Avoid Sciatica Surgery With Chiropractic

Dr. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin works with many sciatica patients here in our Woburn & Chelmsford, MA office, and quite a few of these patients were concerned that they might need surgery to relieve their pain. The latest research shows that a large number of people don't need surgery for this prevalent problem, and that chiropractic is more beneficial at solving sciatic nerve pain.

A common surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, specialists examined 80 individuals with sciatica who were referred for this operation.

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

Both groups got better; however, no obvious difference in outcome was recorded one year post-treatment between either group. Additionally, around 60% of the participating subjects who could not find assistance from any other treatment method "benefited from spinal manipulation to the same degree as if they underwent surgical intervention."

Simply put, chiropractic offered the same positive advantages as surgery without having to endure the increased levels of surgery-based pain or suffer through lengthy recovery times often associated with that particular 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.

Surgery ought to be the last option for sciatica pain. If you live in Woburn & Chelmsford, MA and you're suffering from back pain or sciatica, give Dr. James Ellis & Dr. Lyndsay Martin a call today at (781) 460-0939. We'll help pinpoint 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.