Are You Suffering From Sciatica?
Watch this video to learn about how it is formed.
What Causes Sciatica To Form?
Your nervous system is essentially a large electrical grid. Your spinal cord sends an electrical nerve impulse that runs between your brain and lower back.
From there, individual nerves emerge from your spine and send impulses to your lower body to supply sensation and movement.
This is what allows you to move as well as feel sensations like touch, heat, cold and pain. Anything that interferes with this transmission can create pain and problems.
The most common causes of sciatica include herniated or bulging discs, bone spurs, spinal stenosis, and muscle tightness that compresses or irritates the sciatic nerve. In some cases, prolonged sitting, a sedentary lifestyle, or repetitive strain can also contribute to sciatic nerve irritation. Understanding what causes sciatica is the first step toward finding real, lasting relief.
What Symptoms Are Associated With Sciatica?
If you are suffering from sciatica then you have been diagnosed with a "Lumbar Radiculopathy".
What this means is that there is a single nerve or multiple nerves emerging from your lower back that have become irritated or possibly pinched. This often results in the patient suffering from pain, numbness or tingling in the specific area of your leg that is supplied by the irritated nerve.
The term "Sciatica" is often used to describe this condition because most (but not all) "lumbar radiculopathies" cases impact or involve the sciatic nerve which supplies the back and outside of your thigh and calf. So what does sciatica feel like exactly? Most people describe a combination of:
- A dull, deep ache in the lower back or buttock
- Sharp, burning, or shooting pain that travels down the back of the leg
- Numbness, tingling, or a "pins and needles" sensation in the leg or foot
- Muscle weakness in the affected leg
- Pain that worsens when sitting for long periods, sneezing, or bending forward
Symptoms of sciatica can range from mild discomfort to severe pain that affects your daily life. In some cases, you may find that your symptoms are aggravated by certain positions or movements.
How Long Does Sciatica Last?
This is one of the most common questions we hear. Mild sciatica often improves within a few weeks with the right care, but without proper treatment, symptoms can linger for months or become chronic. How long sciatica lasts depends largely on the underlying cause and how quickly you address it. The sooner you seek care, the better your outcomes tend to be.
How Can Sciatica Be Treated?
To help you get free of this condition, we will treat the source of your nerve irritation.
At New Path Chiropractic in Jupiter, FL, our approach to sciatica treatment focuses on addressing the root cause, not just masking the pain. As a sciatica chiropractor, Dr. Muscari uses a combination of chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and corrective exercises to reduce nerve compression, restore proper spinal alignment, and get you moving again.
Treatments we use for sciatica include:
- Chiropractic adjustments to restore spinal alignment and relieve nerve pressure
- Flexion Distraction Table therapy — a gentle, non-force technique particularly effective for disc-related sciatica
- Active Release Technique (ART) to release tight muscles and soft tissue contributing to nerve compression
- Dry Needling to reduce muscle tension and pain signals around the sciatic nerve
- Corrective Exercises to build core stability, reduce pressure on the lower back, and prevent recurrence
Many patients begin experiencing sciatica pain relief after just a few visits. We'll also guide you through specific sciatica exercises you can do at home to support your recovery between appointments.
It is important for you to follow your treatment plan closely and always to be sure to tell us immediately if you experience any progression of your leg pain, numbness or weakness.
What to Expect at Your First Sciatica Appointment
We know that when you're in pain, the last thing you want is a long, confusing intake process. Here's what a first visit at New Path Chiropractic in Jupiter typically looks like:
First, Dr. Muscari will take a thorough history of your symptoms — when the pain started, what makes it better or worse, and what you've already tried. From there, he'll perform a focused physical and neurological exam to identify exactly where the nerve irritation is coming from.
Once we understand the source of your sciatica, we'll walk you through a clear treatment plan so you know what to expect going forward — how many visits, what each session involves, and realistic timelines for improvement. There are no surprises and no pressure.
Most patients leave their first appointment with a better understanding of their condition than they've had in months, and many begin to feel some relief after just the first or second visit.
Ready to get started? Book your appointment online or call us at 561-653-1197. We serve patients in Jupiter, Juno Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Tequesta, and the surrounding areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
For immediate sciatica pain relief, gentle movement and specific positions can help reduce nerve pressure. Applying ice for the first 48-72 hours, followed by heat, can also ease discomfort. At our Jupiter office, we can often see new patients quickly and begin treatment right away to speed up your recovery.
Common triggers include prolonged sitting, sudden twisting movements, heavy lifting with poor form, and inflammation around the disc or joints. Identifying and avoiding your personal triggers, combined with regular chiropractic care, can dramatically reduce the frequency and severity of flare-ups.
Not exactly. While sciatica originates in the lower back, the defining feature is pain, numbness, or tingling that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve, typically down one leg. Pure lower back pain without leg involvement is usually a separate condition. A proper chiropractic evaluation can determine exactly what's going on and recommend the right course of care.
Yes. Because the sciatic nerve runs from your lower back all the way down through the leg and into the foot, sciatica nerve pain can show up anywhere along that path. Some patients feel it primarily in the knee, calf, or foot rather than the buttock or thigh. If you're experiencing unexplained leg, knee, or foot pain alongside any lower back stiffness, a chiropractic evaluation can help determine whether sciatica is the underlying cause.
Complete bed rest is generally not recommended for sciatica. Staying gently active, within your pain limits, tends to produce better outcomes than extended rest. Certain sciatica exercises and movement patterns can actually reduce nerve irritation and speed up recovery. Your chiropractor will guide you on which movements are safe and beneficial for your specific situation, and which to avoid while your nerve is healing.
The vast majority of sciatica cases resolve well with conservative care like chiropractic treatment, soft tissue therapy, and corrective exercises. Surgery is typically considered only when conservative options have been exhausted, or when there is progressive neurological loss such as significant muscle weakness or loss of bladder and bowel control. If you're in the early or moderate stages of sciatica, chiropractic care is a safe, effective first step before pursuing more invasive options. We'll let you know honestly if your case requires a referral.
