Does pain shoot from your lower back down your leg?
Sciatic pain can feel like a jolt, a burn or a deep ache that follows one leg, and it can make sitting in the car or standing in line feel like work. It is hard to plan your day around a leg you cannot trust. Our approach is gentle and looks at the whole spine and your posture, so we can see how your body is balanced from your head down to your pelvis.
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is pain that follows the path of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back through the buttock and down the back of the leg. It is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and it usually affects one side. It happens when something irritates or presses on a nerve root in the lower spine, such as a disc or a narrowed space around the nerve.
Many cases settle over a few weeks, but sciatica should not be ignored. Leg weakness that is getting worse, numbness around the groin or inner thighs, or trouble controlling your bladder or bowels needs emergency care right away.
Common signs include:
- Pain from the lower back or buttock down one leg
- A sharp, burning or electric feeling in the leg
- Tingling, pins and needles or numbness in the leg or foot
- Weakness in the leg or foot
- Pain that gets worse with sitting, coughing or sneezing
- Trouble standing up after sitting for a while
- A herniated or bulging disc in the lower back
- Narrowing of the spinal canal or the openings where nerves exit
- A tight muscle deep in the buttock, such as the piriformis
- A vertebra that has slipped out of its usual position
- Long hours of sitting that stress the lower back and hips
- An injury from a fall, a lift or a car accident
What causes sciatica?
Sciatica starts when the sciatic nerve or its roots in the lower spine become irritated, and several things can set that off:
The sciatic nerve begins in the lower spine, and we do not suggest that the neck causes sciatica. What upper cervical chiropractors look at is the whole-spine picture: when the head sits off center, the body may lean or twist below it to compensate, and that uneven load may be one factor in how the lower back and pelvis behave.
How upper cervical care can help
Pain in the leg does not always mean the cause is in the leg. We look at the whole picture: how your head sits on your neck, how your shoulders and hips line up, and whether your body is leaning to one side to stay upright. Neurological testing and muscle assessments help us understand how your nerves and muscles are responding.
A nerve that is already irritated calls for a light touch. Our adjustments are precise and matched to your exam and imaging. Our goal is to give the lower spine and pelvis a steadier base to work from, which may help everyday demands like sitting in traffic or climbing stairs feel less taxing.
Looking beyond the leg
We examine the pelvis, hips and shoulders along with the neck, because the way your body compensates higher up may change the load on the lower back.
Nerve-friendly adjustments
Gentle adjustments avoid the twisting and forceful moves that can aggravate a sensitive low back, which matters when a nerve is already irritated.
Tracking your leg symptoms
We ask where the pain travels and what brings it on, then recheck as care goes on, so changes in your leg symptoms help guide your plan.
Knowing the warning signs
Sudden weakness, numbness in the groin area or loss of bladder or bowel control are emergencies. We will help you recognize them and tell you when to seek medical care.
What to expect
Day 1
Your first visit
A consultation with the doctor at the office you choose, a thorough exam, and 3D imaging of your cervical spine with our CBCT scanner. We also do a detailed posture evaluation with advanced software, neurological testing and muscle assessments.
Day 2
Your report of findings
The doctor goes over your history, your exam and posture results, your neurological findings and your 3D images with you, and explains a care plan made for you.
Ongoing
Gentle care, checked as you go
Gentle upper cervical adjustments with no twisting, cracking or popping, and regular progress checks so your plan follows how you are doing.
Why choose Apollo?
Specialized care
We focus on upper cervical chiropractic, a highly targeted and refined approach.
A plan made for you
Every patient is different. Your care plan is built around your own exam and your 3D imaging.
Gentle, with no cracking
Our methods are very gentle: no twisting, cracking or popping.
An experienced doctor
Dr. Kosta Tsakalos brings deep clinical experience and a caring, detail-oriented approach to every visit.
Every person is different, and results vary. Read what our patients say on our testimonials page.
Let us help you get started
If you are dealing with sciatica, we are here to help. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Kosta Tsakalos and find out whether upper cervical chiropractic care is right for you.
Related conditions we help with
- Neck Pain
- Back Pain
- Herniated Discs
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Scoliosis
- Postural Issues
- See every condition
This page is general information. It is not a diagnosis or medical advice. If your symptoms are sudden or severe, please seek medical care right away.