Chiropractic Treatment Better for Sciatica Than Surgery

Dr. Russell works with countless sciatica patients here in our Henderson office, and several of these patients were concerned that they might need surgery to treat their pain. The most recent research indicates that many people don't need surgery for this common problem, and that chiropractic treatment is more effective 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 procedure.

Forty patients were then randomly placed in one of two groups. The first group was to receive surgical microdiscectomy and the second group was given chiropractic adjustments.

Both groups got better; however, no apparent difference in outcome was recorded one year post-treatment between either group. Furthermore, roughly 60 percent of the participating subjects who could not find assistance from any other treatment approach "benefited from spinal manipulation to the same degree as if they underwent surgical intervention."

Put another way, chiropractic treatment delivered the same positive advantages as surgery without needing to endure the higher levels of surgery-based pain or suffer through drawn-out recovery times often associated with that particular treatment choice. Additionally, you also don't run the risks affiliated with surgical microdiscectomy, which includes nerve root damage, bowel or bladder incontinence, bleeding, or infection.

We Can Help Clients Find Relief From Sciatica Pain

Surgery should be the last resort for sciatica pain. If you live in Henderson and you're being affected by back pain or sciatica, give Dr. Russell a call today at (702) 990-2225. We'll help determine the origin of your pain and work hard to get you support 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.