Chiropractic as effective as surgery for sciatica

Written by Sundial Clinics Tuesday, 17 May 2011 09:47

Sciatica Pain

Sciatica can cause severe pain in the buttock and leg as well as the back. People often suffer for months without relief relying on regular trips to the GP for pain-killers and anti-inflammatory medication. The traditional medical route for treatment of sciatica that is not improving is referral for surgery but this can take months. Waiting lists are getting longer in some areas and people are left suffering often unable to work.

A recent study looked at alternatives to surgery. Manipulation, which is one of the techniques used by chiropractors, was compared to surgery. The outcome over one year was that manipulation is as effective as surgery for sciatica. Patients in the study had been receiving GP care and physiotherapy for many months which was failing to improve the pain and other symptoms.

“To our knowledge, this is the first, randomized trial that directly compared spinal manipulation, which in this study was delivered by a doctor of chiropractic, and back surgery, two popular treatment choices for this prevalent health condition,” says Dr. Gordon McMorland, who co-authored the paper with neurosurgeons Steve Casha, MD, PhD, FRCSC, Stephan J. du Plessis, MD, and R. John Hubert, MD, PhD, FRCSC, FACS. “Sciatica is a serious spinal condition that causes pain, numbness, or weakness in one or both legs. Many times when symptoms become debilitating and without further help, surgery is prescribed to alleviate discomfort. But surgery is not without financial and physical drawbacks.”

“After a year, no significant complications were seen in either treatment group, and the 60 percent patients who benefited from spinal manipulation improved to the same degree as their surgical counterparts,” says Dr. McMorland, who also points out that, “The 40 percent of patients who were not helped by manipulation did receive subsequent surgical intervention. These patients benefited to the same degree as those that underwent surgery initially, suggesting there was no detrimental effect caused by delaying their surgical treatment.”

“Our research supports spinal manipulation performed by a doctor of chiropractic is a valuable and safe treatment option for those experiencing symptomatic LDH [lumbar disc herniation], failing traditional medical management. These individuals should consider spinal manipulation as a primary treatment, followed by surgery if unsuccessful.”

So if you have been suffering from sciatica for some time and do not seem to be improving you might like to consider consulting us to see if we can help.

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