Patients with herniated discs seek functional improvement over pain relief... aiming for 'treatment without recurrence'

Jasaeng Korean Medicine Hospital Publishes Survey Results of Patients with Herniated Discs
Used as an Effective Clinical Research Measure
Greater Demand for 'Recurrence-Free Treatment' and 'Functional Improvement'

The Spine and Joint Research Institute at Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine announced on the 23rd that a research team led by Korean Medicine Doctor Kim Doori conducted a survey on the factors that patients with herniated discs consider important in treatment and analyzed them by priority to derive results.

Lower back pain. [Photo by Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine]

This study was published in the SCI(E)-level international journal 'Healthcare (IF=2.8)' as a foundational tool to actively incorporate patient opinions in future clinical research on herniated discs.

According to Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine, the disease that accounts for the largest proportion of causes of back pain is 'herniated disc (lumbar intervertebral disc herniation)'. A herniated disc occurs when the annulus fibrosus of the disc (intervertebral disc) between the vertebrae is damaged. In South Korea alone, about 2 million patients are diagnosed annually. When the disc protrudes or the nucleus pulposus leaks out, it stimulates the surrounding spinal nerves and causes inflammation, resulting in symptoms such as back pain, radiating leg pain, and leg numbness.

Therefore, clinical research on effective treatments for herniated discs is continuously conducted, and various evaluation scales are used to measure treatment effects. However, the hospital explained that research on whether these scales truly represent patients' symptoms and concerns has not yet been conducted.

In November of last year, the research team selected a total of 500 patients experiencing herniated disc symptoms, with 100 patients each from their 20s to 60s, and asked about four areas: ▲time and circumstances of herniated disc onset ▲existing symptoms and severity ▲desired symptoms to improve and degree of improvement hoped for ▲factors considered important in treatment.

Discomfort and treatment preferences due to herniated disc.
[Image provided by Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine]

As a result, the most desired area of improvement after herniated disc treatment was ‘back pain,’ with 242 patients (48.4%) selecting it, followed by ‘leg numbness’ (115 patients, 23.0%) and ‘pelvic pain’ (64 patients, 12.8%). When multiple responses were combined, back pain still ranked first at 60.4%. Although previous herniated disc studies mainly evaluated radiating leg pain, the research team explained that many patients actually hoped for improvement in back pain. They also assessed that back pain, as well as radiating leg pain, should be considered clinically important symptoms of herniated discs.

Regarding discomfort caused by herniated discs, the majority of patients chose ‘functional improvement (55.8%)’ over ‘pain relief.’ In treatment, ‘stable treatment without recurrence (78.2%)’ was preferred over ‘rapid treatment.’ In terms of treatment effects, ‘safe treatment without side effects (56.4%)’ was favored over the degree of effectiveness. This tendency was more pronounced among patients who had experienced symptoms for a longer time. The research team suggested the need for new measurement indicators and research methodologies that provide treatment goals and strategies truly desired by patients.

Differences were also observed by gender in the areas where improvement was desired. For ‘functional improvement related to outdoor activities,’ 60.9% of men and 50.6% of women responded positively, whereas for ‘symptom relief such as back pain and leg numbness,’ 39.1% of men and 49.4% of women showed higher preference, with women scoring higher.

Kim Doori, a Korean Medicine Doctor at the Spine and Joint Research Institute of Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine, said, "This study is significant in that it enhances understanding of the factors herniated disc patients actually hope to improve and gauges the importance according to symptoms and gender." She added, "We hope the analyzed data will be actively utilized in various clinical studies on herniated discs in the future."

Korean Medicine Doctor Kim Doori, Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine.
[Photo by Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine]

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