Sciatica Treatment in Sulphur Springs, TX

Sciatica is pain that travels from the low back or buttock down the leg, often past the knee. It can feel sharp, burning, or electric, and it may come with numbness or tingling. It can be scary, but many people get much better with time and the right care.

What causes sciatica?

Sciatica happens when a nerve root in the low back gets irritated. A common cause is a disc bulge or herniation that presses on or inflames the nerve. Narrowing around the nerve and tight muscles in the hip and buttock can also play a part.

Here is some encouraging news: research shows that disc herniations often shrink on their own over time, and many people with sciatica improve over weeks to months. Also, scans of people with no pain often show disc changes, so a finding on an MRI does not always explain your symptoms. Read more in Bulging Disc or "Degeneration" on Your MRI?.

What helps

Guidelines for low back pain and sciatica recommend:

  • Staying as active as you can. Short, frequent walks and gentle movement usually beat bed rest. See Move a Little, a Lot.

  • Exercise that is matched to what you can tolerate, then built up over time.

  • Manual therapy such as spinal manipulation or soft tissue work, as part of a plan that includes exercise.

How we can help

At your first visit we do a full exam, including a check of your strength, reflexes, and sensation, plus a movement screen. This tells us how irritated the nerve is and which movements ease it. From there, your plan may include:

We will keep an eye on your progress, and if you are not improving as expected we will help you find the right next step, which may include imaging or a referral.

Common questions

Do I need an MRI first? Usually not. Imaging is most useful when there are red flags, when symptoms keep getting worse, or when a shot or surgery is being considered.

Should I stretch my hamstrings? Sometimes stretching a nerve that is already irritated makes it angrier. We will show you movements that calm it instead.

When to get checked right away

Seek emergency care if leg pain comes with loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or weakness in the leg or foot that is getting worse. Also get checked promptly if you have fever, unexplained weight loss, or a history of cancer.

Book a visit

If leg pain is keeping you from work, sleep, or the things you enjoy, we would be glad to help you figure out what is going on.

Book Online or call 903-629-5126.

Pacheco Spine and Sport, 1067 Gilmer Street, Suite C, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482

This page is for general education and is not a substitute for a personal medical exam.

Sources

  1. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s: assessment and management (NG59). 2016, updated 2020. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng59

  2. Chiu CC, Chuang TY, Chang KH, et al. The probability of spontaneous regression of lumbar herniated disc: a systematic review. Clin Rehabil. 2015;29(2):184-195. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269215514540919

  3. Brinjikji W, Luetmer PH, Comstock B, et al. Systematic literature review of imaging features of spinal degeneration in asymptomatic populations. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2015;36(4):811-816. https://doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.A4173