Chiropractic Treatment Superior for Sciatica Than Surgery

Spinal Health Chiropractic Center works with many sciatica patients here in our Largo office, and quite a few of these patients were concerned that they might need surgery to treat their pain. The latest research indicates that a large number of people don't need surgery for this prevalent problem, and that chiropractic care is more effective at clearing up sciatic nerve discomfort.

A popular surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, physicians looked at 80 individuals with sciatica who were referred for this procedure.

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 therapy.

Both groups improved; however, no apparent difference in results was recorded one year post-treatment between the surgery group and the chiropractic group. Additionally, around 60% of the participating subjects who could not find pain relief from any other treatment approach "benefited from spinal manipulation to the same degree as if they underwent surgical intervention."

Put another way, chiropractic care offered the same positive benefits as surgery without needing to go through the greater amounts of surgery-based pain or suffer through extended recovery times often affiliated with that particular treatment option. Additionally, you also don't run the risks affiliated with surgical microdiscectomy, including nerve root damage, bowel or bladder incontinence, bleeding, or infection.

We Can Help Clients Find Comfort From Sciatica Pain

Surgery should be the last option for sciatica pain. If you live in Largo and you're being affected by back pain or sciatica, give Spinal Health Chiropractic Center a call today at (727) 531-4444. We'll help identify the start of your problems and work hard to get you relief and living pain free.

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.