Surgery preferable to conservative treatment in chronic sciatica patients
A study of patients with chronic sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation has found that microdiscectomy is superior to conservative non-surgical care with respect to pain intensity at six months of follow-up. This was the conclusion drawn by researchers at London Health Services (London, Canada) whose findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Keeping lower back pain at bay: Better exercises
Scientists have devised a spinal stabilization exercise program for managing lower back pain for people who perform a sedentary job. After testing the program with 70 volunteers, the researchers have found that the exercises are not only efficient in diminishing the non-specific lower back pain, but their effect lasts 3 times longer than that of a usual muscle strengthening exercise program.
