Avoid Sciatica Surgery With Chiropractic Care

Dr. Six works with countless sciatica patients here in our Great Falls office, and many of these individuals were afraid that they might need surgery to alleviate their pain. The most recent research shows that a large number of people don't require surgery for this common problem, and that chiropractic treatment is more beneficial at resolving sciatic nerve issues.

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

Forty patients were then randomly placed in one of two groups. The first group received surgical microdiscectomy and the second group was given chiropractic therapy.

Both groups improved; however, no obvious difference in outcome was recorded one year post-treatment between the surgery group and the chiropractic group. Additionally, about 60 percent 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 adjustments offered the same positive advantages as surgery without having to undergo the greater amounts of surgery-based pain or suffer through drawn-out recovery times often associated with that specific treatment option. Plus, you also don't run the risks affiliated with surgical microdiscectomy, such as nerve root damage, bowel or bladder incontinence, bleeding, or infection.

We Can Help People Find Comfort From Sciatica Pain

Surgery should be the last option for sciatica pain. If you live in Great Falls and you're being affected by back pain or sciatica, give Dr. Six a call today at (406) 452-6929. We'll help pinpoint the start of your problems 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.