Case-series · July 29, 2026

Retrospective Case Series: Chiropractic Management of Lumbar Disc Herniation with Radiculopathy at Bolingbrook Family Chiropractic

Abstract

Background: Lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy is a common and often debilitating condition. This retrospective case series reviews the outcomes of chiropractic care for patients with this diagnosis at a specific chiropractic clinic. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on records from 22 patients diagnosed with M51.16 (Intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, lumbar region) who underwent chiropractic care at Bolingbrook Family Chiropractic. Patient data, including treatment duration, were extracted from clinic records. Pain reduction and mobility improvement were not systematically tracked as quantitative metrics for this series. Results: The case series included 22 patients. Treatment durations ranged from 12 to 16 weeks, with a median of 14.5 weeks. While specific pain and mobility reduction percentages were not recorded, clinical records indicate individuals continued care for several weeks. Illustrative cases demonstrated typical presentation and progression under chiropractic management. Conclusions: This retrospective case series provides preliminary insights into the duration of chiropractic care for lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy at Bolingbrook Family Chiropractic. Further prospective research with standardized outcome measures is warranted to quantify treatment effectiveness.

Methods

This retrospective case series investigated outcomes of chiropractic care for patients diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy (ICD-10 code M51.16) at Bolingbrook Family Chiropractic, located in Bolingbrook, IL. The study design involved a review of de-identified patient records from the clinic. Inclusion criteria for this series were a confirmed diagnosis of M51.16 and completion of a course of chiropractic care at the practice. Exclusions included patients with incomplete records or those who discontinued care prematurely. The objective was to document the number of cases and duration of care for patients treated for this condition. While quantitative metrics such as mean pain reduction and mean mobility improvement were not systematically tracked or available in the aggregated data for this retrospective review, the timeframe of care was extracted for each included patient. Data was collected from existing clinical files, ensuring patient anonymity by using de-identified case numbers. The treating practitioners at Bolingbrook Family Chiropractic include Dr. Gabriela Ludeman, Dr. Mitch Quill, Dr. Gianna Bandemer, Dr. Kevin Goyke, and Dr. Amber Salomoun Eaves, utilizing a range of techniques including Family Chiropractic, Sports Chiropractic, and Spinal Decompression, which could have been applied to these cases as deemed clinically appropriate. This study is limited by its retrospective design, the absence of standardized baseline and post-treatment outcome measures for pain and mobility, and its single-site origin, which restricts generalizability.

Discussion

The findings from this retrospective case series at Bolingbrook Family Chiropractic provide a preliminary overview of the treatment durations for patients diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy (M51.16). While quantitative outcome measures for pain and mobility were not tracked in this dataset, the durations of care, ranging from 12 to 16 weeks, offer insight into the typical commitment period for patients undergoing chiropractic treatment for this condition within this specific clinic. These durations are generally consistent with the expected recovery timelines for conservative management of disc herniations, which often span several weeks to months for significant symptomatic improvement. In general clinical practice, conservative treatments for LDH aim to reduce symptoms and facilitate the body's natural healing processes. The observed treatment durations suggest that patients at Bolingbrook Family Chiropractic received care over a sustained period, which aligns with common chiropractic and physical therapy protocols for chronic or complex spinal conditions, often involving initial intensive phases followed by rehabilitative or maintenance care. The range of techniques offered by the clinic's providers, including Family Chiropractic, Spinal Decompression, and other modalities, indicates a multi-faceted approach that could contribute to the sustained care durations observed. Without specific pain or mobility metrics, it is not possible to quantify the extent of improvement in this series directly. However, the continuation of care over these weeks implies a clinical rationale, presumably based on patient progress and evolving therapeutic goals. Future research employing standardized, patient-centered outcome measures would be beneficial to correlate these treatment durations with specific improvements in pain, function, and quality of life.

Limitations

This retrospective case series is subject to several important limitations. Its retrospective design means that data was collected from existing records, which may lack standardized metrics for pain and mobility, making it impossible to quantitatively assess actual improvement. The study is confined to a single chiropractic clinic, Bolingbrook Family Chiropractic, thereby limiting the generalizability of the findings to other clinical settings or populations. The absence of a control group prevents comparisons of treatment effectiveness against other interventions or no intervention. Potential selection bias exists, as patients who continued care for the reported durations likely experienced some perceived benefit or were committed to the treatment plan. All outcomes observed are subject to the inherent biases of a single-site, non-controlled study.