I wasn’t surprised when I read the numbers. A massive study analyzing over 216 million US patients just confirmed what I’ve observed for 20 years in my Prince George practice.
Patients receiving chiropractic care for sciatica had 71% fewer opioid-related adverse events compared to conventional medical treatment. They also showed a 32% lower risk of receiving opioid prescriptions in the first place.
The research involved 372,471 matched patients per treatment group. That’s not a small clinical trial. That’s population-level evidence.
The Source vs Symptoms Approach
Here’s what I see daily that this study validates. When a sciatica patient comes to my office after trying the medical route, they tell me the same story.
They managed their pain with medication until their body accommodated the issue. The frustrating part? They’re just waiting for their next episode.
Chiropractic works differently. We find the area causing the sciatica and remove that trigger. If it’s a lumbar spine issue, we adjust the lumbar spine so the nerve isn’t irritated anymore. If it’s a sacroiliac joint problem, we address that. Sometimes it’s a muscle issue like the piriformis, and we release that muscle while teaching the patient how to stretch it.
Once you take the irritation off the nerve, the pain goes away. No medication needed.
Breaking the Cycle
Early in my practice, I had a patient who worked at an auto parts store. He’d been dealing with sciatica for years. We got it settled and were treating him on maintenance.
One day he came in smiling, telling me his back hurt. I was confused until he explained.
He had to grab a starter from the bottom shelf in a corner. Previously, that awkward lift would lay him up for two weeks. This time? He was sore for a couple hours, then fine.
His body was functioning properly. It could handle the stress without triggering a full episode.
The Reality Check
Will this study change how the medical community views chiropractic? Probably not.
We’ve had studies like this before. Economists have told government officials we could save billions by fully integrating chiropractic into healthcare. Nothing changes.
Chiropractic is an in-the-trenches profession. We win patients over one at a time. We care for them, get results, and they tell the next person.
I don’t show patients population studies because population studies are for populations. They’re individuals. They need to know I’m confident their specific case will work out.
What This Means for Prince George
Theopioid crisis has hit British Columbia particularly hard. We have the highest prevalence of opioid prescriptions in Canada at 13.3%.
For patients facing that choice between chiropractic care and conventional medical treatment for sciatica, this research suggests a clear path forward.
Chiropractic first, medication second, surgery last.
Yesterday, a patient who’d suffered constant sciatica pain for three years told me after just one adjustment that he felt no pain for the first time. Usually it takes longer, but sometimes you get these instant changes.
That’s not a miracle. That’s what happens when you address the source instead of managing symptoms.
The evidence is clear. The choice is yours.