Chiropractic Superior for Sciatica Than Surgery

Dr. Messerschmidt works with countless sciatica patients here in our Juneau, AK office, and quite a few of these individuals were nervous that they might require surgery to eliminate their pain. The latest research shows that a large number of people don't need surgery for this prevalent problem, and that chiropractic is more successful at solving 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 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 got better; however, no obvious difference in outcome was recorded one year post-treatment between either group. In addition, roughly 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 delivered the same positive advantages as surgery without needing to endure the increased amounts of surgery-based pain or suffer through drawn-out recovery times often associated with that type of treatment method. Additionally, you also don't run the risks associated with 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 Juneau, AK and you're being affected by back pain or sciatica, give Dr. Messerschmidt a call today at (907) 789-1344. We'll help pinpoint 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.