Sciatica Treatment in Jacksonville, FL
That shooting pain down your leg is not something you have to live with. Here is what sciatica actually is, why it happens, and how we treat it at Full Swing Healthcare.
What Is Sciatica
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the human body. It originates in the lower lumbar spine at L4, L5, and S1, travels through the glute, runs behind the hip joint, and branches down through the back of the thigh and into the lower leg and foot. When something compresses or irritates that nerve anywhere along its path, the pain follows the nerve track. That is sciatica.
People describe it as an electric shock, a burning sensation, or a deep aching pain that radiates from the lower back through the buttock and down the leg. Some people get it only in certain positions like sitting for a long time or bending forward. Others get it constantly. Either way, it tends to get people's attention fast.
The two most common causes we see at Full Swing Healthcare are lumbar disc herniation pressing on the nerve root and piriformis syndrome, where the piriformis muscle in the glute compresses the sciatic nerve as it passes underneath or through it. Less commonly, spinal stenosis or facet joint hypertrophy can create the same compression. Identifying which one you have changes how we treat it.
How We Treat Sciatica at Full Swing Healthcare
The goal is to take pressure off the sciatic nerve. How we do that depends on where the compression is coming from.
Lumbar Decompression Through Chiropractic
If the sciatic pain is coming from a disc herniation or compressed lumbar vertebra, chiropractic adjustments to the lower lumbar and sacroiliac regions create space between the vertebral segments, reduce nerve root irritation, and allow the disc material to retract away from the nerve. Dr. Muren uses specific lumbar techniques including Thompson drop table work that are particularly effective for disc-driven sciatica.
Soft Tissue Work for Piriformis Syndrome
When the piriformis muscle is the culprit, cupping therapy and IASTM scraping on the glute and piriformis region decompresses the nerve from below. Deep tissue massage targeting the external rotators of the hip is often the fastest way to get relief from this type of sciatica. We use a combination based on what the assessment shows.
Acupuncture for Nerve Pain
Acupuncture has solid clinical evidence for managing sciatic nerve pain. Dr. Muren uses orthopedic acupuncture to target specific nerve pathways and reduce the inflammatory response around the irritated sciatic nerve. It works particularly well alongside chiropractic as a combined approach.
StemWave for Stubborn Cases
For chronic sciatica that has not responded to adjustments and soft tissue work alone, StemWave shockwave therapy can break the inflammatory cycle in the surrounding tissue and accelerate healing. We use it selectively when the case warrants it.
Getting Sciatica Treated in Jacksonville
Full Swing Healthcare is at 13770 Beach Blvd, Suite 4, Jacksonville, FL 32224. We see sciatica patients regularly from the Southside, Sandalwood, Isle of Palms, and Ponte Vedra areas. Same-day appointments are available most days.
We accept most major insurance plans including Florida Blue, United Healthcare, Humana, Cigna, Florida Medicaid, and VA benefits. Call (904) 539-3352 or book your appointment online.
Ready to Start Feeling Better?
Same-day appointments available most days. Call or book online.