What Really Causes Sciatica? A Chiropractor’s Guide to Finding the Root Problem

Sciatica is one of the most commonly misunderstood conditions we see in our office. Many patients arrive thinking they have a “sciatica diagnosis,” when in reality, sciatica is a symptom—not a standalone condition. It’s a sign that something deeper is going on in the spine or nervous system.

If you’re experiencing sharp pain down the leg, numbness, or burning discomfort that travels from the low back into the hip or foot, you're dealing with a nerve root issue. And it’s our job to find out exactly where the nerve is being compressed—and why.

The Most Common Causes of Sciatica

Sciatica usually starts when the sciatic nerve or one of its spinal roots becomes irritated or compressed. This can happen due to a variety of conditions, including:

• Lumbar disc herniation or bulge (especially at L4–L5 or L5–S1)
• Degenerative disc disease
• Facet joint inflammation or arthritis
• Piriformis syndrome (where the nerve gets trapped by a tight muscle in the hip)
• Pelvic misalignment or structural imbalance

Each of these issues can create pressure on the sciatic nerve, leading to pain that radiates down one side of the body.

But here's the catch: treating the pain without identifying the source won’t give lasting results. That’s why our approach at Form Fitness & Chiropractic goes deeper than just pain relief.

Why Sciatica Is Often a Postural and Structural Issue

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body—and it doesn’t just “flare up” without a reason. It’s often responding to long-term stress patterns in the spine, including poor posture, core instability, or repetitive strain. For many patients, sciatica begins gradually, with subtle signs like stiffness or low back fatigue, before progressing to intense nerve pain.

At Form, we use a proprietary exam process called the Structural Fingerprint Analysis, which includes:

• Digital scans of the feet and arches
• Postural assessments and pelvic leveling
• Leg length comparisons and spinal motion testing
• Targeted orthopedic and neurological testing

This helps us detect the true mechanical root of your sciatic pain, and create a personalized care plan that addresses it from the ground up.

Why Medications and Injections Often Fall Short

Many people try to manage their sciatica with painkillers, muscle relaxers, or even cortisone injections. While these may reduce symptoms in the short term, they don’t fix the underlying dysfunction.

In fact, masking nerve pain can sometimes delay proper diagnosis and worsen the root cause over time.

Our approach focuses on:

• Spinal decompression therapy to relieve disc pressure
• Full-body chiropractic adjustments to restore alignment
• Targeted rehab exercises to stabilize your pelvis and low back
• Lifestyle recommendations to reduce inflammation and prevent flare-ups

For appropriate cases, we may also co-manage care with plasma or ozone injections to accelerate tissue healing and reduce neural irritation.

How Do You Know If It’s Sciatica?

Not all leg pain is sciatica. But common signs that point to this condition include:

• Pain that travels from the lower back into the hip or down the leg
• Numbness or tingling in the foot or toes
• Burning or electric shock sensations
• Pain that worsens when sitting, coughing, or lifting
• One-sided weakness in the leg or foot

If these symptoms sound familiar, don’t wait to get evaluated. The earlier we can identify the cause, the easier it is to correct.

The Bottom Line: Sciatica Is Fixable—If You Treat the Cause

Sciatica can be debilitating, but it’s not something you have to “just live with.” By identifying the source of the nerve compression and correcting the structural dysfunction behind it, we’ve helped hundreds of patients walk away from surgery, get off medication, and get back to living pain-free.

At Form Fitness & Chiropractic, we’re here to help you move better, feel better, and get to the root of what’s holding you back.

Ready to Find Out What’s Causing Your Sciatica?

Book your initial evaluation today. We’ll walk you through your spinal health from head to toe—and help you understand exactly why the pain is happening and how we can fix it.

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