If you have a sharp, electric pain that starts in your lower back or buttock and shoots down the back of your leg — sometimes all the way to your foot — you are probably dealing with sciatica. And if it is bad enough that you cannot find a comfortable position to sleep, you are not exaggerating. It is one of the most disruptive pain patterns there is.
The good news: in most cases, sciatica is treatable without surgery once you understand what is actually causing it.
Sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis
“Sciatica” simply describes pain along the path of the sciatic nerve — the largest nerve in your body, running from your lower spine down through each leg. The pain is real, but it is a signal. The actual problem is almost always something pressing on or irritating that nerve where it exits the spine.
The most common culprits:
- A herniated or bulging disc in the lower back pushing against the nerve root
- Spinal stenosis — narrowing of the spaces the nerve travels through
- Degenerative changes that reduce the room the nerve has to pass
This is why generic advice — stretch more, rest, take an anti-inflammatory — so often fails. It treats the sensation in your leg without addressing the pressure on the nerve in your back.
Why the pain travels down your leg
Nerves are like electrical wiring. When a nerve root gets compressed at the spine, you do not just feel it at the source — you feel it everywhere that nerve travels. That is why a disc problem in your lower back can produce burning in your calf or numbness in your foot. The location of your leg symptoms actually helps pinpoint which level of your spine is involved.
How we treat the cause, not just the symptom
The goal is to take pressure off the irritated nerve. Non-surgical spinal decompression does exactly that: it gently and precisely separates the affected vertebrae, creating space and negative pressure inside the disc. That reduces the bulge or herniation pressing on the nerve, and over a course of sessions, gives the disc room to recover.
Because it targets the specific level causing your sciatica, decompression addresses the source rather than chasing the pain down your leg. Dr. Dudum’s published research documents measurable structural improvement in disc herniations treated this way — not just temporary symptom relief. The first step is always an exam and imaging review to confirm what is driving your symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does sciatica take to go away?
It varies widely depending on the cause and severity. Some people improve within a few weeks; disc-related sciatica often takes a course of treatment. The key is addressing the underlying compression rather than waiting and hoping it resolves on its own.
Can sciatica be treated without surgery?
In the majority of cases, yes. Non-surgical spinal decompression, paired with a proper diagnosis, addresses the disc or narrowing causing the nerve irritation. Surgery is typically reserved for severe or unresponsive cases.
Is it bad to keep walking or working with sciatica?
Gentle movement is usually better than complete bed rest, but pushing through severe or worsening pain — especially with new numbness or weakness — is a sign to get evaluated rather than tough it out.
When should I see someone about my sciatica?
If the pain is interfering with sleep, work, or daily life, or if you have numbness, tingling, or weakness in the leg or foot, it is time for an exam. New loss of bladder or bowel control is a medical emergency — go to the ER.
Get to the root of your sciatica
Contact Dudum Chiropractic in Walnut Creek for a consultation and imaging review.
You do not have to live around the pain. We will identify what is actually compressing your nerve — and whether non-surgical decompression is right for you.
Serving Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Concord, Pleasant Hill, Danville, Orinda, and the entire East Bay.
Dr. JD Dudum, D.C., is the founder of Dudum Chiropractic in Walnut Creek, CA, and a published researcher on non-surgical spinal decompression in the Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic. This article is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for an individual evaluation.