Chiropractic Care Better for Sciatica Than Surgery

Dr. Berklich works with countless sciatica patients here in our Alpharetta office, and several of these individuals were worried that they might require surgery to alleviate their pain. The latest research indicates that many people don't need surgery for this prevalent issue, and that chiropractic adjustments is more beneficial at resolving sciatic nerve discomfort.

A common surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, specialists looked at 80 individuals 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 received chiropractic care.

Both groups improved; however, no noticeable difference in results was recorded one year post-treatment between either group. Furthermore, roughly 60 percent of the participating patients 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 treatment delivered the same positive benefits as surgery without having to endure the increased levels of surgery-based pain or suffer through drawn-out recovery times often associated with that particular treatment method. Additionally, you also don't run the risks associated with surgical microdiscectomy, which includes nerve root damage, bowel or bladder incontinence, bleeding, or infection.

We Can Help Patients Find Comfort From Sciatica Pain

Surgery should be the last option for sciatica pain. If you live in Alpharetta and you're experiencing back pain or sciatica, give Dr. Berklich a call today at (770) 475-2225. We'll help identify the start of your problems 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.