Find the Cause of Your Sciatic Nerve Pain — Not Just Temporary Relief
Sharp pain traveling from your lower back into your buttock or leg can make sitting, walking, working, exercising and even sleeping difficult. If that sounds familiar, you may be dealing with sciatica.
At Re-LAX Chiropractic & Wellness in Los Angeles, we take a comprehensive approach to sciatica treatment. Instead of focusing only on where you feel pain, we evaluate the spine, joints, muscles, nerves, movement patterns and other factors that may be contributing to your symptoms.
Our goal is to understand why your sciatic nerve is irritated and develop a personalized, non-invasive treatment plan designed around your condition, lifestyle and goals.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica describes symptoms associated with irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve or the nerve roots that form it.
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. It travels from the lower spine through the buttocks and down each leg. When a nerve root associated with the sciatic nerve becomes irritated or compressed, symptoms can travel along this pathway.
Sciatica isn’t a diagnosis by itself. It is a collection of symptoms that may have several underlying causes. That’s why determining what is contributing to your pain is an important part of choosing appropriate treatment.
Common Symptoms of Sciatica
Sciatica symptoms can vary significantly from person to person.
You may experience:
- Lower back pain
- Pain through one buttock
- Sharp or shooting pain down the leg
- Burning sensations
- Tingling or “pins and needles”
- Numbness in the leg or foot
- Leg weakness
- Pain while sitting
- Difficulty standing or walking comfortably
Some people experience mild intermittent discomfort, while others develop significant pain that interferes with normal daily activities.
What Causes Sciatic Nerve Pain?
Sciatic symptoms can develop when structures around the lower spine place pressure on or irritate a nerve.
Potential contributing conditions include:
- Herniated or bulging discs
- Degenerative disc changes
- Spinal narrowing
- Joint dysfunction
- Muscle and soft-tissue problems
- Poor movement mechanics
- Previous injuries
- Prolonged sitting
- Repetitive physical stress
Because several different problems can create similar symptoms, simply treating the painful area may not address the underlying issue.
Our Comprehensive Approach to Sciatica Treatment
At Re-LAX Chiropractic & Wellness, sciatica care begins with understanding your specific condition.
We discuss your symptoms, health history, daily activities and previous injuries or treatments. A physical assessment may then be used to evaluate areas such as spinal movement, posture, joint function and neuromusculoskeletal function.
When clinically appropriate, additional evaluation or imaging may be recommended.
Once we better understand what’s contributing to your symptoms, we can create an individualized care plan.
Depending on your findings, that plan may incorporate chiropractic care, spinal decompression, soft-tissue techniques, therapeutic exercises, postural recommendations and other non-invasive therapies offered at our Los Angeles clinic.
Chiropractic Care
When restricted or poorly functioning joints are contributing to your condition, chiropractic care may be incorporated to improve movement and address mechanical stress.
Treatment is individualized rather than applying the same adjustment or protocol to every patient.
Spinal Decompression
For some patients whose sciatica is associated with disc-related problems or nerve compression, non-surgical spinal decompression may be considered.
Spinal decompression uses controlled mechanical traction to gently stretch and decompress targeted areas of the spine. The objective is to reduce mechanical pressure and create a more favorable environment for comfortable movement and recovery.
Not every patient with sciatica needs decompression, which is why an evaluation comes first.
Soft-Tissue Care and Movement
Muscles and connective tissues surrounding the hips, pelvis and spine can also influence how you move and feel.
Your treatment plan may therefore incorporate soft-tissue techniques, stretching, mobility work, rehabilitation exercises and recommendations for improving movement outside the clinic.
Why Does My Sciatica Keep Coming Back?
Recurring sciatica can be frustrating.
Sometimes symptoms improve temporarily while the mechanical or lifestyle factors contributing to the problem remain.
For example, prolonged sitting, poor movement mechanics, repetitive stress, weakness, restricted mobility or an unresolved disc problem may continue placing stress on the lower back.
Our approach is designed to look beyond the immediate flare-up and identify factors that may be contributing to recurring symptoms.
When Should You Have Sciatica Evaluated?
Consider scheduling an evaluation when sciatic pain:
- Keeps returning
- Persists despite rest
- Travels down your leg
- Is accompanied by tingling or numbness
- Interferes with walking or exercise
- Makes sitting or working difficult
- Prevents comfortable sleep
Sudden severe weakness, loss of bowel or bladder control, numbness around the groin/saddle region or severe symptoms following significant trauma require prompt medical attention.
Why Choose Re-LAX Chiropractic & Wellness for Sciatica Care?
Our Los Angeles practice believes that treatment should begin with understanding the person, not simply labeling the symptom.
We combine a detailed assessment with personalized care and access to multiple non-invasive treatment options under one roof.
Rather than assuming every case of sciatica needs the same treatment, we determine which approach may be appropriate based on your individual findings.
Our objective is straightforward: help you move more comfortably while addressing factors that may be contributing to the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sciatica
Can a chiropractor help with sciatica?
Chiropractic care may be appropriate for certain causes of sciatic symptoms. Whether it is appropriate for you depends on what is irritating the nerve, which is why an assessment is important.
Is spinal decompression good for sciatica?
Non-surgical spinal decompression may be considered when disc-related pressure or certain mechanical problems are contributing to sciatic symptoms. It isn’t appropriate for every case.
Why does sciatica cause leg pain?
The nerve roots involved in the sciatic nerve originate in the lower spine and supply areas of the leg. Irritation near the spine can therefore produce symptoms farther down the nerve pathway.
Can sciatica cause numbness or tingling?
Yes. Nerve irritation can produce sensations including tingling, burning or numbness in addition to pain.
Do I need surgery for sciatica?
Many cases are initially managed conservatively, depending on their cause and severity. Your individual condition should be evaluated to determine appropriate options.
How long does sciatica treatment take?
There is no universal timeline. The underlying cause, severity, duration of symptoms, general health and response to care all influence recovery.
Start With a $39 Consultation
You don’t have to keep guessing what’s causing your leg or lower back pain.
Schedule a $39 consultation at Re-LAX Chiropractic & Wellness in Los Angeles and take the first step toward understanding your symptoms and your treatment options.
$39 New Patient Consultation
Discover what may be contributing to your sciatica and whether our personalized approach is appropriate for you.
Call (424) 800-2488 or schedule your consultation today.