Chiropractic Care Superior for Sciatica Than Surgery

Chiropractic Therapy Superior for Sciatica Than Surgery in Arlington

Dr. Ernst works with countless sciatica patients here in our Arlington office, and quite a few of these individuals were afraid that they might need surgery to alleviate their pain. The most recent research indicates that a large number of people don't require surgery for this widespread issue, and that chiropractic adjustments is more successful at resolving sciatic nerve issues.

A typical surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, specialists 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 got better; however, no obvious difference in outcome was recorded one year post-treatment between either group. In addition, roughly 60% 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."

Put another way, chiropractic adjustments provided the same positive advantages as surgery without needing to endure the increased levels of surgery-based pain or suffer through drawn-out recovery times often affiliated with that type of treatment choice. Plus, 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 Patients Find Relief From Sciatica Pain

Surgery should be the last option for sciatica pain. If you live in Arlington and you're being affected by back pain or sciatica, give Dr. Ernst a call today at (360) 659-8464. We'll help pinpoint the start of your issues 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.