Avoid Sciatica Surgery With Chiropractic

Dr. Russell and Dr. Janda works with countless sciatica patients here in our Henderson, NV office, and many of these individuals were nervous that they might require surgery to treat their pain. The latest research shows that a large number of people don't require surgery for this widespread problem, and that chiropractic is more effective at clearing up sciatic nerve pain.

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

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

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

Put another way, chiropractic provided the same positive advantages as surgery without needing to undergo the greater levels of surgery-based pain or suffer through drawn-out recovery times often associated with that specific treatment method. Additionally, 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 option for sciatica pain. If you live in Henderson, NV and you're experiencing back pain or sciatica, give Dr. Russell and Dr. Janda a call today at (702) 990-2225. We'll help pinpoint the source 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.