The long-term course of patients undergoing alternative and integrative therapy for lumbar disc herniation: 3-year results of a prospective observational study

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of an integrative complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approach in the management of lumbar herniated disc (LHD) with sciatic pain and investigate pain relapse, use of medical care and surgery rates in patients who actively chose non-surgical CAM treatment for LHD.

Study design/Setting

This prospective observational study was undertaken at a Korean medicine hospital outpatient setting in Korea.

Participants

A total of 128 consecutive patients with LHD with a numeric rating scale for leg pain of ≥5 completed 6 months of CAM treatment after recruitment from November 2006, and 73/128 participants (57%) attended follow-up 3 years later.

Interventions

6 months of CAM treatment (herbal medic

SUBMITTER: Shin J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4158220 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature