Studies find no need to pick back surgery

Researchers say that other treatments for sciatica work just as well in the long term

By Carla K. Johnson ASSOCIATED PRESS

CHICAGO - Two big government-funded studies on back surgery for painful herniated disks show no clear-cut reason to choose an operation over other treatment.

The pain and physical function of the patients, who were suffering from a condition called sciatica, improved significantly after two years whether they had surgery or not.