Manipulation Under Anesthesia

 
Manipulation Under Anesthesia

MUA is a noninvasive, specialized procedure that involves specific manual adjustments and specific stretching maneuvers applied while patients are placed under twilight sedation. This procedure is primarily indicated for individuals with difficult to treat, chronic pain conditions, especially those who have not found relief through conventional treatments or other invasive procedures. Following medical clearance, the patient is placed under twilight sedation, the least risky form of sedation therapy, in order to achieve a significant degree of relaxation.  Then, specific spinal adjustments and stretching maneuvers, which would normally be too painful to perform in a patient that was fully conscious, are easily, painlessly and quickly accomplished.
 
The MUA procedure is performed in a hospital setting, with two doctors serving together as a team in providing these special treatments, along with the anesthesiology team. For most patients with chronic pain, three procedures are performed on three consecutive days.  Patients are not allowed to drive after this procedure is performed, so a friend or family member must be available to drive the patient home or to a place to spend the night following this procedure. Usually, the patient is under the influence of the anesthetic medication for approximately 20 minutes, and then the patient is taken to recovery, where he/she is carefully monitored by the operating room nurse.  Recovery time generally takes 15 to 20 minutes.  Following recovery, the patient receives fluids and a light snack.
 
In order to successfully manage chronic pain, treatment and recommendations made following the MUA procedure is also very important. Stretching exercises, cold therapy, and electrical stimulation to illuminate or reduce soreness are examples of methods used to increase recovery and to increase the likelihood for long-term progress.
 
MUA works by using manual therapies to reduce fibrotic adhesions, which limit range of motion and contribute to pain.
 
Who can benefit from MUA?  As described earlier, individuals who have a history of chronic pain, who have been unresponsive to traditional therapies or invasive therapies, can be prime candidates for the benefits associated with this procedure, including, but not limited to:
 
Chronic Re-Injury
 
Failed Back Surgery
 
Chronic Disk Problems
 
Intractable Pain from Neuromusculoskeletal Conditions
 
Herniated Disk without Fragmentation
 
Chronic Myofascitis
 
Chronic Pain Associated with Motor Vehicle Accident Injury
 
Chronic Fibro adhesion Syndrome
 
Dr. David E. Stude is a practicing Doctor of Chiropractic and CEO of SouthWest Chiropractic in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.  He is also a part-time staff member at the Amery Regency Medical Center in Amery, Wisconsin (approximately 30 minutes from Hudson, Wisconsin), and certified in Manipulation under Anesthesia. Please call SouthWest Chiropractic at 952-943-1188 if you would like to schedule an appointment to talk with Dr. Stude about your potential candidacy for this procedure. Sometimes, patients can qualify for insurance coverage.  If not, MUA procedures are cost-effective, costing thousands of dollars less than traditional surgery or other more invasive treatments.
 
Resources:
http://www.theandrewsinstitute.com