Dr. Holland works with countless sciatica patients here in our North County St. Louis, MO office, and quite a few of these individuals were concerned that they might need surgery to alleviate their pain. The most recent research indicates that many people don't require surgery for this widespread issue, and that chiropractic is more successful at resolving sciatic nerve pain.
A common surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, researchers 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 was to receive surgical microdiscectomy and the second group received chiropractic care.
Both groups got better; however, no obvious difference in outcome was recorded one year post-treatment between the surgery group and the chiropractic group. In addition, around 60 percent 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."
In other words, chiropractic delivered the same positive benefits as surgery without needing to undergo the greater levels of surgery-based pain or suffer through drawn-out recovery times often associated with that specific 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 resort for sciatica pain. If you live in North County St. Louis, MO and you're being affected by back pain or sciatica, give Dr. Holland a call today at (314) 867-8888. We'll help pinpoint the start of your pain and work hard to get you relief.
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We have a long-standing track record or helping people get out of pain with chiropractic care. Whether you were injured last week, or have been suffering from chronic pain for years - It might only take one visit to our office in Downtown Saint Louis, MO to get you back on the path to everyday health.
