MUA Can Help Chronic Pain Sufferers in Toledo
Local Chiropractor one of first to certify in Manipulation Under Anesthesia
What would you do if you had constant or debilitating pain that didn’t seem to diminish with physical therapy, pain medications, or even surgery? Chronic or unresolved pain robs thousands of people of the joy and productivity. But a once popular procedure is making its way back and is helping to give people their lives back—pain free.
In early February, local chiropractic physicians Mickey E. Frame, DC, with the assistance of other chiropractic doctors, performed Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA) procedures on local patients with excellent results.
“Manipulation Under Anesthesia is a non-invasive manipulation of specific areas, whether ligaments, muscles or joints, that is performed while a patient is under mild sedation or ‘twilight sleep’,” explains Dr. Frame. “MUA can be an effective way to reduce pain for those with chronic pain or conditions caused by disabilities, accidents and injuries. MUA is often an option for people who have not been able to find relief from chronic or unresolved pain through traditional treatments, including medications.”
The procedure is relatively short (usually about 15 to 20 minutes), and can improve range of motion and/or lessen pain. Adjustments are completed gently, and areas causing pain and restriction are reduced or eliminated through a series of stretching and manipulation.
MUA has been a part of medicine for over 70 years and the current certification training is the same for chiropractic physicians, medical doctors and osteopathic physicians.
“When MUA was first performed, patients were put completely under and sometimes the risks of anesthesia just weren’t worth it,” says Dr. Frame. “But now medicine has advanced so much that a patient can be placed under slight sedation for a short amount of time. This allows us to perform the procedure without so many risks.”
Dr. Frame worked under the guidance of Robert C. Gordon, DC, FABCS, FRCCM, DAAPM, who has performed more than 5,000 procedures and trained and proctored more than 2,000 doctors of all disciplines. He has also written the only recognized text on the subject.
The procedures were performed at the Surgery Center at Regency Park in Toledo, which offered state-of-the-art facilities, caring nursing staff and physician/anesthesiologist oversight. Each patient signed in, met with their chiropractic doctor, nurses and anesthesiologist and underwent standard pre-surgical procedures. Within an hour, each patient was put under mild sedation and wheeled into an operating room, where staff constantly monitored his/her condition. Then doctors worked together on each patient using trained manipulation techniques depending on each patient’s complaint.
“The manipulation we are able to perform while a patient is under sedation is significantly more comprehensive than when a patient is experiencing pain and is resistant,” said Dr.Frame. “We are able to probe more, stretch more and really find those places where scar tissue has built up and prevented normal range of motion.
“The idea is to have a completely compliant group of muscles, tendons and ligaments to work with,” said Dr. Frame. “When a patient has pain, particularly chronic pain, he or she tends to clamp down the affected area or compensate for the pain by altering or restricting their movement. MUAallows us to treat the patients without those issues compounding their ability to heal.”
What Patients Say About MUA
William Declercq, 56, had dealt with debilitating migraine headaches for more than half of his life with no relief from typical treatment options.
“The pain would start in my neck and radiate up until it sat behind my right eye,” he said. “When you have a headache like that twenty days of a month, it ruins your everyday events.”
After the first procedure, which took about 20 minutes, patent reached down and touched his toes, impressed by his newfound range of motion. By the third procedure, he said he was pain-free.
“I used to wake up at three or four in the morning everyday with a headache,” he said. “Now I’m sleeping right through. I’m glad I did (the MUA procedure). I wouldn’t be nervous to do it ever again if I needed to.”
Timothy Stroshine, 61, signed up for MUA because neck and shoulder pain prevented him from doing the things he loved without pain.
“I enjoy dancing with my wife but my pain makes it so that I can’t always lift my arm in order for her to turn under,” Stroshine said. “And being in sales, I travel a lot and driving is very difficult.”
Stroshine said he looks forward to dancing with his wife again.
“Before the procedure, I had pain constantly radiating down my arm. Now I have no pain. My range of motion is much better than it was before—it really is unbelievable.”
Robert Earl has not been able to lift his arm above his head since a car accident last year. Even tasks such as putting on a coat have been difficult. After his treatment, he said he had no pain, even when he lifted his arm above his head.
“I feel great now, my pain level is zero,” Earl said. “In the beginning, I wondered if this was going to work. Now that I have no pain, I realize all the things I have been missing all along. I’m glad I did this and I wouldn’t think twice about telling people who have pain like I did to do this.”
Janelle Bihn, 48, has had lower back pain that has restricted her movement for more than 20 years.
“There were no activities anymore, no recreation,” she said. “I couldn’t walk and had trouble sitting up. The first day (of MUA treatment) I was tender and by the third day I didn’t feel anything at all. I went to sit up in my bed and I’m so used to grabbing onto something and I didn’t even think about it—I just sat up. I’m anxious to get on with my daily life again.”
After their MUA treatments, every patient reported a significant reduction in pain and most reported they had no pain at all.
Some patients reported muscle soreness, like after a workout, after the initial treatment and one patient experienced slight nausea from the anesthesia. All patients continued a physical therapy program, which will last up to six weeks after the procedure. To date, all patients have reported significant increased range of motion and are satisfied with the MUAresults.
Dr. Frame will be accepting patients for MUA procedures this April. MUA can be beneficial for the following: Fibro-adhesion buildup, Chronic disk problems, Prolapsed or herniated disc without fragmentation, TMJ, Chronic or unresolved pain, Intractable pain from neuromusculoskelatal conditions, Torticollis, Chronic re-injury, Failed back surgery, Frozen shoulder, Restricted motion that causes pain, Auto accident injuries, Sports injuries, Fibromyalgia and Work-related injuries.
“In general, patients selected for Manipulation Under Anesthesia are those who have received conservative care with little relief,” says Dr. Frame. “If limited or no improvements in symptoms or objective findings have occurred, then MUA may be an appropriate alternative.
“While MUA is a great treatment option for some people, it is not for everyone,” said Dr. Frame. “An important part of the process is spending time with a patient and getting to know their medical history and to understand their pain. Then, with the assistance of their current treating physician, we can make a decision together as to whether MUA is the best option or not.”
If you are interested in a free assessment to determine if MUA is a viable treatment option for you, contact Frame Chiropractic and Acupuncture in Toledo at 419-475-9355.
Dr. Frame, of Frame Family Wellness in Toledo, has also completed 300 hours of acupuncture training and is working toward his Diplomate in Acupuncture by the International Academy of Medical Acupuncture. Dr. Frame is the official chiropractor for the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic LPGA tournament and an official chiropractor for the Toledo Walleye hockey team.
Patient Login
Free Newsletter
Dr. Mickey Asks...
