Sciatica Treatment in Tampa, FL

What is sciatica?

Sciatica isn't a diagnosis on its own, it's a pattern of pain caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body. It runs from the low back, through the buttock, and down the back of each leg. When a nerve root in the lower spine is pinched or inflamed, most often by a herniated or bulging disc, the pain travels along that path instead of staying in the back. That's the detail that separates sciatica from ordinary low back pain: it radiates.

Common symptoms

Sciatica can feel different from person to person, but a few patterns show up consistently:

• Pain that runs from the low back or buttock down one leg, often past the knee
• A burning, electric, or shooting quality rather than a dull ache
• Tingling or numbness in the leg or foot
• Pain that worsens with sitting, standing too long, coughing, or sneezing
• In more involved cases, noticeable weakness in the leg or foot

Common causes

Sciatica is usually a symptom of something else going on in the lower spine. The most frequent drivers we see:

• Herniated or bulging disc, disc material pressing on a nearby nerve root
• Spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the space around the spinal nerves, often age-related
• Degenerative disc disease, wear-related changes that reduce disc height and nerve room
• Muscle spasm or joint dysfunction that irritates the nerve pathway without a disc injury

Our approach

Every plan starts with an exam, not a template. If the exam and your history point to nerve involvement, we take in-house X-rays the same visit when they're indicated, and we evaluate whether non-surgical spinal decompression on the DRX9000 is a reasonable fit. Decompression is aimed at gently reducing pressure on the affected nerve root; it isn't right for everyone, and we'll tell you honestly whether you're a candidate after your exam. When findings suggest we need to see the disc and nerve directly, or if conservative care hasn't moved things after several weeks, we'll refer you for an MRI. Some patients also benefit from chiropractic adjustment, positioning strategies, and a graded exercise plan built around what reduces (rather than provokes) nerve irritation. Results vary by person and by cause.

What to expect at your first visit

Your first visit starts with a conversation about your symptoms, how they started, and what makes them better or worse, followed by a physical exam that checks nerve function, movement, and specific orthopedic signs pointing toward sciatica. If indicated, we take digital X-rays in-house, read the same day, so there's no separate radiology trip. From there we explain what we found in plain language and lay out a specific plan, including whether decompression, adjustment, or a referral for imaging makes sense for you.

Why early, local care matters

Sciatica that's ignored tends to become sciatica that's harder to calm down. Nerve irritation that's addressed early, before compensation patterns and muscle guarding set in, often responds better to conservative care. Being able to get in quickly, same day in many cases, and get imaging done in-house without a separate appointment, removes some of the delay that lets symptoms settle in. If you're in Tampa, New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Carrollwood, or Lutz, our office is close enough that a same-day evaluation is usually realistic.

Frequently asked questions