What My Chiropractor Did to Me While I Was Asleep!

These chronic pain sufferers and thousands like them across the nation have one thing in common- they’ve discovered the tremendous health benefits that can be restored by the procedure known as Manipulation Under Anesthesia-MUA.
Manipulation Under Anesthesia is exactly what it sounds like. After medical clearance, the patient is lightly anesthetized to achieve total relaxation, then, specialized stretching movements and adjustments which would normally be too painful to even consider are easily and painlessly accomplished. Manipulation Under Joint Anesthesia involves the performance of specialized spinal intervention procedures in addition to the above.

For more and more patients who are not finding relief through conventional treatments and/or invasive procedures, MUA, combined with consistent but simple post-procedure treatment and exercise regimen, can eliminate or greatly reduce pain and restore or markedly improve range of motion. Plus, MUA procedures are cost-effective - thousands of dollars less than traditional surgery and other more invasive treatments - and usually qualify for insurance coverage.
In addition, return-to-work is much faster, allowing MUA patients to get back to work and the pleasures of living much sooner than expected.

IS MUA/MUJA NEW OR EXPERIMENTAL?

MUA is neither new nor experimental. It’s actually been practiced since the late 1930’s and used by osteopathic physicians and orthopedic surgeons for many years as a proven form of treatment.

During the past eight years, interest in MUA has greatly increased thanks to tremendous advances in anesthesiology.
Today, MUA is a multi-disciplinary outpatient procedure that takes place in a controlled hospital or ambulatory surgical setting, usually over the course of one to three days.

Using specialized techniques, supported by the expertise of MDs, RNs, Chiropractors and Anesthesiologists, MUA achieves maximum results for qualified patients.

Countless recent case studies and medical research continue to show that MUA is widely regarded as safe and effective and is gaining acceptance by the medical community at large.
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM MUA/MUJA?

MUA can be a valuable procedure for people with chronic neck, back and joint problems - conditions caused by long-term disabilities, accidents, and injuries that have not been responsive to conventional treatment but MUA is not for everybody. Please contact your physician for details. Common, general conditions that MUA could be effective in include:

- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Herniated Nucleus Pulposus
- Chronic myofascitis
- Neuromusculoskeletal conditions
- Failed Back Surgery Syndrome
- Fibro adhesion buildup
- Myofascial Pain Syndrome
- Spinal Stenosis
- Osteoarthritis

Patients who have reached a plateau using conservative care/surgical care/chiropractic care/physical therapy can significantly improve their quality of life using MUA.

WHY DOES MUA/MUJA WORK?

MUA achieves results where other treatments fail because it allows your caregivers to use a sophisticated biomechanical approach for the neuromusculoskeletal system.

“Twilight” sedation allows you to be responsive, but not apprehensive. This also helps to preserve the natural protective reflexes of the body.

Specialized stretching and manipulations are completed gently, and without the patient’s usual pain trained physical or psychological resistance.

Fibrotic adhesions, which limit range of motion and contribute to pain, are altered; muscles are stretched; collagen fibers are remodeled to eliminate or reduce restriction. Pain and discomfort are decreased.

The manual medicine techniques utilized during MUA require less force because of the relaxed state and are more physiologically suitable.

HOW DO I BEGIN AN MUA/MUJA TREATMENT PLAN?

Once proper patients are selected using standards of care as described by the National Academy of MUA Physicians, the typical MUA treatment plan begins with a medical screening process to clear the patient for anesthesia. Medical tests usually will include but are not limited to:

- CBC
- Metabolic Panel
- Chest X-ray and EKG
- Electrocardiogram
- Pregnancy test for Female MUA/MUJA patients
- Other Necessary Testing
- Additional tests, such as MRI/CT and other diagnostic tests as necessary.
- After receiving medical clearance, the patient is scheduled at the facility where the MUA will be performed.

WHAT’S THE MUA/MUJA PROCEDURE LIKE?

On the day of the MUA, the patient must be accompanied by a friend or family member to drive the patient home after the procedure. No patient will be allowed to drive following this procedure.

The patient then confers with the anesthesiologist, is gowned and the sedative - usually Diprivan and/or Versed, and sometimes Fentanyl - are administered to achieve the comfortable sleep that makes treatment possible.

MUA begins with specialized stretching and adjustment techniques that are used in the spine segments affected. Specialized interventional procedures are performed as necessary for MUJA.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE PROCEDURE?

After the procedure is completed, the patient is repositioned and awakened, and then taken to the recovery room where he or she is carefully monitored by the O.R, nurse.

Recovery time is generally 10 to 20 minutes. After recovery, the patient receives oral fluids and a light snack. The doctor and anesthesiologist also remain in attendance until the patient is discharged.

To achieve results in most chronic cases, the MUA procedure is repeated. The doctor may adjust only the area of abnormality, plus the adjacent area, the adjacent area only or additional areas depending on the doctor’s assessment of the condition.

Post-procedure care is one of the most import parts of the MUA procedure and makes it truly effective. The therapy begins immediately after MUA procedure is completed. At this time, the patient visits the office and undergoes a combination of stretching exercises, cryo-therapy and electrical stimulation to eliminate or reduce soreness. The patient then returns home to rest.

Following the last MUA procedure, the patient should follow an intensive therapy program for seven to 10 days. This post MUA therapy should be the same stretches accomplished during the MUA procedure and necessary adjustments made in the doctor’s office.

This is followed by specific rehabilitation for the next two to three weeks including stretching, flexibility and strengthening exercises plus periodic adjustments as required by the doctor.

A regimented program of post-MUA therapy will help the patient regain both pre-injury strength and help prevent future pain and disability.

Training

Manipulation under anesthesia is similar to regular chiropractic manipulation; however, the procedure requires advanced training that must be taken by any doctor who performs the procedure. Chiropractors, Osteopaths, or M.D.s can all perform the procedure if they have taken the certification course, passed two written exams and successfully passed a proctorship involving supervised procedures. The training is intensive and there are a few select doctors who have completed the necessary training.

Research

1. 83 % of patients with EMG verified radiculopathies reported significant improvement - Robert Mensor, M.D.
2. Patients that had back pain for a minimum of 10 years reported an 87% recovery rate after MUA -Ongly et al
3. 51 % of patients with unrelieved symptoms after conservative care had been exhausted reported good to excellent results three years post MUA -Donald Christman, MD
4. 71 % of 723 MUA patients had good results (returned to normal activity relatively symptom free) and flexibility, elasticity and range of motion can be resorted following MUA -Bradford and Siehl
5. 83% of 517 patients treated with MUA responded well. -Paul Kuo, MD Professor of Orthopedic surgery
6. 171 Patients who had constant intractable pain for several months to 18 years. All patients had failed conservative treatment. The study showed that 25% of patients had no pain following MUA, 50% were much improved, and 20% were better and could tolerate the pain. Failures were less than 5 % with little or no pain relief. -Krumhansi and Nowacek
7. 64 % of patients with a herniated disc reported good to excellent results -Merril C. Mensor, MD
8. 96.3% of patient diagnosed with myofibrositis (muscle tissue scarring and adhesions) reported good to excellent results


About the Author: