Avoid Sciatica Surgery With Chiropractic

Dr. Zapf works with many sciatica patients here in our Burke office, and many of these individuals were worried that they might need surgery to relieve their pain. The most recent research reveals that many people don't require surgery for this common problem, and that chiropractic is more successful at resolving sciatic nerve pain.

A common surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, physicians examined 80 women and men with sciatica who were referred for this procedure.

Forty patients were then randomly sorted into one of two groups. The first group was to receive surgical microdiscectomy and the second group was given chiropractic care.

Both groups got better; however, no apparent difference in results was recorded one year post-treatment between the surgery group and the chiropractic group. In addition, around 60% 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."

Simply put, chiropractic provided the same positive benefits as surgery without having to undergo the increased amounts of surgery-based pain or suffer through drawn-out recovery times often associated with that type of treatment option. Additionally, you also don't run the risks affiliated with surgical microdiscectomy, which includes nerve root damage, bowel or bladder incontinence, bleeding, or infection.

Surgery ought to be the last resort for sciatica pain. If you live in Burke and you're suffering from back pain or sciatica, give Dr. Zapf a call today at (703) 455-9555. We'll help identify the source 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.