Patients who have suffered severe, long-term trauma that has not responded to a standard course of treatment may receive significant benefits from Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA).
Some of the conditions that can be treated this way are low-back pain, cervical disc herniations, frozen shoulder, chronic headaches and pain following back surgery. Over ninety percent of qualified patients receive significant relief from this procedure. More than thirty thousand MUA procedures are performed in the United States each year.
Dr. Bogash performs MUA at an outpatient surgical center close to the Lifecare Chiropractic office. Joining him are another chiropractor, an anesthesiologist and a registered nurse anesthetist. The patient is placed under general anesthesia for a brief period, during which time the chiropractors perform a very strict protocol of stretching and manipulation which is designed to address scar tissue and adhesions. MUA is performed not just once, but for three days in a row.
Here is what one of Dr. Bogash’s patients says about her successful Manipulation Under Anesthesia treatment:
“Prior to my Manipulation Under Anesthesia,, I was in constant nagging pain in my neck, right shoulder and arm. I was not able to sleep more than three hours at a time before I had to get up because of the pain. I was doing at-home cervical traction once every hour and a half whenever I was home. I couldn’t leave home very often or for any length of time because of the pain, except for work.
“Since the MUA, I have been almost pain free. I can sleep through the night. I have not needed to use the home traction unit at all and have even gone so far as to store it in the closet. My daughter no longer has to rub pain relief creme on my shoulder every night or before I go to work in order for me to make it through the day. I can’t believe the difference it has made.
“As for the procedure itself, I was scared going in the first day. Even though Dr. Bogash explained what was going to happen, it was still a little unnerving to be put under anesthesia the first time. However, between the staff and doctors, there it became a very comfortable and actually enjoyable experience. My only regret is not being able to have this done months ago when Dr. Bogash first mentioned the procedure.”
Here is another message from a patient:
“Dear Dr. Bogash,
“In the couple of months since my manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) procedure my life has changed quite a bit. While I still have fibromyalgia all that goes with it, and still deal with the after affects of my car accident, I do have some control over my pain and mobility other than just taking another pain pill. I cannot even express how empowering it is that I can manage my pain and mobility for the first time in twenty years. Even before I had fibromyalgia, I was unable to touch my toes, barely being able to reach to mid calf, so being able to sweep my fingers across the floor even when I’m hurting brings a smile to my face. By doing stretching exercises, I can work out much of the stiffness I experience, and I can bring my pain levels down to manageable levels. To me this is a great success, as I was in agonizing pain almost all the time before the procedure and was so stiff that I had almost no comfortable movement. Now I find that I can be much more involved and proactive in my own care and wellness.
“I can’t thank the doctors enough for the freedom that they have given me with MUA. No matter how sick I am, it has been easy to keep up with the stretching. I have improved from the MUA procedure as I have continued to do the stretching exercises. I have gained even more mobility, whether I have had to do them in bed or felt well enough to be up and around to do the stretching.
“Thank you,
P. Mary M.”
Here is a message from a patient who had rotator cuff problems and underwent the MUA:
“Dear Dr. Bogash,
In 2009, I was found to have 2 tears in my left shoulder. You performed the MUA procedure and I was amazed that what was done helped my body to heal itself without any cutting, no synthetic drugs, no pain and no long rehabilitation therapy afterwards. My job involves repetitive lifting and I was able to continue working during and after the MUA. Thanks to the participating doctors, I never missed a minutes’ worth of work and what they did saved my employer many thousands of dollars as my only other alternative was expensive, painful rotator cuff surgery.
Sincerely,
David L.”
For more detailed information about Manipulation Under Anesthesia, please contact the Lifecare Chiropractic office at (480) 839-2273 or email us.