If you have never heard of Manipulation Under Anesthesia or MUA, you may be missing out on a way to feel better fast! MUA is a non-invasive, procedure used to treat acute and chronic conditions such as neck, back, and joint pain, muscle spasms, shortened muscles, fibrous adhesions, and long-term pain syndromes. It is a viable alternative for those patients who are not responding to traditional, conservative care or have even failed to improve after surgery. And even if MUA is unfamiliar to you, it is an established and widely-recognized procedure that has been used by both chiropractic and allopathic physicians for more than sixty years. In fact, the MUA has increased in popularity since the late 1930s. It is considered safe and a medically-necessary treatment that is covered by all major insurances and Medicare.
Patients selected for Manipulation Under Anesthesia may have certain conditions like adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder, post-operative knee surgery (with no improvement from conservative therapy), low-back pain after spine surgery, radiculopathies, spondylopathies, and more. For MUA treatment, a patient is lightly sedated with anesthesia in a fully-accredited, chiropractor-friendly ambulatory surgery center. This allows a trained specialist to make chiropractic adjustments and movements quickly and freely, without the patient feeling pain. Plus, patients receive comprehensive, personalized care and the convenience and privacy of a same-day surgical center.
After the outpatient procedure, patients usually see a significant decrease in pain immediately with an increased range of motion. Treatment may require three or more sessions to maximize gains. Intense rehabilitation during this time is necessary to promote improvement, and letters of medical necessity by a medical doctor are often provided. Follow-up visits may include physiotherapy, chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy, and more depending on each patient’s particular needs.
“As a pain management physician, I have seen firsthand the significant improvements provided by appropriate, multidisciplinary treatment,” states Adam Weitzman, M.D., Board Certified in Pain Management and Anesthesiology, Medical Director, South Bay Pain Docs. “Chiropractic manipulation under anesthesia can often make the difference in rehabilitation efforts when office-based treatments fail.”
For the best results, it’s essential to find experienced, MUA professionals who know what they are doing. In California, MUA must be recommended by a medical doctor and performed by a medical doctor or two, licensed chiropractors. Patients are evaluated by a Board-Certified Pain Management Physician prior to treatment. And if requested, assistant chiropractors with a certification in MUA can be provided for solo practitioners for patients who require this treatment. To perform manipulation under anesthesia, a chiropractor must complete a credible, certification-training program. This training must be recognized by the International Academy of MUA Physicians and the National MUA Academy of Physicians which are subscribed to accredited, academic institutions that offer MUA, post-graduate certifications.
Most importantly, Manipulation Under Anesthesia can provide patients with immediate relief and a noticeable difference in their daily lives, post-procedure. These positive results only continue to improve with intensive post-MUA therapy. If you are in pain and can’t seem to find relief, talk to your doctor and conduct research on MUA. It may be the perfect treatment for your specific situation. And who knows? You could be pain-free in a matter of weeks!
For more information about MUA and chiropractic care, please feel free to contact our office directly at (424) 235-1562
