Avoid Sciatica Surgery With Chiropractic Treatment

Dr. Fritz works with countless sciatica patients here in our Jacksonville and Fleming Island office, and quite a few of these patients were worried that they might need surgery to eliminate their pain. The latest research shows that a large number of people don't need surgery for this widespread problem, and that chiropractic adjustments is more beneficial at clearing up sciatic nerve discomfort.

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

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

Both groups improved; however, no apparent difference in results was recorded one year post-treatment between the surgery group and the chiropractic group. In addition, roughly sixty percent 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."

In other words, chiropractic care provided the same positive benefits as surgery without needing to undergo the increased levels of surgery-based pain or suffer through drawn-out recovery times often affiliated with that particular treatment option. Plus, you also don't run the risks affiliated with surgical microdiscectomy, which includes nerve root damage, bowel or bladder incontinence, bleeding, or infection.

We Can Help Patients Find Comfort From Sciatica Pain

Surgery ought to be the last option for sciatica pain. If you live in Jacksonville and Fleming Island and you're experiencing back problems or sciatica, give Dr. Fritz a call today at (904) 425-9060. We'll help pinpoint the start of your pain and work hard to get you relief 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.