Chiropractic Care Superior for Sciatica Than Surgery

Dr. Groneck works with countless sciatica patients here in our Humble office, and many of these men and women were nervous that they might need surgery to relieve their pain. The latest research indicates that many people don't need surgery for this prevalent problem, and that chiropractic care is more beneficial at solving sciatic nerve discomfort.

A popular surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, researchers examined 80 individuals 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 received chiropractic treatment.

Both groups improved; however, no apparent difference in outcome was recorded one year post-treatment between the surgery group and the chiropractic group. In addition, around sixty 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 adjustments offered the same positive benefits as surgery without having to go through the higher amounts of surgery-based pain or suffer through drawn-out recovery times often associated with that particular treatment option. Plus, you also don't run the risks linked to surgical microdiscectomy, which includes nerve root damage, bowel or bladder incontinence, bleeding, or infection.

We Can Help Clients Find Relief From Sciatica Pain

Surgery should be the last resort for sciatica pain. If you live in Humble and you're suffering from back problems or sciatica, give Dr. Groneck a call today at (281) 540-7201. We'll help determine the origin of your discomfort and work hard to get you relief 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.