Avoid Sciatica Surgery With Chiropractic Care

Dr. Poelking works with countless sciatica patients here in our Kettering office, and quite a few of these individuals were concerned that they might need surgery to alleviate their pain. The latest research indicates that a large number of people don't need surgery for this widespread problem, and that chiropractic care is more beneficial at clearing up sciatic nerve problems.

A popular surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, physicians looked at 80 patients 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 adjustments.

Both groups improved; however, no obvious difference in results was recorded one year post-treatment between the surgery group and the chiropractic group. Furthermore, about 60 percent of the participating patients 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 treatment delivered the same positive advantages as surgery without having to endure the higher amounts of surgery-based pain or suffer through lengthy recovery times often affiliated with that type of treatment choice. Additionally, you also don't run the risks linked to surgical microdiscectomy, including 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 Kettering and you're suffering from back discomfort or sciatica, give Dr. Poelking a call today at (937) 299-2900. We'll help identify the source of your issues and work hard to get you support 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.