An unexpectedly progressed lumbar herniated disk

J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2013 Dec;113(12):926-9. doi: 10.7556/jaoa.2013.072.

Abstract

The authors describe a case of a 26-year-old female military veteran who presented with low back pain that she attributed to a recent foot injury. The patient reported a history of lumbar pain while in the military that had been treated successfully with high-velocity, low-amplitude osteopathic manipulative treatment. The patient's current pain was improved with osteopathic manipulative treatment and gait correction. Several weeks after her initial presentation, the patient reported that she had had a herniated disk diagnosed 2 years earlier by means of magnetic resonance imaging. Updated magnetic resonance imaging was performed, the results of which revealed a large herniated disk that had caused severe stenosis. The patient was immediately referred to a neurosurgeon for consultation and subsequently underwent surgical treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Intervertebral Disc Displacement / complications
  • Intervertebral Disc Displacement / diagnosis*
  • Intervertebral Disc Displacement / rehabilitation*
  • Intervertebral Disc Displacement / surgery
  • Low Back Pain / diagnosis
  • Low Back Pain / etiology
  • Lumbar Vertebrae
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Manipulation, Osteopathic
  • Military Personnel
  • Pain Measurement
  • Spinal Stenosis / etiology
  • Spinal Stenosis / prevention & control
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Veterans