The Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniation from Wisdom of Mr. Prawit Kaewthong

การรักษาโรคหมอนรองกระดูกสันหลังส่วนเอวเคลื่อน ตามภูมิปัญญาหมอประวิทย์ แก้วทอง

Abstract

     Lower back pain is a common health problem in clinical practice. The major cause of lower back pain is herniated discs. The disease affects patients' quality of life. This study aimed to determine the knowledge of a Thai folk healer, Mr. Prawit Kaewthong, and treatment effects of ten patients with lumbar disc herniation. Participant observation and semi-structured and in-depth interviews were used as methods of indigenous knowledge collection. Effectiveness of therapeutic procedure for patients with lumbar disc herniation was determined using numerical rating scales (NRS), oswestry disability index (ODI), and back-saver sit and reach test at weeks 0, 1, 2, and 3. All data were analyzed by paired t-test (p < 0.05). Therapeutic procedures for patients with lumbar disc herniation were physical therapy (massage, chiropractic therapy, herbal decoction and herbal compress) and psychological therapy (belief and magical spell). The findings revealed that NRS and ODI scores decreased significantly, whilst back flexibility assessment score increased significantly from baseline to 1, 2, and 3 week. Therefore, therapeutic procedure of Mr. Prawit Kaewthong was relieved the pain and increased back flexibility as well as patients' quality of life. This therapeutic procedure might be used as an alternative treatment for patients with lumbar disc herniation.