Sciatica is not a diagnosis. It is a symptom — pain, tingling or weakness that travels from the lower back into the buttock and down the leg because a lumbar nerve root is being irritated. At Spine & Joint Center, care starts by working out which root is involved and what is pressing on it.
The sciatic nerve is formed by nerve roots that leave the lumbar spine, join together and run through the buttock and down the back of the leg. Irritation anywhere along that path produces the familiar pattern: pain that starts in the back or buttock and travels below the knee, often with burning, pins and needles, or a feeling that the leg is weak.
Where the pain stops matters. Pain that stays in the lower back and buttock is usually mechanical back pain. Pain that crosses the knee and enters the calf or foot is much more likely to be nerve root related, and that distinction is one of the first things an examination sorts out.
The most common cause in adults under 55. Disc material presses on a nerve root, usually at L4/L5 or L5/S1.
Narrowing of the canal or the space the nerve exits through, more common with age. Typically worse walking and better sitting.
A joint that has lost motion changes how the segments above and below load, which can irritate the nerve root without a visible disc bulge.
The muscle in the buttock can compress the nerve, producing a similar pattern with different examination findings.
Refers pain into the buttock and thigh, but rarely below the knee. Important to separate from true nerve pain.
Infection, tumour and fracture are rare but are the reason red flags get asked about at every first visit.
A first visit includes a history that establishes how the pain started, what makes it worse, and whether there has been any change in strength, sensation or bladder function. The examination then tests nerve tension, reflexes, sensation in specific dermatomes, muscle strength, and lumbar movement.
Those findings tell us whether this behaves like a disc, a stenotic canal, a joint or a muscle. They also tell us whether chiropractic care is appropriate at all — a small number of presentations need imaging and a specialist opinion before anyone touches the spine.
Segment-specific assessment of position and motion before any adjustment is made.
Directed at the involved level. Where the nerve is highly irritable, low-force instrument methods are used instead of manual adjustment.
Controlled, graduated traction intended to reduce pressure on the disc and nerve root. Typically several sessions per week over a number of weeks, reviewed at set intervals.
Gentle movement of the nerve itself once the acute irritation settles, to restore normal glide.
Core and hip stability work, plus guidance on sitting, lifting and sleeping positions.
Most people are seen two to three times per week at the start. The first thing we look for is whether the pain is centralising — that is, travelling less far down the leg — because that is a better indicator than a drop in pain score alone. Progress is reviewed at set intervals and the plan is adjusted; if you are not responding as expected, the approach changes or you are referred.
Individual results vary, and no timeline can be promised. What can be promised is that you will be told what the examination found and what the options are before treatment begins.
Go to an emergency department or call 911 for loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, progressive weakness in the leg or foot, or sciatica following major trauma. These can indicate cauda equina syndrome or a fracture, both of which need immediate medical assessment.
Avoid prolonged sitting, which loads the disc more than standing. Short walks are usually better than bed rest, which slows recovery. Keep lifting light and close to the body. If a position reliably reduces the leg pain, use it — those positions are diagnostic information as well as comfort.
Most major plans are accepted, including Medicare, and Florida PIP is accepted for injuries from a motor vehicle crash, subject to the terms of your policy. PIP requires initial care within 14 days of the crash for benefits to apply. Benefits are verified before treatment begins.
Licensed chiropractic physician in Florida. Gonstead technique, spinal decompression and rehabilitation.
Licensed chiropractic physician in Florida. Diversified and Activator methods, auto accident injury care.
Call the office at (954) 561-4700, or request an appointment online. Same-week appointments are often available.
410 NE 44th St, Oakland Park, FL 33334 · (954) 561-4700 · Mon–Thu 9:00–13:00 and 14:30–18:00, Fri–Sat 9:00–13:00
Care is provided by Douglas Kellerman, D.C. and Michael F. Petrie, D.C., licensed chiropractic physicians in the State of Florida.