In our North St. Louis, MO office, it isn't uncommon for us to see patients struggling with sciatic nerve pain, and Dr. Holland has helped many of these people improve with chiropractic. What makes chiropractic so beneficial to those who suffer with sciatica? For starters, it shortens their recovery time and a Norwegian medical study confirms it.
In the study, which took place in a Norwegian hospital's orthopedic department, the authors looked at 44 patients who reported abrupt low back pain that was diagnosed as acute sciatica. The participants were all treated by a chiropractor, with the average follow-up being two years after treatment.
The authors found that all but two patients returned to work after receiving chiropractic treatment, which is a 95% success rate. Furthermore, the average amount of time that the patients spent off work "was reduced by two thirds as compared with that associated with conventional medical treatment."
Considering that the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 170,450 days of work were missed in 2013 due to employees dealing with back or spine-related issues, that is about 112,500 work days that could potentially be recovered each and every year solely by receiving chiropractic care. Not only would that increase work productivity, but it might also decrease costs to businesses and workers from lost work.
If you live in North St. Louis, MO and you suffer with sciatica, Dr. Holland is here to assist. Give us a call at (314) 588-9100 and we'll work with you to find the source of your sciatica and get you back on the road to health.
Orlin JR, Didriksen A. Results of chiropractic treatment of lumbopelvic fixation in 44 patients admitted to an orthopedic department. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2007;30(2):135-139.