Condition we treat
Sciatica Relief
That shooting pain from your lower back down through your leg has a name — and a solution. Chiropractic care relieves the nerve pressure driving it.
What Is Sciatica?
The sciatic nerve is the longest and widest nerve in the body, running from the lower lumbar spine through the buttocks and down each leg to the foot. When this nerve is compressed or irritated — most often by a herniated disc, bone spur, or tight piriformis muscle — it produces the characteristic pain, burning, or numbness that travels along its path. Sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis; identifying and correcting the underlying cause is what produces lasting relief.
Common Symptoms
- Sharp, shooting pain from the lower back into the buttock and leg
- Burning or electric sensation along the back of the thigh or calf
- Numbness or tingling in the leg, foot, or toes
- Weakness in the affected leg
- Pain that worsens with prolonged sitting
- Difficulty standing up from a seated position
Common Causes
Herniated lumbar disc
The most common cause — disc material pressing directly on the sciatic nerve root at L4, L5, or S1.
Lumbar spinal stenosis
Narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back compresses the nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve.
Piriformis syndrome
The piriformis muscle in the buttock can tighten and compress the sciatic nerve as it passes beneath or through it.
Degenerative disc disease
Thinning discs reduce the space available for nerve roots to exit the spine, increasing compression risk.
Spondylolisthesis
A vertebra that has slipped forward over the one below it can narrow the nerve canal and irritate the sciatic nerve.
How Chiropractic Care Helps
Chiropractic care for sciatica focuses on reducing the compression or irritation at the nerve's source. Spinal adjustments restore proper alignment and joint motion in the lumbar spine, while spinal decompression creates the negative intradiscal pressure needed to encourage herniated disc material to retract away from the nerve. Most patients notice significant improvement within a few weeks of consistent care.
Lumbar adjustments
Restoring proper alignment to the lumbar vertebrae reduces joint restriction and relieves pressure on the sciatic nerve roots.
Spinal decompression
Gentle, motorized traction creates negative pressure inside the disc, encouraging herniated material to retract and reducing nerve compression.
Piriformis release
Soft tissue techniques targeting the piriformis muscle relieve compression of the sciatic nerve in the buttock region.
Rehabilitative exercises
Specific stretches and strengthening exercises stabilize the lumbar spine and reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
Stop the Shooting Pain
Same-day appointments are often available. We accept most major insurance including Medicare, Auto PIP, and Worker's Comp.