Dr. Dahlager works with countless sciatica patients here in our Noblesville office, and quite a few of these men and women were worried that they might require surgery to alleviate their pain. The latest research shows that many people don't need surgery for this widespread problem, and that chiropractic is more effective at clearing up sciatic nerve pain.
A typical surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, specialists examined 80 patients with sciatica who were referred for this operation.
Forty patients were then randomly sorted into one of two groups. The first group was to receive surgical microdiscectomy and the second group received chiropractic care.
Both groups got better; however, no obvious difference in results was reported one year post-treatment between the surgery group and the chiropractic group. Additionally, about 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."
Put another way, chiropractic offered the same positive advantages as surgery without having to undergo the higher amounts 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 linked to surgical microdiscectomy, including nerve root damage, bowel or bladder incontinence, bleeding, or infection.
Surgery ought to be the last option for sciatica pain. If you live in Noblesville and you're suffering from back pain or sciatica, give Dr. Dahlager a call today at (317) 214-7218. We'll help pinpoint the origin of your pain and work hard to get you relief.
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