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 hip and leg, that is sciatica. We treat the cause, not just the pain.
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- 18 years treating sciatica
- Most insurance accepted
- Same-week appointments
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What sciatica actually is
Sciatica is not a disease. It is a name for the pain you feel when something is pressing on a nerve in your low back. That nerve is called the sciatic nerve. It is the biggest nerve in your body. It starts in your low back, runs through your hip, and goes all the way down your leg.
When something pinches that nerve, you feel pain, burning, tingling, or numbness in your leg, not in your back. The leg pain is the nerve telling you something is wrong higher up.
Here are the most common things we find:
- A disc problem. The little cushions between the bones in your back can bulge out and press on the nerve.
- A tight muscle in your hip (called the piriformis). It sits right next to the nerve. When it gets too tight, it squeezes the nerve as the nerve goes by.
- A narrow spine canal (called spinal stenosis). The space where your nerves live gets tighter than it should be.
- A stuck joint where your spine meets your hip (the SI joint). When that joint is not moving right, it can pull on the nerve.
- Pregnancy. The body changes a lot during pregnancy, and those changes can put pressure on the nerve.
What we do about it depends on which one is causing your pain. That is what the first visit is for.
How we treat sciatica
There is no single “sciatica treatment.” We pick what fits your problem. Here is what we use most:
Adjustments. When a disc or a bone in your back is pressing on the nerve, a gentle adjustment can take the pressure off. The nerve calms down once it is not being squeezed. This is the main thing we do for most sciatica.
Dry needling. If a tight hip muscle is the problem, dry needling that muscle is often the fastest fix. A thin needle goes into the tight spot. The muscle relaxes. The nerve stops getting squeezed.
Acupuncture. When the pain has been around a long time and the area is swollen and angry, acupuncture helps calm that down.
Movement help. If sitting at a desk all day makes it worse, you need to change how you sit and move, not just see us in the office. We show you what to do at home and at work.
Most people get better with a mix of these. The first visit tells us which mix.
What to expect at your first visit
- We talk. When did the pain start? What makes it worse? What makes it better? Any numbness, weakness, or trouble using the bathroom? (Those last ones are warning signs we want to check for right away.)
- We test. Simple hands-on tests that tell us exactly what is pressing on the nerve. This is how we know what to do.
- We make a plan. Clear, in plain English. What is causing your sciatica, what we will do about it, how many visits it should take, and what to expect.
- We start. Most people get treated at the first visit. Many feel a little better right away. The bigger relief usually comes over the next few visits.
How long until I feel better?
If your sciatica just started, most people feel a lot better in 4 to 8 visits over 3 to 4 weeks.
If you have had it for months or years, it usually takes longer. Plan on 8 to 16 visits over 2 to 3 months.
If a disc is actually torn and pressing on the nerve, the disc itself needs time to heal even after we take the pressure off. That is normal. We watch for steady progress and change the plan if we need to.
When sciatica is an emergency
Most sciatica is annoying but not dangerous. A few signs mean you should go straight to the ER, not wait to see us:
- You cannot control your bowel or bladder
- You feel numb in the area you sit on (the groin or inner thighs)
- Your leg or foot is getting weaker fast
- The pain started right after a fall or a hard hit
If any of those sound like you, go to the ER. If you are not sure, call us at (402) 330-8600 and we will help you figure out the next step.
Why patients pick Becker for sciatica
We find the cause, not just cover the pain. Pills and rest can quiet the pain for a while, but they do not fix what is pressing on the nerve. We find the cause and take pressure off the nerve. Once the nerve is not being squeezed, the pain has nothing to keep it going.
A few tools, one office. We do chiropractic, dry needling, and acupuncture under the same roof. Most people get better fastest with a mix, and you do not have to drive to three different places to get it.
Honest answers. If we do not think we are the right help for you, or if you need a different kind of care, we will tell you and point you in the right direction.
Frequently asked questions
Will chiropractic care actually help my sciatica?
For most kinds of sciatica, yes. Several studies show that chiropractic adjustments work as well as regular medical care for sciatica from disc problems, and often work better with fewer side effects. The cases that need surgery are the warning sign cases listed above.
How is dry needling different from acupuncture for sciatica?
Dry needling goes right into a tight muscle, most often the one in your hip that can squeeze the sciatic nerve. Acupuncture works on the whole body to calm swelling and help you heal. We have a full breakdown of the differences.
Do I need an MRI before I can be treated?
Usually no. The simple tests we do at the first visit tell us enough to start. If your case is not getting better the way we would expect, or if you have any warning signs, we will send you for an MRI.
Will my sciatica come back?
Sciatica that has been treated the right way often stays gone. But if the habits that caused it (long hours sitting, bad lifting, a weak core) do not change, it can come back. We show you what to change so this is not a yearly thing.
I’m pregnant and have sciatica. Can you help?
Yes. Sciatica during pregnancy is common and very treatable with chiropractic care. We use gentle methods made for pregnant patients and have tables that fit any stage of pregnancy. A lot of our patients see us through the whole pregnancy.
How long is each appointment?
Your first visit is about 45 minutes. That covers your story, the exam, the plan, and the first treatment. Follow-up visits are usually 20 to 30 minutes.
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Get your sciatica looked at this week
Most sciatica gets better with the right care. Most of our sciatica patients wish they had come in sooner. The first visit tells you what is happening and what to do about it.
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