WHAT IS MUA and WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM MUA?
Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA) is an outpatient procedure that effectively treats chronic neck, back and extremity pain and dysfunction. Most candidates for MUA have already had an adequate trial of conservative care including medications, injections, in-office manipulations, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and some have even been considered for surgical intervention. These individuals have mechanical dysfunction of the joints and scar tissue build up in the supporting soft tissues of the spine resulting in joint and muscle dysfunction, chronic stiffness and pain. Many patients with herniated discs have avoided surgery by undergoing a series of MUA procedures. Numerous patients who have already undergone surgery develop scar tissue and are referred to Dr. Francis by their surgeons and treating physicians for the MUA procedure.
HOW & WHERE IS MUA PERFORMED and HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
MUA is performed in a hospital or ambulatory out patient surgical center in an out patient surgical setting with board certified anesthesiologists supervising and providing the anesthesia. Patients receive a sedative and then experience a twilight anesthesia much the same as when they are peacefully sleeping. This allows the doctor to gently manipulate the joints and soft tissues that have become chronically tight and inflexible resulting in pain and dysfunction. The procedure takes less than an hour and is usually performed first thing in the morning for three consecutive days for maximum results. The patient then may come in for follow up office visits for a brief period of continued physical medicine interventions to maintain the flexibility and increased range of motion accomplished with the MUAs.