TJ Delorie works with countless sciatica patients here in our Otown office, and quite a few of these men and women were worried that they might require surgery to eliminate their pain. The most recent research shows that many people don't require surgery for this prevalent problem, and that chiropractic is more successful at solving sciatic nerve pain.
A typical surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, physicians examined 80 women and men with sciatica who were referred for this procedure.
Forty patients were then randomly sorted into one of two groups. The first group received surgical microdiscectomy and the second group was given chiropractic care.
Both groups got better; however, no noticeable difference in results was reported one year post-treatment between either group. In addition, around 60% of the participating subjects who could not find assistance 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 having to undergo the increased amounts of surgery-based pain or suffer through lengthy recovery times often associated with that type of treatment method. Additionally, you also don't run the risks affiliated with surgical microdiscectomy, which includes nerve root damage, bowel or bladder incontinence, bleeding, or infection.
Surgery should 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 determine 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.