Chiropractic Therapy Superior for Sciatica Than Surgery

Dr. Elganainy works with many sciatica patients here in our Burton office, and many of these individuals were worried that they might require surgery to alleviate their pain. The most recent research indicates that a large number of people don't need surgery for this widespread issue, and that chiropractic care is more effective at solving sciatic nerve discomfort.

A popular 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 adjustments.

Both groups improved; however, no noticeable difference in outcome was recorded one year post-treatment between the surgery group and the chiropractic group. In addition, roughly sixty percent of the participating subjects who could not find relief from any other treatment approach "benefited from spinal manipulation to the same degree as if they underwent surgical intervention."

Put another way, chiropractic care offered the same positive benefits as surgery without needing to endure the greater levels of surgery-based pain or suffer through extended recovery times often associated with that particular treatment method. 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 Burton and you're experiencing back problems or sciatica, give Dr. Elganainy a call today at (810) 715-7746. We'll help identify the source of your pain 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.