Avoid Sciatica Surgery With Chiropractic

Dr. Jerrad Swanson DC, FMT, DN1 works with countless sciatica patients here in our Lincoln office, and quite a few of these individuals were concerned that they might require surgery to alleviate their pain. The most recent research shows that many people don't need surgery for this common problem, and that chiropractic is more effective at solving sciatic nerve pain.

A typical 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 improved; however, no obvious difference in outcome was reported one year post-treatment between either group. In addition, about 60% of the participating patients who could not find assistance from any other treatment method "benefited from spinal manipulation to the same degree as if they underwent surgical intervention."

In other words, chiropractic provided the same positive advantages as surgery without needing to endure the higher amounts of surgery-based pain or suffer through extended recovery times often associated with that particular treatment choice. 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 resort for sciatica pain. If you live in Lincoln and you're being affected by back pain or sciatica, give Dr. Jerrad Swanson DC, FMT, DN1 a call today at (402) 484-5177. 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.