“To Have Surgery or to Wait and See” – That is the Question Regarding Sciatica
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The pain of sciatica radiating from the lower back on down the legs can drive a person toward considering a surgical procedure to put an end to the discomfort. Now, the results of a US Government survey can help the individual decide if the surgery option is needed and will really prove to be beneficial.
Persons who suffered from sciatica pain and who had been diagnosed with a bulging disc condition in their back were the subject of the study. The purpose of the investigation was to determine if invasive surgery provided any better long-term results to the victim than simply giving the condition time to heal on its own.
A total of 472 sciatica sufferers with an average age of 42 were assigned to one of two test groups. The first group was to receive surgery for the bulging disc. The second group’s procedure was called “watchful waiting.” This second group received a variety of education, physical therapy and painkillers.
The progress of the patients in each group was followed for the next 2 years. At that point, comparisons were drawn between the surgical group and those who were involved in the actions of “watchful waiting.”
Interestingly, the study showed that patients who had been diagnosed with herniated disks creating sciatica had “no clear-cut reason to choose an operation over other treatment,” according to the researchers. Patients who suffered from these problems showed significant improvement over the course of 2 years time regardless of whether they had back surgery or adopted the wait and see attitude.
Dr. James Weinstein of Dartmouth Medical School was the lead author of the study. He suggested that based on the findings of this study, patients should rely on their own desires in decision-making. “If you don’t want the risk of surgery, you can do watchful waiting,” he said.
The article was published in the November 2006 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. It noted that approximately 250,000 Americans go under the knife for herniated disks annually. The average cost of the surgery, which is often done on an outpatient basis is about $6,000.
Patients with this condition would certainly be well advised to obtain a number of professional opinions, beginning with their chiropractor, or acupuncturist well in advance of considering the more radical surgical option. Why subject yourself to surgery when taking a long-term wait and see attitude, coupled with therapy and natural healthcare could provide equal or maybe even better results?