That line of pain from your low back into the leg has a cause — and it usually does not need surgery.
Sciatica is not a diagnosis on its own. It is a symptom: pain, burning, tingling or numbness that travels from the low back or buttock down the back of the leg, following the path of the sciatic nerve. Something is irritating that nerve, and the useful question is what.
What actually causes it
- A herniated or bulging disc pressing on the nerve root — the most common cause
- Spinal stenosis, where the space around the nerve narrows
- Piriformis syndrome, where a tight deep hip muscle compresses the nerve
- Degenerative disc changes that shift how load moves through the low back
- Sustained sitting — a long commute followed by a long desk day is a common trigger in Midtown
Those causes call for different treatment, which is why guessing is expensive. We examine and, where it will change the plan, image on site with digital X-ray and neuro-diagnostic testing.
How we treat it
We focus on non-surgical care, combining several approaches rather than relying on one:
- Chiropractic and manual therapy to restore movement in the segments that have stopped moving
- Physical medicine and rehabilitation so the surrounding muscle actually supports the area
- Acupuncture for the pain and the muscle guarding around it
- Massage therapy for the secondary tightening that follows weeks of protecting the leg
- SoftWave therapy where soft tissue is slow to settle
When to be seen sooner
Most sciatica improves with the right care. Some does not wait. If you have progressive weakness in the leg or foot, numbness around the groin or inner thighs, or any change in bladder or bowel control, that is not a wait-and-see situation — seek medical care immediately.
Where to find us
Two Midtown offices, both a short walk from the subway.
- Grand Central — 265 Madison Ave, 2nd Floor (entrance on 39th St between Madison and Park), New York, NY 10016
212.661.8630 · Directions - Herald Square — 38 W 32nd St, Suite 501 (between Broadway and Fifth Avenue), New York, NY 10001
212.868.0509 · Text us · Directions
