Chiropractic Therapy More Effective for Sciatica Than Surgery

Dr. Dennis works with many sciatica patients here in our West Palm Beach office, and quite a few of these men and women were concerned that they might need surgery to eliminate their pain. The latest research shows that a large number of people don't require surgery for this prevalent problem, and that chiropractic treatment is more effective at solving sciatic nerve issues.

A typical surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, specialists looked at 80 individuals with sciatica who were referred for this operation.

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 therapy.

Both groups improved; however, no obvious 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."

Simply put, chiropractic therapy offered the same positive advantages as surgery without having to endure the higher levels of surgery-based pain or suffer through extended recovery times often associated with that specific treatment option. Plus, 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 Patients Find Comfort From Sciatica Pain

Surgery ought to be the last option for sciatica pain. If you live in West Palm Beach and you're suffering from back discomfort or sciatica, give Dr. Dennis a call today at (561) 966-6171. We'll help determine the source of your discomfort 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.