Chiropractic More Effective for Sciatica Than Surgery

Dr. Poelking works with many sciatica patients here in our Kettering office, and quite a few of these patients were afraid that they might require surgery to relieve their pain. The most recent research shows that many people don't need surgery for this widespread problem, and that chiropractic is more successful at clearing up sciatic nerve pain.

A common surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, researchers examined 80 patients with sciatica who were referred for this procedure.

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 apparent difference in results was reported one year post-treatment between either group. Additionally, about 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."

In other words, chiropractic offered the same positive benefits as surgery without having to endure the increased levels of surgery-based pain or suffer through extended recovery times often affiliated with that type of treatment choice. Additionally, you also don't run the risks associated with surgical microdiscectomy, such as nerve root damage, bowel or bladder incontinence, bleeding, or infection.

Surgery should be the last option for sciatica pain. If you live in Kettering and you're suffering from back pain or sciatica, give Dr. Poelking a call today at (937) 299-2900. 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.