Chiropractic Superior for Sciatica Than Surgery

Dr. Matthisen works with countless sciatica patients here in our Anchorage office, and many of these men and women were nervous that they might need surgery to treat their pain. The latest research indicates that a large number of people don't need surgery for this widespread problem, and that chiropractic is more effective at solving sciatic nerve pain.

A typical 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 placed in one of two groups. The first group received surgical microdiscectomy and the second group received chiropractic care.

Both groups got better; however, no noticeable difference in results was reported one year post-treatment between either group. Furthermore, around sixty 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."

Put another way, chiropractic provided the same positive benefits as surgery without needing to go through the increased amounts of surgery-based pain or suffer through lengthy recovery times often affiliated with that specific treatment choice. Plus, you also don't run the risks associated with surgical microdiscectomy, such as nerve root damage, bowel or bladder incontinence, bleeding, or infection.

Surgery should be the last option for sciatica pain. If you live in Anchorage and you're being affected by back pain or sciatica, give Dr. Matthisen a call today at (907) 349-4212. 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.