Chiropractic Better for Sciatica Than Surgery

Dr. Palmer works with countless sciatica patients here in our Depew office, and quite a few of these individuals were concerned that they might need surgery to treat their pain. The most recent research shows that a large number of people don't require surgery for this common problem, and that chiropractic is more successful at resolving sciatic nerve pain.

A popular surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, researchers examined 80 individuals with sciatica who were referred for this operation.

Forty patients were then randomly sorted into one of two groups. The first group was to receive surgical microdiscectomy and the second group was given chiropractic care.

Both groups got better; however, no noticeable difference in results was recorded one year post-treatment between the surgery group and the chiropractic group. In addition, roughly 60 percent of the participating subjects who could not find pain relief from any other treatment method "benefited from spinal manipulation to the same degree as if they underwent surgical intervention."

Simply put, chiropractic delivered the same positive advantages as surgery without having to undergo the greater amounts of surgery-based pain or suffer through extended recovery times often affiliated with that type of treatment option. Plus, you also don't run the risks affiliated with surgical microdiscectomy, including nerve root damage, bowel or bladder incontinence, bleeding, or infection.

Surgery ought to be the last resort for sciatica pain. If you live in Depew and you're suffering from back pain or sciatica, give Dr. Palmer a call today at (716) 668-2225. We'll help determine the start of your pain and work hard to get you relief.

References

• McMorland, G et al. Manipulation or microdiskectomy for sciatica? A prospective randomized clinical study. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2010;33(8):576-584.
• Solberg TK, Nygaard OP, Sjaavik K, Hofoss D, Ingebrigtsen T. The risk of "getting worse" after lumbar microdiscectomy. European Spine Journal 2005;14(1):49-54.