Sciatica is a symptom. Not a diagnosis. Find the driver.
That shooting pain down your leg, the numbness in your foot, the burning in your glute. These are signals. Your sciatic nerve is being compressed or irritated somewhere along its path. The question is where and why. Until someone answers that, every treatment is a guess.
Common signs you need help
Why sciatica keeps coming back
Sciatica is not a condition. It is a symptom of something else. A herniated disc pressing on the nerve root. A tight piriformis muscle compressing the nerve in the glute. A lumbar subluxation narrowing the space where the nerve exits the spine. Each cause requires a different correction.
Most approaches treat sciatica the same way regardless of the cause: stretching, anti-inflammatories, maybe a general adjustment. That is why it keeps returning. If the disc is the problem, stretching the piriformis will not help. If the piriformis is the problem, adjusting the lumbar spine will not fix it.
At Joseph Fair Chiropractic, we identify the specific mechanism driving your sciatica. The Gonstead system pinpoints structural issues at the spinal level. SFMA reveals movement dysfunctions that create the compression. Active Release Technique addresses soft tissue restrictions along the nerve path. The correction matches the cause.
How we treat sciatica differently
Your evaluation starts with a detailed history and neurological screening to determine the severity and location of nerve involvement. Dr. Fair then uses the Gonstead system to analyze your lumbar spine for subluxations, disc involvement, and structural misalignment.
SFMA movement testing reveals whether hip mobility, core stability, or lumbar mechanics are contributing to the compression. This step is critical because it identifies the functional driver that most practitioners miss.
Treatment is targeted to the specific cause. If a lumbar subluxation is compressing the nerve root, a precise Gonstead adjustment restores proper alignment. If soft tissue adhesions are trapping the nerve, Active Release Technique frees it. If hip dysfunction is creating the compression pattern, corrective exercises address the stability deficit.
How we treat sciatica treatment
Gonstead Chiropractic
Precise lumbar adjustment to decompress the nerve root and restore proper spinal alignment. Based on X-ray analysis and instrumentation.
Active Release Technique
Targeted soft tissue work along the sciatic nerve path. Breaks adhesions in the piriformis, hamstrings, and lumbar musculature that trap the nerve.
SFMA Movement Assessment
Identifies hip mobility and core stability deficits that create the compression pattern driving your sciatica.
What patients say
"I was having some nerve tingling in my right leg and foot, and having never experienced this before, my friend recommended Dr. Fair to me. This being my first time seeing a chiropractor, I couldn't be more satisfied with my experience."
Anais Z.
Actress
"Joey is the best! He has helped to diagnose multiple injuries and help identify issues to help me prevent more. My shoulder, back, neck, elbow has never felt better."
James R.
Common questions about sciatica treatment
Can a chiropractor help with sciatica?
Yes, if the cause is identified correctly. Sciatica caused by lumbar subluxation, disc herniation, or soft tissue compression responds well to targeted chiropractic care combined with Active Release Technique. The key is identifying the specific mechanism, not just treating the symptom.
How long does sciatica treatment take?
Acute sciatica often improves significantly within 2 to 4 visits. Chronic sciatica with disc involvement may require a longer corrective plan. Dr. Fair will give you an honest timeline after your first evaluation based on the specific cause and severity.
Should I get an MRI for sciatica?
An MRI can be helpful for confirming disc herniation or ruling out serious pathology. Dr. Fair will recommend imaging if the clinical findings suggest it is necessary. Many cases of sciatica can be accurately diagnosed through physical examination and the Gonstead analysis without advanced imaging.
Complete diagnostic and corrective session. Not a quick adjustment.
Limited to 25 new patients per month
Stop chasing symptoms. Start building durability.
Your first evaluation is $60. Everything included. Limited to 25 new patients per month.