Chiropractic Care Superior for Sciatica Than Surgery

Dr. Nowak works with many sciatica patients here in our South Buffalo office, and many of these men and women were afraid that they might require surgery to treat their pain. The latest research indicates that a large number of people don't require surgery for this common problem, and that chiropractic care is more beneficial at resolving sciatic nerve pain.

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

Forty patients were then randomly placed in one of two groups. The first group received surgical microdiscectomy and the second group was given chiropractic treatment.

Both groups got better; however, no obvious difference in results was recorded one year post-treatment between either group. In addition, about 60 percent of the participating patients 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 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 choice. 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 should be the last resort for sciatica pain. If you live in South Buffalo and you're being affected by back problems or sciatica, give Dr. Nowak a call today at (716) 825-4121. We'll help pinpoint 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.