Chiropractic Therapy Better for Sciatica Than Surgery

Dr. Berklich works with countless sciatica patients here in our Alpharetta office, and quite a few of these individuals were concerned that they might require surgery to relieve their pain. The latest research shows that a large number of people don't need surgery for this prevalent issue, and that chiropractic adjustments is more successful at resolving sciatic nerve pain.

A popular surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, specialists looked at 80 patients with sciatica who were referred for this operation.

Forty patients were then randomly placed in one of two groups. The first group received surgical microdiscectomy and the second group was given chiropractic treatment.

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

In other words, chiropractic therapy offered the same positive advantages as surgery without having to undergo the increased levels of surgery-based pain or suffer through extended recovery times often associated with that specific treatment method. 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 ought to be the last option for sciatica pain. If you live in Alpharetta and you're experiencing back problems or sciatica, give Dr. Berklich a call today at (770) 475-2225. We'll help determine the start of your issues and work hard to get you help 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.