Avoid Sciatica Surgery With Chiropractic Therapy

Chiropractic Treatment Better for Sciatica Than Surgery

Dr. Myers works with many sciatica patients here in our Asheville office, and quite a few of these men and women were concerned that they might require surgery to relieve their pain. The most recent research reveals that many people don't need surgery for this common problem, and that chiropractic care is more beneficial at solving sciatic nerve issues.

A common surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, physicians examined 80 individuals 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 received chiropractic treatment.

Both groups improved; however, no apparent difference in results was reported one year post-treatment between the surgery group and the chiropractic group. Furthermore, around 60 percent of the participating patients who could not find 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 offered the same positive advantages as surgery without having to go through the greater levels of surgery-based pain or suffer through lengthy recovery times often affiliated with that specific treatment choice. Additionally, you also don't run the risks linked to surgical microdiscectomy, which includes nerve root damage, bowel or bladder incontinence, bleeding, or infection.

We Can Help People Find Comfort From Sciatica Pain

Surgery should be the last option for sciatica pain. If you live in Asheville and you're suffering from back discomfort or sciatica, give Dr. Myers a call today at (828) 676-0963. We'll help identify 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.