Chiropractic Superior for Sciatica Than Surgery

Dr. Green works with countless sciatica patients here in our Estero, Bonita Springs office, and quite a few of these patients were worried that they might require surgery to relieve their pain. The most recent research shows that many people don't require surgery for this widespread problem, and that chiropractic is more beneficial at clearing up sciatic nerve pain.

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

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

Both groups improved; however, no noticeable difference in results was recorded one year post-treatment between the surgery group and the chiropractic group. In addition, roughly 60% of the participating patients who could not find assistance from any other treatment approach "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 go through the higher amounts of surgery-based pain or suffer through lengthy recovery times often affiliated with that specific treatment option. Plus, you also don't run the risks affiliated with surgical microdiscectomy, such as nerve root damage, bowel or bladder incontinence, bleeding, or infection.

Surgery should be the last resort for sciatica pain. If you live in Estero, Bonita Springs and you're being affected by back pain or sciatica, give Dr. Green a call today at (239) 495-1166. We'll help determine the origin 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.