Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA)

Cooperation Between Medical Physicians And Chiropractic Physicians Has Made The Technique Of Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA), A Viable Option For Patients.

Manipulative treatment of the spine is the science and practice of the non-operative restoration of the function of the bones, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments. The overall objective of MUA is to relieve the patient's pain and disability with a minimum amount of expense to the patient and loss of time from work and other activities.

In acute back pain when there is severe pain and muscle spasm, an anesthetic may be desirable to aid with the manipulation. In chronic pain when the patient has received regular manipulative treatment over a long period of time and has not had a major improvement in the level of pain or an increase in spinal or extremity joint flexibility, MUA may be effective.

What kinds of conditions respond well to manipulation under anesthesia?

Migraine headaches, chronic neck and back pain, chronic disc changes, chronic myositis, chronic fibrositis, restricted motion following trauma including old compression fractures, acute muscle spasms associated with subluxations, arthritis, frozen shoulder, hip joint motion restrictions and other conditions.

Why anesthesia?

The joints are supported by the muscles and ligaments. Muscles serve to move the joints and ligaments serve to limit the joints. When the muscles are in spasm or ligaments are scarred over, the Chiropractic Physician may not be able to put the joint through its normal range of motion. Under anesthesia the postural tone of the muscles and the muscle spasms are abolished. This allows the Chiropractic Physician to gently manipulate the joints by putting the joints through their normal range of motion, reduce the restrictive adhesions in the ligaments and muscles, and reduce the fixations of the involved vertebrae. This procedure works well for many patients who have pain and do not wish to undergo surgery. Some patients are in too much pain or have muscle spasms that are too severe and chronic to benefit from chiropractic care without anesthesia.

An intravenous sedative is administered by a Medical Physician (anesthesiologist), who also monitors the patient's vital signs and levels of consciousness. The patient is not subjected to the dangers of general anesthesia and the patient is awake enough to preserve protective reflexes. The patient is sedated for 5 to 10 minutes, rather than for hours as during back surgery. Two Chiropractic Physicians perform the manipulation or fibrous release procedures so that the patient can be stabilized throughout the procedure. The nurses, medical physicians, chiropractic physicians, physical therapists and hospital staff work closely together as a team.

How do you know if you can benefit from Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA)?

First, an orthopedic and neurological examination is performed by Chiropractic Physician specifically certified to perform MUA. There are only a few Chiropractic Physicians in Florida qualified to do so. Additional necessary studies may be ordered. These may include x-rays, lab tests, MRI, CT scan, EMG and nerve conduction studies. A Medical Physician will also perform an examination to be sure the patient can be safely anesthetized and is a good candidate for MUA. This is truly a team effort between Medical Physicians and Chiropractic Physicians working together for the benefit of the patient.