Sciatica · Scottsdale
Sciatica care in Scottsdale
Pain that travels down the back of the leg, sometimes with tingling, numbness or a heavy feeling. I start by working out where the nerve is irritated, then treat its surroundings.
90-min Spine Assessment · strength, reflex and sensation checks · 1:1 with Dr. Phil
Where it comes from
One nerve, a few places it can get pinched
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body, about as thick as your thumb. It forms from roots leaving the lower spine, passes deep in the buttock near the piriformis muscle, and runs down the back of the thigh.
It can get irritated at the spine (a bulging disc or a narrowed opening), in the buttock (a tight piriformis or deep hip muscles), or both. The pattern of your symptoms, and what makes them worse, tells us a lot.
How I treat it
Find the source, then calm it down
- Careful assessmentStrength, reflexes and sensation in both legs, how you bend and sit, and where the pain travels. Anything that needs imaging or a physician first gets referred.
- ElectroacupunctureNeedles along the lower back and hip muscles that are guarding, with a gentle pulse to calm the area around the nerve. How it works.
- Hands-on workTargeted bodywork on the deep hip and low back muscles that crowd the nerve's path.
- Home planPositions that ease it, nerve-friendly movement, and what to avoid for now.
Common patterns
Sciatica can feel like
- Burning or aching down the back of one leg
- Tingling or pins and needles into the calf or foot
- Pain that is worse when sitting or driving
- A deep ache in the buttock
- A leg that feels heavy or tired
- Back pain that comes and goes with the leg pain
When sciatica is urgent: weakness in both legs, new bladder or bowel control problems, or numbness in the groin or inner thighs need emergency care. Call 911.
Questions
Sciatica FAQ
Can acupuncture help sciatica?
Acupuncture and electroacupuncture have been studied for sciatica and nerve-related back pain, with encouraging results for pain and function. It works best as part of a plan that includes movement. I'll tell you after your assessment if it's a good fit.
Is it piriformis syndrome or a disc?
Sometimes both. The assessment helps tell them apart, and the treatment targets whichever is driving your symptoms.
Will needles near the nerve hurt?
Needles go into the muscles around the nerve, not into it. Most people feel a dull ache or light pulse.
How long does it take?
Recent sciatica often settles faster; months-long cases usually need a short series. Many people do well in the Spine Care Program.
Keep reading
Related care and articles
Get to the source of your leg pain
Book a Spine Assessment, or request a free discovery call first.
