Dr. Mark Holland works with many sciatica patients here in our North County St. Louis, MO office, and quite a few of these patients were concerned that they might require surgery to relieve their pain. The latest research shows that many people don't need surgery for this prevalent issue, and that chiropractic is more successful at resolving sciatic nerve pain.
A popular surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, specialists examined 80 individuals 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 noticeable difference in results was recorded one year post-treatment between either group. Furthermore, roughly 60 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."
Simply put, chiropractic delivered the same positive benefits as surgery without having to undergo the greater amounts of surgery-based pain or suffer through lengthy recovery times often associated with that specific treatment method. Plus, you also don't run the risks affiliated with surgical microdiscectomy, including nerve root damage, bowel or bladder incontinence, bleeding, or infection.
Surgery should be the last option for sciatica pain. If you live in North County St. Louis, MO and you're experiencing back pain or sciatica, give Dr. Mark Holland a call today at (314) 867-8888. We'll help pinpoint the source 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.
