Sciatica (Nerve Pain) Treatment
Sciatica (Nerve Pain) Treatment Starts Here
Sciatica is a common type of nerve pain that typically starts in the low back or buttock and can radiate down the leg. It may feel sharp, burning, or electric—and can include numbness or tingling. At Mountain View Pain Center, we help identify what’s irritating the nerve and build a plan to reduce symptoms, restore movement, and support long-term relief. Sciatica-like pain can also come from piriformis syndrome, a tight muscle deep in the buttock that irritates the sciatic nerve.
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Common Symptoms of Sciatica (Nerve Pain)
Radiating pain from the low back or buttock into the thigh, calf, or foot
Burning, electric, or shooting pain down the leg
Numbness, tingling, or “pins and needles”
Symptoms that worsen with sitting, driving, bending, or lifting
Pain that improves with certain positions or short walks
Leg weakness or heaviness
Foot or ankle weakness
Symptoms that flare with coughing, sneezing, or straining
Common Causes and Risk Factors
Disc irritation or herniation affecting a lumbar nerve root
Spinal stenosis (narrowing that can irritate nerves)
Piriformis-related nerve irritation
Joint irritation in the low back, hips, or SI joint contributing to nerve sensitivity
Prolonged sitting and poor posture
Reduced core/hip strength and stability
Sudden increase in lifting, twisting, or activity load
Previous injury or recurring back flare-ups
When to Seek Urgent Care
Seek urgent evaluation if you have new or worsening leg weakness, foot drop, loss of bowel or bladder control, saddle numbness, severe unrelenting pain after trauma, fever/chills, or rapidly worsening numbness/tingling.
How We Evaluate Sciatica (Nerve Pain)
We start by identifying your symptom pattern, what triggers it, and where the nerve may be irritated. Your visit may include movement testing, assessment of the low back, hips, and surrounding muscles, and a basic neurologic screen (strength, sensation, reflexes) when symptoms include numbness, tingling, or weakness. We also check for red flags to determine whether imaging or referral is appropriate.
How We Treat Sciatica (Nerve Pain)
At Mountain View Pain Center, our multidisciplinary team combines evidence-based care to calm nerve irritation and improve function:
Pain Management
Targeted diagnostic injections and image-guided procedures when appropriate to reduce inflammation and calm irritated nerves.
Physical Therapy
Movement-based care to improve mobility, reduce nerve irritation, and rebuild core/hip stability to prevent recurrence.
Chiropractic Care
Hands-on care to support joint mobility and reduce muscle tension, tailored to your symptoms and comfort.
Acupuncture
A natural option to support pain relief and relaxation, often combined with your broader plan
Treatments We Commonly Recommend
Graded mobility and strengthening plan
Core and hip stability to reduce stress on the spine
Nerve mobility work when appropriate
Manual therapy to reduce stiffness and muscle tension
Ergonomic coaching (sitting, lifting, sleep setup)
Image-guided injections (when appropriate)
Home program to reduce flare-ups and build consistency
Home Care & Quick Relief
Stay gently active (short walks, light movement) and avoid prolonged rest
Ice for 10–15 minutes at a time, especially during flare-ups
Avoid heavy lifting/twisting until symptoms calm
Take movement breaks if sitting worsens symptoms
Supportive sleep positioning (pillow under knees for back sleepers; pillow between knees for side sleepers)
Where We Treat Sciatica and Nerve Pain
Mountain View Pain Center runs 22 clinics, and every one of them has pain management, physical therapy, chiropractic care and acupuncture in the same building — so if sciatica and nerve pain needs more than one kind of care, you do not get handed off to another practice.
Colorado:Denver, Aurora, Colorado Springs, Lakewood, Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Northglenn, Lafayette, Greeley, Fort Collins.
Arizona:Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Glendale, Peoria.
No referral is needed in either state. Find your nearest clinic on the full clinic map, or call Colorado (720) 749-5599 or Arizona (602) 325-2024.
When Sciatica Needs Urgent Care
Most sciatica is not an emergency and improves with time and the right treatment. A small number of presentations are different, and they need to be seen the same day rather than booked for next week: loss of bowel or bladder control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs (saddle anaesthesia), or weakness in both legs. That combination can indicate cauda equina syndrome, and it is a surgical emergency. Progressive, worsening weakness in one leg — a foot that is starting to drag — also warrants prompt evaluation rather than watchful waiting.
The Causes We Separate Before Treating
Sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and the cause changes the treatment entirely. A herniated or bulging lumbar disc pressing on a nerve root is the most common. Spinal stenosis — narrowing of the nerve passages, and more common after 50 — produces a similar leg pain with a different pattern, typically eased by leaning forward. Degenerative disc changes, spondylolisthesis (one vertebra slipped forward on another) and piriformis syndrome, where a deep buttock muscle irritates the nerve directly, round out the list.
Sitting, coughing and sneezing that make the pain worse point one way; pain that eases when you lean on a shopping trolley points another. That is the kind of detail the examination is looking for, and it is why an accurate diagnosis has to come before an injection.
Sciatica (Nerve Pain) FAQs
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Not always. A herniated disc is one common cause of sciatica, but stenosis, muscle-related irritation, and other issues can also trigger nerve pain.
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Nerve pain often feels burning, electric, or radiating and may include numbness or tingling. We evaluate your symptom pattern and function to clarify the cause.
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Most people do better with gentle movement rather than prolonged rest. We’ll guide your progression based on symptoms.
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Not always. If symptoms or exam findings suggest imaging would help guide care, we’ll recommend the appropriate next step.
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Many patients benefit from coordinated care—often combining PT, chiropractic care, acupuncture, and, when appropriate, pain management procedures.
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Timelines vary based on the cause and severity. Our goal is to reduce pain and restore function while helping prevent repeat flare-ups.