Sciatica Treatment in Maple Grove, MN
Sciatica treatment at Total Spine starts with finding what is pressing on or irritating your sciatic nerve, most often a herniated or bulging disc, spinal stenosis or a misaligned joint in the low back. At Total Spine Health & Injury Center in Maple Grove, MN, Dr. Brent Tieri, DC, is a chiropractor for sciatica who pinpoints the cause with digital X-rays and a Motion Study Analysis, then treats it with Gonstead adjustments, non-surgical spinal decompression and MLS M7 Class IV laser therapy, without drugs or surgery.
Dr. Tieri has helped hundreds of Maple Grove patients with sciatica and other back and nerve pain. If you feel sharp pain, tingling or numbness running from your low back down your leg, it is best to get it checked early, because sciatica that is left alone can get worse and take longer to resolve.
What Is Sciatica?
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It starts in the lumbar spine and sacrum and runs through the hips and buttocks and down the back of each leg. Sciatica is the pain and other symptoms that happen when this nerve is compressed or irritated.
Sciatica is not a diagnosis on its own. It is a set of symptoms caused by an underlying problem, which is why finding that cause matters. It usually affects one side of the body, and unlike general low back pain, it travels into the buttock, leg or foot.
Sciatica Symptoms
- Pain in the low back, buttock and back of the leg, usually on one side
- Sharp, burning or stabbing pain that shoots down the leg
- Numbness, tingling or "pins and needles" in the leg or foot
- Weakness or trouble moving the leg or foot
- Pain that gets worse with long periods of sitting or standing
Common Causes of Sciatica
- Herniated or bulging (slipped) discs that press on a nerve root as it leaves the spine (learn more about disc injuries)
- Degenerative disc disease from wear and tear, poor posture, repeated bending and aging
- Spinal stenosis and bone spurs that narrow the space around the nerves
- Vertebral misalignment (subluxation) from stress, posture, car accidents, sports or work injuries
- Spondylolisthesis, when one vertebra slips forward on another
- Piriformis syndrome, when a tight buttock muscle irritates the nerve
- Pregnancy, excess weight or overexercising
Many people do not know what caused their sciatica. It may follow an injury, or you may simply wake up with pain down one leg. Either way, an exam is the first step to finding the source. If your pain stays in your back, see our back pain treatment and lower back pain pages.
When to See a Chiropractor for Sciatica
- Pain, numbness or tingling that runs from your low back into your leg
- Leg pain that lasts more than a few days or keeps coming back
- Sitting, standing or walking has become painful
- Sciatica after a fall, a lifting injury or a car accident
Get emergency medical care right away if sciatica comes with loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or leg weakness that is getting worse.
How We Treat Sciatica at Total Spine
Exam, Digital X-Rays and Motion Study
Your first visit includes a consultation, an exam, digital X-rays and our Motion Study Analysis. Dr. Tieri looks at your health history, lifestyle and goals and finds what is irritating the nerve, so your treatment plan targets the cause.
Gonstead Chiropractic Adjustments
Precise, hands-on adjustments restore motion and alignment in the low back and pelvis, which can take pressure off the nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve.
Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression
When a herniated, bulging or degenerated disc is behind your sciatica, spinal decompression gently stretches the spine to relieve pressure on the disc and the nerve.
Class IV Laser Therapy
MLS M7 Class IV laser therapy reduces inflammation and pain around an irritated nerve, without drugs.
Massage Therapy, Stretches and Home Exercises
Massage therapy loosens tight muscles such as the piriformis, and targeted stretches and exercises at home help protect your spine's alignment and keep sciatica from coming back.
Chiropractic Care vs. Medication, Injections and Surgery
Except in the most severe cases, conservative care is the recommended first step for sciatica, and it often works. Options include hot and cold packs, anti-inflammatory medication, stretching and strengthening, and chiropractic care. Medication can ease pain for a while, but chiropractic care for sciatica aims at the problem that is irritating the nerve. Surgery may be needed for some people, such as those with severe nerve compression or loss of muscle control, and Dr. Tieri will refer you to the right specialist if your exam points that way.
How Long Does Sciatica Take to Heal?
Recovery depends on what is causing your sciatica, how severe it is and how long you have had it. A problem that has built up over years usually takes longer to resolve than a recent flare-up. Dr. Tieri will recommend a plan after your exam and track your progress as your pain improves.
Visit Our Maple Grove Chiropractic Clinic
Total Spine Health & Injury Center
13324 Bass Lake Road, Maple Grove, MN 55311 (northwest corner of I-494 and Bass Lake Road)
Phone: (763) 568-7869
Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9:30am–12:00pm and 3:00pm–6:00pm; Tuesday 3:00pm–6:00pm; closed Friday–Sunday.
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