Chiropractic Treatment Superior for Sciatica Than Surgery

Dr. Harrell works with countless sciatica patients here in our Tumwater office, and many of these patients were worried that they might need surgery to alleviate their pain. The most recent research shows that a large number of people don't require surgery for this common problem, and that chiropractic care is more effective at clearing up sciatic nerve issues.

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

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 care.

Both groups got better; however, no noticeable difference in outcome was recorded one year post-treatment between the surgery group and the chiropractic group. Furthermore, roughly sixty percent of the participating subjects who could not find pain relief from any other treatment method "benefited from spinal manipulation to the same degree as if they underwent surgical intervention."

Put another way, chiropractic therapy provided the same positive advantages as surgery without needing to endure the increased levels of surgery-based pain or suffer through extended recovery times often affiliated with that particular treatment option. Plus, you also don't run the risks linked to surgical microdiscectomy, including nerve root damage, bowel or bladder incontinence, bleeding, or infection.

We Can Help Clients Find Comfort From Sciatica Pain

Surgery ought to be the last resort for sciatica pain. If you live in Tumwater and you're suffering from back problems or sciatica, give Dr. Harrell a call today at (360) 489-0635. We'll help determine the origin of your problems and work hard to get you help 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.