I came across this study and it interested me, not only because I'm a Chiropractor and I see a lot of patients with low back pain and Sciatica, but also because I know many patients with Sciatica think surgery is their only hope.
Hopefully after reading this, you or anyone you know with Sciatica will think twice before rushing into surgery. The study titled; "Manipulation or microdiskectomy for sciatica? A prospective randomized clinical study" appears in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. In it the researchers were able to assess 120 different people to be included in the study. The purpose of the study was to compare the clinical efficacy of spinal manipulation (Chiropractic) against microdiskectomy (surgery) in patients with sciatica secondary to lumbar disk herniation (LDH).
It should be noted that to be included in this study, patients were to have already undergone three months of conventional medical care including; Pain killers, massage therapy, Physiotherapy and Acupuncture with little to no improvements. To put it another way, the study chose some of the worst cases of Sciatica possible. Basically, these patients were looking at probably the last two interventions possible; Chiropractic or Surgery.
So, what were the results you ask? The study found that generally, participants in both groups improved when other medical interventions had failed. They found that 60% of the Sciatica patients who did not improve with other medical intervention, improved with spinal manipulation (Chiropractic)! In fact, researchers found these patients improved to the same extent as those patients who did the surgery! But to be fair, of the remaining 40% who were not satisfied with Chiropractic, surgery was found to have given them good improvements.
This study went on to make the following recommendation; Patients with symptomatic Lumbar Disc Herniation (LDH) failing medical management should consider spinal manipulation followed by surgery if warranted.
So the finding was try Chiropractic first and if all else fails, then surgery is warranted. Chiropractors have been saying this for a long time. Chiropractic by it's very nature is conservative and non-invasive. I know many patients with severe low back pain and Sciatica would rather not go through a surgery but the good news is, they may not have to! According to this study the chances are good (about 60%) that a Chiropractor can save you from having to go to surgery. (Remember, this is even after other therapies have been tried including; pain killers, massage, Physiotherapy and Acupuncture!)
Here's more information about the study; Manipulation or microdiskectomy for sciatica? A prospective randomized clinical study. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2010 Oct; 33 (8): 576-584
Got more questions about Chiropractic? Near the Commercial Drive area of East Vancouver? Stop by the clinic or get more information here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN
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