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Chiropractic Superior for Sciatica Than Surgery

Dr. Ellis works with countless sciatica patients here in our Woburn & Chelmsford, MA office, and many of these individuals were nervous that they might need surgery to eliminate their pain. The most recent research reveals that many 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, specialists looked at 80 patients 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 improved; however, no obvious difference in outcome was recorded one year post-treatment between the surgery group and the chiropractic group. Furthermore, about 60 percent of the participating patients who could not find assistance from any other treatment approach "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 go through the higher amounts of surgery-based pain or suffer through lengthy recovery times often associated with that specific treatment choice. Plus, you also don't run the risks linked to surgical microdiscectomy, which includes 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 being affected by back pain or sciatica, give Dr. Ellis a call today at (781) 460-0939. 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.
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