Sciatica Treatment in Garner, NC
Sciatica is pain that travels from your low back or buttock down one leg, sometimes with numbness, tingling or weakness. It is a symptom, not a diagnosis: something is irritating the sciatic nerve or one of the nerve roots that form it. I'm Dr. Adam Seay, D.C. I examine you first, find where the nerve is being irritated, and build a plan around what I find. Call 919-662-0520 or tap Schedule Appointment above.
Emergencies first
Go to the emergency room before you call any office if you have new trouble controlling your bladder or bowels, trouble starting to urinate, numbness in your groin, buttocks or inner thighs, or leg weakness that is getting worse, such as a foot that slaps or drags when you walk. These can be signs of severe nerve compression that needs care right away. Back pain with a fever, unexplained weight loss, a history of cancer, or a recent hard fall also needs prompt medical attention.
Your first visit for sciatica
Your first visit includes:
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The story of your pain: when it started, where it travels, and what makes it better or worse
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A nerve exam of strength, reflexes and sensation in both legs
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A straight leg raise and other tests that show whether a nerve root is involved
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A check of your hips and pelvis, because hip and pelvic problems can send pain down the leg too
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A written plan tied to what I find, with a re-exam date so progress is measured, not guessed
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A referral for an MRI or to another specialist if your exam calls for it
Wear clothes you can move in, and bring a list of your medications and any imaging reports you already have.
What is causing your leg pain?
The most common cause found is a disc in the low back pressing on a nerve root. Narrowing of the spinal canal (stenosis), a vertebra that has slipped forward (spondylolisthesis), and a tight piriformis muscle deep in the buttock can irritate the nerve as well.
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Pain from the hip, the sacroiliac joint, or the tendons on the side of the hip can feel a lot like sciatica. That is why the exam matters more than the label, and why I check those areas before deciding what to treat.
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You probably don't need an MRI to start. Many people have disc bulges on an MRI with no pain at all, so a scan alone doesn't explain your leg pain. I refer for imaging when your exam shows weakness that is getting worse, when any of the emergency signs above are present, or when you are not improving as expected and a specialist needs to see it.
Why See Seay Wellness for Sciatica
Exam before treatment
You see Dr. Seay at every visit, from the first exam to discharge. Nothing is treated until the exam shows what is irritating the nerve.
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Care matched to the cause
Depending on your exam, your plan may include chiropractic adjustments or gentler mobilization, spinal decompression when a disc is involved, Active Release Technique, dry needling, laser, and exercises you do at home, such as nerve glides and movements that ease leg pain.
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Measured progress
Strength, reflexes, the straight leg raise and your pain are recorded at the first visit and again at re-exam, so you can see the change in numbers.
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Straight answers
If your exam points to something that needs a surgeon, a pain specialist or your medical doctor, I'll tell you and refer you.
Questions About Sciatica
Q: Do I need a referral?
A: No. You can book directly by calling 919-662-0520 or through Schedule Appointment at the top of this page.
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Q: Can a chiropractor help sciatica?
A: Many people with sciatica do well with conservative care that combines hands-on treatment with exercise and advice to stay active. The research on spinal manipulation is strongest for low back pain and thinner for sciatica with clear nerve involvement, so I measure where you start and change course if the numbers don't move.
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Q: How long does sciatica take to get better?
A: It varies. Many cases improve a great deal over several weeks without surgery. In studies comparing early surgery with conservative care, surgery relieved leg pain faster, but results at one year were similar. That is why a structured conservative plan is a reasonable first step for most people without emergency signs.
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Q: Should I rest or keep moving?
A: Long bed rest isn't needed. Staying active within comfort is the usual advice, but some stretches and positions can aggravate an irritated nerve. I'll show you which movements calm your leg pain and which to skip for now.