TJ Delorie works with many sciatica patients here in our Otown office, and many of these individuals were concerned that they might require surgery to alleviate their pain. The most recent research indicates that many people don't require surgery for this common issue, 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 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 apparent difference in results was reported one year post-treatment between the surgery group and the chiropractic group. Additionally, roughly 60 percent of the participating patients who could not find relief from any other treatment approach "benefited from spinal manipulation to the same degree as if they underwent surgical intervention."
Put another way, chiropractic delivered the same positive advantages as surgery without having to undergo the increased 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 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 Otown and you're experiencing back pain or sciatica, give TJ Delorie a call today at 724-123-1234. 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.