Chiropractic Superior for Sciatica Than Surgery

Dr. Palmer works with many sciatica patients here in our Lancaster office, and many of these individuals were nervous that they might need surgery to alleviate their pain. The most recent research indicates that many people don't require surgery for this prevalent problem, and that chiropractic is more effective at solving sciatic nerve pain.

A common surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, researchers looked at 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 apparent difference in outcome was reported one year post-treatment between either group. Additionally, around sixty percent of the participating subjects who could not find relief from any other treatment method "benefited from spinal manipulation to the same degree as if they underwent surgical intervention."

Simply put, chiropractic offered the same positive advantages as surgery without needing to endure the increased amounts of surgery-based pain or suffer through drawn-out recovery times often associated with that specific treatment choice. Additionally, you also don't run the risks associated with surgical microdiscectomy, which includes nerve root damage, bowel or bladder incontinence, bleeding, or infection.

Surgery ought to be the last resort for sciatica pain. If you live in Lancaster and you're being affected by 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.