Surgery for Chronic Sciatica Bests Conservative Care Nonsurgical treatment was standardized to include education of patients regarding day-to-day functioning, activity and exercise, use of oral analgesics, and use of active physiotherapy provided at the discretion of physiotherapists not associated with the trial.8,9 In addition, patients could receive an epidural glucocorticoid injection administered by a fellowship-trained anesthesiologist. Patients could receive a second or third injection at the discretion of the treating physician on the basis of their response to the previous injection. Patients were seen by a physiatrist or trial physician specializing in spinal care to provide medications and education, as well as assessment of the response to nonsurgical treatment on a 6-week basis for a minimum of 6 months.
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