Many people who suffer from sciatica feel that surgery may be the only solution for them to get back to living a normal life. However, it is important to first consider the dangers associated with the surgery before you undergo a procedure that could have long-lasting consequences. But, before we get too far into the dangers of sciatica surgery and how chiropractic could be the best alternative for those dealing with sciatica, let’s first learn a little more about what exactly sciatica is.
The term “sciatica” generally refers to the tingling, numbness, or weakness that emanate from the lower back and travel through the buttock and then down through the sciatica nerves located in back of each leg. Sciatica is not, by itself, a medical condition but is rather a result of underlying medical condition. Examples of conditions that could cause sciatica symptoms include herniated lumbar disc, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease. Sciatica is often characterized by one or more of the following symptoms:
- Constant pain in one leg
- Tingling, burning, or searing pain in the leg
- Sharp pain that may make it difficult to stand or walk
- Pain that travels down the leg and possibly all the way down to the foot or toes
For many people who suffer from these pain symptoms, they feel that surgery is the only way they can improve their condition. However, in a recent study, over 1 in 10 patients who had surgery experienced complications following the surgery. The fact of the matter is, once the incisions are made, there is always a possibility that the surgery may be ineffective or even worse, may make matters worse. Not to mention the recovery time that forces you to miss work for an extended period of time.
The safer, and often more effective, option to deal with sciatica nerve pain is chiropractic care. In a study comparing chiropractic adjustments to surgery, over 60% of patients treated with chiropractic adjustments experienced significant improvement. And for those who did not see a significant improvement, at the very least didn’t have any adverse complications. At the end of the study, researchers concluded that patients should seek chiropractic care before they consider having sciatica surgery.
If you or someone you know has been experiencing sciatica nerve pain, you can avoid the physical and financial hardships related to surgery by seeking conservative, chiropractic care first. Give Advanced Chiropractic a call today at (330) 726-7404 to schedule a free consultation. We have been servicing the Youngstown and Mahoning Valley area since 2001 with convenient locations in Boardman, Hubbard and Kinsman. At Advanced Chiropractic & Rehab, we are a multi-disciplinary rehabilitation group that treats work comp injuries, whiplash, sports injuries and specializes in much more than just lower back pain.