Most of us know what sciatica is, but do you know the best way to treat it? Unfortunately, there is no quick fix, despite what some YouTube influencers may claim. At Roach Chiropractic, we always focus on the most effective and safest treatment for your sciatica pain.
Why Sciatica Symptoms Occur
Sciatica occurs in a compromised nervous system. Perhaps the most common reason for sciatica pain is either a pinched nerve, herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or spondylolisthesis. Pain can travel down the front, back, and side of the leg or as far down as the feet. It’s important to know that you can’t just treat the pain in your leg. The only way to address leg pain is to take the pressure off that nerve. The safest, most non-evasive way to do this is through a chiropractic adjustment.
The National Spine Centre in Alberta, Canada published a study in October of 2010 in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. There were 40 study participants who had chronic sciatica pain and had not responded to pain medications, physical therapy, massage therapy, or acupuncture. They all ended up on the list for spinal surgery.
Sciatica Treatment Study
The study split the group into two categories. One group comprised people getting the surgery and the other group had those who will get regular chiropractic adjustments. If the participants were unhappy with the results, they could opt for the other treatment.
“A full 60% of the study participants benefited from chiropractic spinal manipulation to the SAME degree as if they underwent surgery. And after 1 year, there was no difference in outcome success based on the treatment method. That 60% of people referred for surgery by their primary care physicians and accepted as surgical candidates by the neurosurgeon could get similar results with chiropractic.”
Therefore, think of all the unnecessary surgeries and costs to health care that could be prevented if people were recommended chiropractic care before surgery. Surgery should always be the last option for the patient and the doctor.
Additionally, this shows how important it is to educate yourself on the treatment options. If you have had results with chiropractic care before, share that experience and education with those around you.
