Sciatica is pain along the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back through the hip and down the back of each leg. It is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Something is pressing on or irritating that nerve, most often a disc, a joint in the lower back, or a tight piriformis muscle in the hip. Treating the leg rarely helps for long. Finding what is compressing the nerve is what actually changes things.
What Sciatica Actually Feels Like
Most people describe it as sharp, burning, or electric rather than achy. It usually affects one side. It often gets worse when you sit for a while, stand up after sitting, cough, or sneeze. Some people get numbness, pins and needles, or a leg that feels heavy or weak.
The pain does not always start in your back. Plenty of people arrive convinced the problem is their hip or hamstring, because that is where they feel it.
What Causes It
- A disc problem in the lower back pressing on the nerve root
- Joint restriction or misalignment in the lumbar spine or pelvis
- Piriformis irritation — a hip muscle that sits directly on the sciatic nerve
- Degenerative changes narrowing the space the nerve travels through
- Prolonged sitting and a job that keeps you in one position
How Dr. Hansen Approaches It
The first visit is about finding the source. Dr. Hansen takes your history, examines how your lower back and pelvis move, checks the nerve itself, and takes x-rays if he needs to see the structure. Then he explains what he found in plain language before any care begins.
From there, care is built around the actual cause. That usually means specific spinal adjustments to take pressure off the nerve, often combined with mechanical traction, therapeutic exercise, or SoftWave therapy where inflamed tissue is part of the picture. No drugs, no surgery.
When to Stop Waiting It Out
Sciatica sometimes settles on its own. It also has a habit of coming back, and each round tends to last longer than the one before. Come in sooner rather than later if you have numbness that is spreading, weakness in the foot or leg, pain that wakes you at night, or symptoms lasting more than a couple of weeks.
Seek emergency care immediately, not a chiropractor, if you lose bowel or bladder control or have numbness in the groin area. That is rare but urgent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get relief from sciatica?
It depends on what is causing it and how long it has been going on. Some people feel a real difference within the first few visits; a disc-related case that has been building for years takes longer. Dr. Hansen will give you an honest estimate after your exam rather than a number before it.
Can a chiropractor actually help sciatica, or should I see a surgeon?
Most sciatica is mechanical — something is compressing the nerve — and responds to conservative care. Surgery is usually a last resort, not a first step. Dr. Hansen will tell you directly if he does not think chiropractic is the right answer for your case and refer you out.
Does insurance cover sciatica treatment?
Most insurance is accepted at Hansen Chiropractic, and the front desk will verify your benefits for free before you start. Call (631) 321-5400 and they will check for you.
Should I rest or keep moving with sciatica?
Extended bed rest usually makes sciatica worse, not better. Gentle movement is generally better than lying still, but what is right for you depends on the cause, which is exactly what the exam is for.
Last reviewed 2026-09-10 by Hansen Chiropractic. This page is general information, not medical advice. Individual results vary.
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