Avoid Sciatica Surgery With Chiropractic Therapy

Dr. Izquierdo works with many sciatica patients here in our Mauldin office, and several of these patients were concerned that they might need surgery to eliminate their pain. The most recent research shows that a large number of people don't require surgery for this common issue, and that chiropractic therapy is more beneficial at clearing up sciatic nerve problems.

A common surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, specialists 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 received chiropractic adjustments.

Both groups improved; however, no obvious difference in results was recorded one year post-treatment between the surgery group and the chiropractic group. Additionally, roughly 60% of the participating subjects who could not find relief from any other treatment approach "benefited from spinal manipulation to the same degree as if they underwent surgical intervention."

Put another way, chiropractic care delivered the same positive benefits as surgery without having to go through the greater amounts of surgery-based pain or suffer through lengthy recovery times often affiliated with that particular treatment method. Additionally, you also don't run the risks linked to surgical microdiscectomy, such as nerve root damage, bowel or bladder incontinence, bleeding, or infection.

We Can Help Patients Find Relief From Sciatica Pain

Surgery should be the last resort for sciatica pain. If you live in Mauldin and you're being affected by back issues or sciatica, give Dr. Izquierdo a call today at (864) 627-4325. We'll help identify the source of your issues and work hard to get you support 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.