Sciatica
Sciatica Treatment in Burnsville, MN
Sciatica is one of the most recognizable — and most debilitating — pain patterns we treat at Peak Performance Chiropractic Center. That sharp, burning, or shooting pain that starts in your lower back or buttock and travels down the leg can make sitting, standing, and even sleeping nearly impossible. The good news: sciatica responds very well to conservative chiropractic and soft tissue care.
What Causes Sciatica?
Sciatica is not a diagnosis itself — it’s a symptom of nerve irritation or compression somewhere along the path of the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body. Common underlying causes include:
Herniated or Bulging Disc: When a disc in the lumbar spine (L4-L5 or L5-S1 most commonly) bulges or ruptures, the displaced material can press directly on the sciatic nerve root, producing the classic radiating pain pattern down the leg.
Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal or the openings through which nerve roots exit the spine can compress the sciatic nerve, particularly in older adults. Symptoms often worsen with standing or walking and improve with sitting or bending forward.
Piriformis Syndrome: The piriformis muscle in the buttock lies directly on top of the sciatic nerve. When this muscle becomes tight, hypertonic, or inflamed — often from prolonged sitting or overuse — it can compress the nerve and mimic disc-related sciatica.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction: Misalignment or inflammation in the SI joint can irritate the nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve, producing buttock and leg pain that is often mistaken for disc herniation.
Spondylolisthesis: A vertebra that has slipped forward on the one below it can narrow the canal and put pressure on exiting nerve roots, causing sciatica-like symptoms.
Common Symptoms
Patients with sciatica typically describe: sharp, burning, or electric shock-like pain radiating from the low back or buttock into the thigh, calf, or foot; numbness or tingling along the back of the leg; weakness in the leg or foot; pain that worsens with prolonged sitting, coughing, or sneezing; and relief when walking or changing positions.
Our Approach at Peak Performance
We begin with a thorough history and neurological examination — including nerve tension tests, reflex testing, and orthopedic assessment — to identify the exact source of the nerve irritation and rule out any conditions requiring urgent medical attention. Your care plan may include:
Chiropractic Adjustments: Restoring proper alignment in the lumbar spine and pelvis reduces mechanical pressure on irritated nerve roots and improves overall spinal function.
Flexion-Distraction Technique: This gentle, hands-on traction technique is highly effective for disc-related sciatica. It decompresses the affected disc, increases the disc space, and reduces nerve root pressure without any forceful manipulation.
Dry Needling: Releasing tight trigger points in the piriformis, gluteal muscles, and lumbar paraspinals reduces muscle compression on the sciatic nerve and significantly decreases pain referral patterns.
Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM): Addressing scar tissue and fascial restrictions in the lumbar region and hip musculature improves tissue mobility and reduces nerve tension.
StemWave Therapy: For chronic sciatica with significant soft tissue involvement, our acoustic wave therapy accelerates tissue healing and reduces inflammation along the nerve pathway.
Therapeutic Exercise and Rehabilitation: We prescribe a targeted home exercise program to reduce nerve tension, restore lumbar stability, and prevent recurrence.
Most sciatica patients experience significant improvement within a few weeks of consistent care. Call us at (952) 807-9914 or schedule online — we serve patients from Burnsville, Savage, Eagan, Apple Valley, and the surrounding Twin Cities area.