Who Should Have MUA?

Who Should Have Manipulation Under Anesthesia?

Most patients who are selected for manipulation under anesthesia have received a minimum of four to six weeks of conservative care including chiropractic adjustments, medication and physical therapy.  Not everyone is a candidate for MUA; some general guidelines are listed below.

You may be eligible for MUA if you chronic or recurring pain that has not responded satisfactorily to other care.

This includes but is not limited to:

• Neck, mid back, and/or low back pain

• Chronic muscle pain and inflammation

• Acute or chronic muscle spasm

• Decreased spinal range of motion

• Chronic fibrositis

• Nerve entrapment

• Pseudo-sciatica

• Sciatica where disc bulges are contained and less than 5 mm

• Failed back surgery

• Chronic occipital or tension headaches

• Conditions where narcotic pain relievers are of little benefit

• Traumatic torticollis

There are also a number of reasons why you may NOT be eligible for MUA.  Generally, these are contraindications to anesthesia or manual manipulation as established by current literature.

Specific reasons NOT to have MUA include:

• Malignancy with metastasis to bone

• Tuberculosis of the bone

• Fractures

• Acute arthritis

• Acute gout

• Uncontrolled diabetic neuropathy

• Syphilitic articular or periarticular lesions

• Gonorrheal spinal arthritis

• Excessive spinal osteoporosis

• Evidence of cord or caudal compression by tumor, ankylosis, or bone disease.