What is sciatica?

Sciatica is pain that travels along the sciatic nerve — from the lower back through the buttock and down the leg. It’s usually a symptom of an underlying problem, most often a herniated or bulging disc pressing on the nerve, but it can also come from spinal narrowing or a pinched nerve after an accident or lifting injury.

Clinically the underlying problem is lumbar radiculopathy — an irritated nerve root in the lower spine — and sciatica is the name for what it feels like when the L5 or S1 root is the one involved.

Symptoms

• Sharp, burning, or shooting pain from the lower back into one leg
• Numbness or tingling in the leg or foot
• Weakness in the leg
• Pain that worsens with sitting, standing, or certain movements

Seek emergency care for loss of bladder or bowel control or rapidly worsening leg weakness.

Diagnosis & treatment

We examine your back and nerve function and image (digital X-ray, MRI when indicated) to find the source. Most sciatica improves without surgery using:

• Physical therapy and targeted exercises
• Chiropractic care
• Spinal decompression for disc-related cases
• Pain management

Long Island offices & service areas

We treat sciatica across Nassau and Suffolk County from offices including Medford, Islandia, East Islip, Mineola, Bohemia, Smithtown and Stony Brook. Find your nearest office →

Not near one of our offices? We can help arrange transportation to your appointment, or coordinate your care with providers in our Long Island network — call (631) 560-8357 to ask.

Sciatica FAQ

How long does sciatica last?

Many cases improve within a few weeks with treatment, though disc-related sciatica can take longer. Your physician will set expectations after evaluating you.

Can sciatica be treated without surgery?

Usually, yes. Most patients improve with physical therapy, chiropractic care, spinal decompression, and pain management.

Is treatment covered after an accident or work injury?

Yes — care is billed to No-Fault or Workers’ Comp, so eligible visits are typically $0 out of pocket.

Is sciatica a diagnosis or a symptom?

It is a symptom. Sciatica describes pain travelling along the sciatic nerve from the lower back into the leg, and the job of the evaluation is to find what is compressing or irritating that nerve — most often a herniated or bulging disc, sometimes spinal narrowing or a pinched nerve after an injury. Treating that cause is what settles the leg pain.

Why does sitting make my sciatica worse?

Sitting increases the load on the lumbar discs and puts the nerve on stretch, particularly in a slumped position or a car seat. Changing position regularly, supporting the lower back, and breaking up long drives usually help more than hunting for one perfect chair. If leg weakness is worsening, or you have any loss of bladder or bowel control, seek emergency care.