations, or benefited from physiotherapy, occupational therapy, clinical psychology, or pain clinic management.

At Evergreen Chiropractic, we understand that back surgery is necessary in extreme cases. But it is our goal to help our patients maintain their spinal health through regular chiropractic care and to avoid, if at all possible, the risks of surgery.

Yours in health,

Evergreen Chiropractic

1666 E Olive Way

Seattle, WA 98102

(206) 323-1666

www.evergreenchiropractic.com

Reference: Lina Talbot. Failed back surgery syndrome. BMJ ;327: October 25 , 2003, pp. 985-986

Victims of whiplash and neck injury can be understandably guarded about their injured bodies, even when seeking help to relieve their pain. Many people might already know that chiropractic adjustments are an excellent, natural, drug-free way to relieve neck pain (especially whiplash) and to return patients to normal functioning.

But for people who might be reticent about having a doctor adjust the neck area afflicting them, it might relieve them to know about a national survey of 19,722 patients conducted in October 2007 (“Safety of Chiropractic Manipulation of the Cervical Spine”) designed to assess the risk of serious and minor adverse events following chiropractic manipulation of the cervical spine.

This first, large-scale study examined treatment outcomes obtained from:

• 19,722 patients
• 8,807 treatment consultations
• 50,276 cervical spine manipulations and
• 377 Chiropractors from the U.K.

The researchers found that the Chiropractors’ cervical manipulations resulted in no reports of serious adverse events.

According to the study, estimates of serious complications following spinal manipulative therapy of the cervical spine “vary between 1 serious adverse event in 200,000 manipulative neck treatments to 1 in several million.”

The authors of this study state that “this survey provides evidence that cervical spine manipulation is a relatively safe procedure when administered by registered U.K. chiropractors.”

They also note that the “risks reported here are also lower than those reported for acupuncture, which were described as a very safe intervention in the hands of a competent practitioner.”

One important take-away from these results is that natural methods of caring for neck injuries can be very safe as well as effective.

Yours in health,

Evergreen Chiropractic

1666 E Olive Way

Seattle, WA 98102

(206) 323-1666

www.evergreenchiropractic.com

Reference: “Safety of Chiropractic Manipulation of the Cervical Spine.” A Prospective National Survey Spine. Volume 32(21), October 2007, pp 2375-2378. (Thiel, Haymo W. DC, PhD; Bolton, Jennifer E. PhD; Docherty, Sharon PhD; Portlock,Jane C. PhD)

The editors of The Lancet reviewed the June 2^nd 1990 British Medical Journal article “Low back pain of mechanical origin: randomized comparison of chiropractic and hospital outpatient treatment” (TW Meade, et al) and found that the article “showed a strong and clear advantage for patients with chiropractic.” (“Chiropractors and Low Back Pain.”The Lancet, July 28, 1990, p. 220)

The study, which looked at 741 patients, led the Lancet editors to conclude that the advantage for chiropractic over conventional hospital treatment was “not a trivial amount” and “reflects the difference between having mild pain, the ability to life heavy weights without extra pain, and the ability to sit for more than one hour, compared with moderate pain, the ability to lift heavy weights only if they are conveniently positioned, and being unable to sit for more than 30 minutes.”

Furthermore, this “highly significant difference” between chiropractic care and hospital treatment “occurred not only at 6 weeks, but also for 1,2, and even (in 113 patients followed so far) 3 years after treatment.” The greatest difference was seen in patients with chronic symptoms.

The editors make the summary point that “chiropractic treatment should be taken seriously by conventional medicine, which means both doctors and physiotherapists.”

We take chiropractic seriously, because your health depends on it.

Yours in health,

Evergreen Chiropractic

1666 E Olive Way

Seattle, WA 98102

(206) 323-1666

www.evergreenchiropractic.com