Chiropractic Therapy Superior for Sciatica Than Surgery

Jefferson Spine & Injury Center works with countless sciatica patients here in our Arlington office, and many of these men and women were afraid that they might need surgery to relieve their pain. The most recent research shows that a large number of people don't require surgery for this widespread problem, and that chiropractic treatment is more effective at resolving sciatic nerve issues.

A typical surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, physicians examined 80 patients 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 got better; however, no obvious difference in results was reported one year post-treatment between the surgery group and the chiropractic group. In addition, about 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."

Simply put, chiropractic adjustments provided the same positive advantages as surgery without needing to endure the greater levels of surgery-based pain or suffer through extended recovery times often affiliated with that specific treatment choice. Additionally, 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 Patients Find Relief From Sciatica Pain

Surgery should be the last resort for sciatica pain. If you live in Arlington and you're suffering from back issues or sciatica, give Jefferson Spine & Injury Center a call today at (703) 933-9000. We'll help pinpoint the start 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.