Robert C Slater, DC works with many sciatica patients here in our Highland Park, Saint Paul, Minnesota office, and quite a few of these patients were concerned that they might need surgery to alleviate their pain. The latest research reveals that many people don't require surgery for this common issue, and that chiropractic is more successful at resolving sciatic nerve pain.
A popular surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, specialists examined 80 women and men with sciatica who were referred for this operation.
Forty patients were then randomly sorted into one of two groups. The first group received surgical microdiscectomy and the second group was given chiropractic care.
Both groups improved; however, no noticeable difference in outcome was recorded one year post-treatment between either group. Furthermore, around 60 percent of the participating subjects 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 offered the same positive advantages as surgery without needing to undergo the greater levels of surgery-based pain or suffer through lengthy recovery times often affiliated with that type of treatment method. Plus, you also don't run the risks linked to surgical microdiscectomy, including nerve root damage, bowel or bladder incontinence, bleeding, or infection.
Surgery should be the last option for sciatica pain. If you live in Highland Park, Saint Paul, Minnesota and you're suffering from back pain or sciatica, give Robert C Slater, DC a call today at (651) 699-3366. We'll help determine the origin of your pain and work hard to get you relief.
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.
