Conditions We Treat

Sciatica relief in Allentown

Pain that starts in the low back or buttock and shoots down the leg is sciatica, and it is one of the conditions patients most often come to us for. The nerve is the messenger. We treat what is irritating it.

Dr. Petrilak showing a patient where the sciatic nerve leaves the spine

Sciatica

What it feels like, and where it comes from

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. It forms from nerve roots in the low back, passes through the buttock and runs down the back of the leg. When something irritates it along that path, you feel it anywhere from the hip to the foot: a deep ache, a burning line down the leg, pins and needles, numbness or a leg that feels weak on stairs.

Sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis. It can come from a bulging disc, a joint in the low back or pelvis that is not moving, a tight piriformis muscle in the buttock or narrowing around the nerve. Each of those is handled differently, which is why Dr. Petrilak's exam is the first and most important step.

Pain running from the low back or buttock down one leg
Burning, tingling or numbness in the leg or foot
Pain that is worse sitting, driving or standing up from a chair
A leg that feels weak or gives slightly on stairs
Difficulty finding a comfortable position in bed
Low back pain that came first, then moved into the leg

How We Help

Our approach to sciatica

Pinpoint the irritation

Orthopedic and nerve testing to find where the sciatic nerve is being irritated, so care is aimed at the actual cause and not just the leg that hurts.

Take pressure off the nerve

Low-force Activator adjusting restores motion in the low back and pelvis, which is often what relieves the pressure or irritation on the nerve root.

Know what to avoid

Sciatica is made worse by certain positions and better by others. You will leave knowing what to do and what not to do between visits.

Gentle Activator adjustment at Cedar Crest Chiropractic

Your First Visit

What to expect

Expect a thorough exam. Dr. Petrilak will test reflexes, strength and sensation in the leg and check how the low back, pelvis and hips move. He will explain where the nerve is being irritated and whether chiropractic care is the right approach or whether you need imaging or another opinion.

Treatment is gentle, and that matters with an irritated nerve. Many patients feel the leg symptoms ease as motion returns to the low back. Severe or long-standing sciatica takes more time, and progress is tracked visit to visit rather than promised up front.

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Patient Review

In their words

★★★★★

"I came to Cedar Crest with extreme sciatica nerve pain. After consultation and diagnosing the issue we started adjustment treatments, and I am slowly feeling relief. I would recommend anyone else suffering to come here. The staff at the counter are also very friendly and polite."

Pat LarreaGoogle review

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Common Questions

Questions about sciatica

Straight answers to the questions we hear most. If yours is not here, call us and we will help.

Is sciatica the same as a herniated disc?

Not always. A herniated disc is one common cause of sciatica, but a stuck joint in the low back or pelvis, a tight buttock muscle or narrowing around the nerve can produce the same leg pain. The exam tells us which one you have.

Should I rest or keep moving with sciatica?

Gentle movement is usually better than bed rest. Short walks and avoiding long periods of sitting help most people. Heavy lifting, twisting and prolonged sitting tend to make it worse. We will give you specific guidance based on your exam.

When is sciatica an emergency?

If you have numbness in the groin or inner thighs, new trouble controlling your bladder or bowels, or rapidly worsening leg weakness, go to the emergency department. Those are rare but serious signs that need immediate medical care, not a chiropractic visit.

Can sciatica go away on its own?

Mild episodes sometimes settle in a few weeks. The problem is that the cause is usually still there, so it tends to come back. Restoring normal motion in the low back and pelvis addresses that cause rather than waiting out the symptom.

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Ready to feel better?

Let's get you out of pain

No forced long-term contracts. Just an accurate diagnosis and care built around you. Call today or request an appointment and we'll take it from there.

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