Sciatica Relief in West Omaha
Sciatica Relief in West Omaha
If you have shooting, burning, or electric pain that travels from your low back down through your buttock and leg, that’s sciatica. We treat the root cause, not just the symptom.
- ★★★★★ 5.0 Google (341+)
- Best of Omaha
- 18 years treating sciatica
- Most insurance accepted
- Same-week appointments
What sciatica actually is
Sciatica isn’t a diagnosis. It’s a symptom of something pressing on the sciatic nerve, which runs from your low back, through your buttock, and down each leg. The pain you feel down your leg is the nerve telling you something is wrong further up the chain.
The most common causes we see in our office:
- Herniated or bulging disc pressing on a nerve root in the low back
- Piriformis syndrome, where a tight muscle deep in the buttock compresses the nerve as it passes through
- Spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that crowds the nerves
- SI joint dysfunction, where the joint between the spine and pelvis isn’t moving correctly
- Pregnancy-related sciatica, caused by ligament changes and posture shifts
The treatment depends on which one is causing your pain. That’s what the first visit is for.
How we treat sciatica
There’s no single “sciatica treatment.” There’s a specific cause and a specific approach for that cause. Here’s what we use most often:
Spinal adjustments. When a disc or vertebra is putting pressure on a nerve root, gentle, targeted adjustments take the pressure off and let the nerve calm down. This is the foundation of most sciatica care here.
Dry needling for piriformis syndrome. If your sciatica is coming from a tight piriformis muscle, dry needling that muscle directly is often the fastest fix. The needle releases the trigger point, the muscle relaxes, and the nerve stops being compressed.
Acupuncture for chronic and inflammatory cases. When pain has been around long enough that inflammation is part of the picture, acupuncture helps reduce that systemic component.
Movement coaching. Sciatica that flares up from sitting at a desk all day responds to changing how you sit and move, not just to in-office treatment. We’ll show you what to do between visits.
Most patients respond to a combination. The first exam tells us which combination.
What to expect at your first visit
- History. When did the pain start? What makes it worse? What makes it better? Any numbness or weakness? Any bowel or bladder changes? (Those last two are red flags we want to rule out immediately.)
- Exam. Specific orthopedic and neurological tests to identify exactly which structure is compressing the nerve. This is how we know what to treat.
- Treatment plan. A clear explanation of what’s causing your sciatica, what we’re going to do about it, how many visits we’re planning, and what you can expect.
- First treatment. Most patients get adjusted and/or needled at the first visit. Many feel some immediate relief, though the durable improvement comes over the first few visits.
How long until I feel better?
Most acute sciatica (a recent flare-up) responds within 4 to 8 visits over 3 to 4 weeks. Chronic sciatica that has been around for months or years takes longer, usually 8 to 16 visits over 2 to 3 months.
If you’ve got a disc that’s actually herniated and pressing on a nerve, the disc itself takes time to heal even after we take the pressure off. That’s normal. We watch for steady improvement and adjust the plan as needed.
When sciatica is an emergency
Most sciatica is annoying but not dangerous. A few situations need immediate medical attention, not a chiropractic visit:
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Numbness in the saddle area (groin, inner thighs)
- Rapidly progressing weakness in the leg or foot
- Sciatica after a significant injury or fall
If any of those describe what you’re experiencing, go to the ER. If you’re not sure, call us at (402) 330-8600 and we’ll help you figure out the next step.
Why patients pick Becker for sciatica
We address the root cause. Pain meds and rest manage the symptom. We find what’s pressing on the nerve and take pressure off. Once the nerve isn’t compressed, the pain doesn’t have anything to feed on.
Multiple tools, one office. We do chiropractic adjustments, dry needling, and acupuncture under one roof. Most sciatica patients respond best to a combination, and you don’t have to drive to three different practitioners to get it.
Honest about what works. If we don’t think we can help, or if you’d be better served by a different kind of care (MRI, neurosurgery consult, pain management), we’ll tell you that and refer you out.
Most major insurance plans cover chiropractic care for sciatica. HSA and FSA cards welcome. We verify benefits before your first visit so you know what’s covered before you owe anything. See accepted plans →
Frequently asked questions
Will chiropractic care actually help my sciatica?
For most cases of sciatica, yes. Multiple studies show chiropractic adjustments are at least as effective as standard medical care for sciatica caused by disc issues, and often more effective with fewer side effects. The exception is the small percentage of cases that need surgery — those are the red flag cases listed above.
How is dry needling different from acupuncture for sciatica?
Dry needling targets muscle trigger points — most commonly the piriformis, which can compress the sciatic nerve as it passes through the buttock. Acupuncture takes a broader systemic approach, reducing inflammation and supporting recovery. We have a full breakdown of the differences.
Do I need an MRI before I can be treated?
Usually no. The orthopedic and neurological exam we do at the first visit tells us what we need to know to start treatment. If your case isn’t responding the way we’d expect, or if you have red flag symptoms, we’ll refer for imaging.
Will my sciatica come back?
Sciatica that’s been treated correctly often stays gone. But if the underlying habits that caused it (long hours sitting, poor lifting form, weak core) don’t change, recurrence is common. We coach you through what to change so this isn’t a yearly event.
I’m pregnant and have sciatica. Can you help?
Yes. Pregnancy-related sciatica is common and very treatable with chiropractic care. We use gentle, pregnancy-appropriate techniques and have treatment tables that accommodate any stage of pregnancy. Many of our patients see us throughout their pregnancy.
How long is each appointment?
Your first visit takes about 45 minutes (history, exam, treatment plan, first treatment). Follow-up visits are usually 20 to 30 minutes depending on what we’re doing.
Related reading
Get your sciatica looked at this week
Most sciatica resolves with the right care. Most of our sciatica patients wish they’d come in sooner. The first visit tells you what’s actually happening and what to do about it.