It might start as an ache in your lower back or buttock. Then it travels: down the back of your thigh, maybe into your calf or foot. Some days it's a dull throb; other days it's sharp, burning, or pins-and-needles. Sitting gets hard. Standing up gets harder. And because it can flare without warning, it's easy to start planning your whole day around it.

If that sounds familiar, you're in the right place. Here's what may be going on, and how we can help you find out.

What's going on?

"Sciatica" isn't a diagnosis on its own. It describes a pattern: irritation of the sciatic nerve or the nerve roots that form it, which run from your lower back through your hip and down your leg.

Several things can be behind it, such as:

  • A disc that's bulging or herniated and pressing on a nerve root
  • Stiff or irritated joints in the lower back or pelvis
  • Tight muscles in the hip and buttock (like the piriformis) crowding the nerve
  • Narrowing around the nerve pathways, more common as we get older

Because the causes differ, the right approach differs too. Finding the source is the first and most important step.

How we help at Gilmore Chiropractic

After a careful history and a physical and neurological exam, your plan may include:

  • Chiropractic adjustments to improve motion in the lower back and pelvis
  • Vertebral decompression (gentle traction) when a disc may be involved
  • Acupuncture with Dr. Funk
  • Massage therapy to help ease muscle tension and support recovery
  • Shockwave therapy when soft-tissue irritation may be involved
  • Functional neurology with Dr. Matthews to look at how your nervous system is handling pain and movement
  • Stretching, soft tissue work, and home exercises to help calm things down between visits

We'll also talk about what to avoid while things settle, and how to sit, sleep, and move more comfortably.

What to expect at your first visit

  1. Your story first. When it started, where it travels, and what sets it off.
  2. A neurological and physical exam. We check reflexes, strength, sensation, and movement to understand which nerve may be involved.
  3. Imaging only if needed. If x-rays or an MRI would help, we'll explain why and help coordinate it.
  4. A plan in plain language, including what we hope to see and when we'd re-check.

You don't have to plan your day around your leg

Let's figure out what's driving your sciatica and talk about your options.

Call us at 772-466-9575 or book online at gilmore-chiro.com (Schedule An Appointment). We're at 800 Virginia Ave, Suite 45, Fort Pierce.
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday: 9–1 and 3–6 · Thursday: by appointment · Saturday & Sunday: closed

BOOK NOW

Seek emergency care right away if leg pain comes with loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or rapidly worsening leg weakness.

This page is for general education and isn't a substitute for a personal exam or medical advice. Individual results vary.

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