Sciatica is a pattern of nerve-related symptoms that can cause pain to travel from the lower back or buttocks into the leg. It may also cause pain, burning, tingling, numbness, or weakness. Symptoms often affect one side of the body, but their location and intensity can vary.
Because several conditions can produce sciatica or similar leg pain, effective care begins with a careful evaluation. At Momentum Health & Wellness Institute, Dr. Julie Stewart provides personalized, non-surgical care for qualifying patients experiencing sciatic nerve pain in Placentia, California.
Your treatment plan may include chiropractic care, spinal decompression therapy, therapeutic exercises, and movement guidance based on your symptoms, examination findings, and goals.
Sciatica is not a separate disease. It is a group of symptoms caused by irritation, inflammation, or pressure involving the sciatic nerve or the nerve roots that form it.
The sciatic nerve begins in the lower spine and travels through the buttocks and down the leg. When a nerve root becomes irritated, pain can follow this pathway into the thigh, calf, foot, or toes.
Some people experience mild and occasional discomfort. Others have sharp or burning pain that makes it difficult to sit, walk, work, exercise, or sleep comfortably.
Sciatica symptoms can differ depending on the location and severity of the nerve irritation. Common symptoms may include:
Sciatica usually affects one side of the body. Persistent symptoms in both legs, increasing weakness, or changes in bladder or bowel control require prompt medical attention.
Sciatica can develop when a structure in or near the lower spine places pressure on a nerve root. Common contributing conditions include:
The discs between the vertebrae support spinal movement and absorb impact. When disc material extends beyond its usual position, it may irritate a nearby nerve root and produce pain that travels into the leg.
Changes affecting the spinal discs and joints can reduce the available space around a nerve. These changes may contribute to irritation, stiffness, and radiating leg pain.
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the space within or around the spinal canal. When this narrowing affects a nerve root, symptoms may include pain, numbness, heaviness, or weakness in a leg.
Spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebra shifts relative to the vertebra below it. This change may reduce the space available for a spinal nerve.
A fall, auto accident, lifting injury, or repetitive movement may aggravate the lower back and surrounding tissues. These events may also make an existing disc or joint problem more noticeable.
Care at Momentum Health & Wellness Institute follows a personalized process rather than a one-size-fits-all protocol.
You will discuss your symptoms, health history, previous injuries, daily activities, and treatment goals.
Dr. Julie will assess relevant movement, strength, sensation, and spinal or joint function.
Your findings will be reviewed with you. You will have an opportunity to ask questions and understand why a specific approach is or is not being recommended.
When chiropractic care is appropriate, your plan may combine adjustments, spinal decompression, therapeutic exercises, and activity guidance.
Your progress will be monitored. The frequency, duration, and type of care may change as your symptoms and mobility improve.
The number of visits needed varies. Factors include the cause of the symptoms, how long they have been present, the presence of weakness or numbness, and how your body responds to care.
Momentum Health & Wellness Institute provides individualized chiropractic and wellness care for Placentia and surrounding North Orange County communities.
Dr. Julie Stewart brings more than two decades of chiropractic experience and takes time to understand each patient’s symptoms, activities, and goals. Rather than applying the same treatment to every patient, she develops recommendations based on individual findings.
Patients have access to:
Our goal is to help you understand your symptoms, improve comfortable movement, and return to the activities that matter to you.
Radiating leg pain can interfere with work, exercise, sleep, and everyday movement. You do not have to determine the cause or appropriate treatment on your own.
Schedule an evaluation with Dr. Julie Stewart at Momentum Health & Wellness Institute to learn whether chiropractic care, spinal decompression, supportive exercises, or a medical referral may be appropriate.
Chiropractic care may help some patients when sciatica is related to mechanical problems affecting the lower back, discs, or surrounding joints. An evaluation is necessary to determine whether chiropractic care is suitable for your symptoms.
Spinal decompression may be considered for qualifying patients with disc-related sciatic nerve symptoms. It is not appropriate for every condition, so treatment should begin only after an evaluation.
Some cases improve within several weeks, while others continue for months or return periodically. Recovery time depends on the cause, severity, duration, and presence of nerve-related weakness or numbness.
Some people experience significant buttock or leg pain with little lower back discomfort.
Irritation affecting a spinal nerve may produce numbness, tingling, or weakness in the leg or foot. Increasing weakness should be evaluated promptly.
Not everyone with sciatica needs an MRI. Imaging may be recommended when symptoms are severe, progressive, linked to warning signs, or not responding as expected.
Gentle movement may be helpful, but the wrong stretch can worsen nerve symptoms. Exercises should be selected based on the suspected cause and your response to movement.
Short, comfortable walks may help some people remain active and reduce stiffness. Stop and seek guidance if walking causes increasing pain, numbness, weakness, or symptoms that travel farther down the leg.
The number of visits varies according to the cause and severity of your symptoms and your response to treatment. Dr. Julie will explain her recommendations after your evaluation and monitor your progress throughout care.
Sciatica may return when contributing factors remain or new irritation develops. Strengthening, movement guidance, posture awareness, and appropriate activity modifications may help reduce recurring strain.
