Chiropractic Therapy More Effective for Sciatica Than Surgery

Dr. Ellis works with countless sciatica patients here in our Woburn office, and many of these men and women were afraid that they might need surgery to treat their pain. The latest research indicates that a large number of people don't need surgery for this widespread issue, and that chiropractic treatment is more effective at clearing up sciatic nerve issues.

A typical surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, specialists looked at 80 patients 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 received chiropractic treatment.

Both groups improved; however, no obvious difference in results was recorded one year post-treatment between the surgery group and the chiropractic group. In addition, roughly sixty percent 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 adjustments offered the same positive advantages as surgery without needing to endure the greater amounts of surgery-based pain or suffer through extended recovery times often associated with that type of treatment method. Plus, you also don't run the risks linked to surgical microdiscectomy, such as nerve root damage, bowel or bladder incontinence, bleeding, or infection.

We Can Help Patients Find Comfort From Sciatica Pain

Surgery ought to be the last option for sciatica pain. If you live in Woburn and you're suffering from back problems or sciatica, give Dr. Ellis a call today at (781) 460-0939. We'll help pinpoint the start of your discomfort and work hard to get you relief 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.