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Sharp, shooting pain down your leg can make walking, sitting, and even sleeping unbearable. Whether caused by a herniated disc, muscle tension, or spinal misalignment, sciatica can disrupt your daily life. But relief is possible! Discover how you can restore movement, ease nerve pain, and get back to living without discomfort.
Sciatica doesn’t have to control your life. Whether your pain is mild or severe, the right treatment plan can help you reduce inflammation, restore mobility, and prevent future flare-ups. Schedule a consultation today with one of our expert sports chiropractic physicians at Hughes Health and take your first step toward relief!
About Sciatica
& Anatomy That Contributes
The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest nerve in the body, originating from the lower spine (L4-S3) and traveling through the hips, buttocks, and down both legs. It controls motor function and sensation in the lower limbs, making it essential for walking, running, and stability. When compressed or irritated, it can cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness along the nerve’s path—this condition is known as sciatica.
Understanding the anatomy of the lower back and pelvis is key to pinpointing the source of sciatic nerve irritation. The nerve passes through and around several key structures, including:
• Lumbar Spine & Discs: Herniated or bulging discs can press directly on the sciatic nerve roots.
• Piriformis Muscle: Located deep in the buttock, this muscle sits near or even surrounds the sciatic nerve. Tightness or spasms in the piriformis can lead to Piriformis Syndrome, a common cause of sciatic-like pain.
• Sacroiliac (SI) Joint: Dysfunction in the SI joint can cause nerve irritation, mimicking sciatica symptoms.
• Hamstrings & Glutes: Imbalances or excessive tightness in these muscles can contribute to nerve compression.
Many people mistakenly believe that sciatica is a standalone condition, but it is actually a symptom of an underlying issue. Identifying and treating the root cause is the key to long-term relief.
Common Causes of Sciatica
Understanding Why It Happens
Sciatica is typically caused by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve, often due to:
• Herniated or Bulging Discs: A damaged spinal disc can press on the sciatic nerve, leading to inflammation and pain.
• Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal can pinch the sciatic nerve, causing discomfort and mobility issues.
• Piriformis Syndrome: Tightness or spasms in the piriformis muscle, located in the buttock, can compress the sciatic nerve.
• Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction: When the SI joint is irritated or misaligned, it can create sciatic-like symptoms.
• Poor Posture & Muscle Imbalances: Sitting for long periods, improper lifting, or weak core and glute muscles can contribute to sciatic nerve compression.
Common Conditions Related to Sciatica
Sciatica is often linked to other spinal and musculoskeletal conditions, such as:
Degenerative Disc Disease: Wear and tear on spinal discs can lead to nerve compression.
Facet Joint Dysfunction: Inflammation or misalignment in the small joints of the spine can contribute to nerve pain.
Spondylolisthesis: A slipped vertebra can pinch the sciatic nerve, causing pain and weakness.
Pelvic Misalignment: Imbalances in the pelvis can put stress on the sciatic nerve and surrounding structures.
Postural Syndromes: Prolonged poor posture can lead to spinal and muscular imbalances that contribute to sciatic nerve irritation.
Treatments for Sciatica
Find Relief Once & For All
Before we are able to treat your sciatica and sciatic nerve pain at Hughes Health, we must perform a detailed consultation and examination. We start with a one-on-one consultation where our doctors truly listen. We want to understand how your back, pelvis, or leg pain is affecting your life, whether it's keeping you from working, exercising, or simply enjoying time with family. This conversation helps us gather key details that point us toward the root cause of your pain.
In the examination, we assess your movement, muscles, ligaments, and joints using chiropractic, orthopedic, and functional movement testing. Pain is your body’s way of signaling that something isn’t working right. Our job is to find out why. Once we pinpoint the cause, we create a personalized treatment plan to restore function and get you back to living pain-free without unnecessary medications or surgery.
Sports Chiropractic: More Than Just Adjustments
At Hughes Health, we believe true recovery goes beyond spinal adjustments and manipulation. While we are chiropractors, we don’t just focus on your joints. We take a whole-body approach through Sports Rehabilitation to target the muscles and tissues that support you. Your body is more than just bones and joints, and your care should reflect that. By addressing movement, strength, and stability, we help you heal faster, stay active, and prevent future injuries so you can get back to doing what you love without limitations.
PiezoWave Focused Shockwave Therapy: Break Through Stubborn Pain
For chronic sciatica, PiezoWave Shockwave Therapy uses focused and targeted sound waves to:
Break up scar tissue and adhesions
Increase blood flow for faster healing
Stimulate natural tissue repair—without surgery or downtime
Deep Tissue Class IV Laser Therapy: Heal from the Inside Out
Our Class IV Deep Tissue Laser uses light therapy to reduce pain and inflammation at the cellular level. This advanced treatment:
Boosts your body’s natural healing process
Reduces pain and inflammation in just 5-10 minutes
Feels like a gentle, warming sensation—no discomfort, just relief
Spinal Decompression: Relieve Pressure, Restore Function
If you’re struggling with low back and sciatic pain, Spinal Decompression Therapy provides a gentle, sustained stretch to:
Reduce pressure on your spine and nerves
Guide discs back into proper position
Work alongside chiropractic care and corrective exercises to help you heal and prevent future injuries
Soft Tissue Manual Therapy: Digging Deep
At Hughes Health, we specialize in a wide variety of techniques to address the soft tissue causes of the pain.
Dry Needling: This targets tight or dysfunctional muscles by inserting small acupuncture needles into specific muscles and their trigger points to release tension and promote muscle recovery.
Fire Cupping: Using heated cups to create a suction effect on the skin helps increase blood flow to relieve muscle tightness and reduce pain. This warming effect has been shown to be more effective than the dry suction counterpart.
Graston Technique: Using specialized tools, we gently break up adhesions in your muscles and tendons, improving mobility and encouraging proper tissue healing.
Myofascial Release: Active Release Technique (ART), also known as manual trigger point release, takes your muscles through dynamic movement to release tension and alleviate pain at its source.
Sport Rehab and Custom Exercises: Build Strength, Prevent Injury
Pain relief is just the first step. Staying pain-free while moving and grooving is the goal. Our Custom Therapeutic Exercise Programs help you:
Strengthen muscles and improve mobility
Fix imbalances that cause recurring pain
Get back to doing what you love with confidence
The Right Care, Every Time
At Hughes Health, your recovery comes first. While we specialize in advanced chiropractic care and personalized treatment plans, we also know when you need more. If our exam reveals that additional care is necessary, we’ll connect you with our trusted network of physical therapists, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and pain specialists. No guesswork, no wasted time—just the right care for the best results.
Your health is our priority. Let’s get you on the path to recovery today!
Why Choose
Hughes Health?
We take pride in providing evidence-based non-invasive approaches to healthcare. Our goal is to identify the root cause of your discomfort and pain to then provide effective and personalized treatment plans to help you achieve long-lasting results. If you're experiencing any of the conditions listed above, don't hesitate to contact us.