Dr. David Kulla, DC provides individualized care for sciatica and sciatic nerve pain at Synergy Wellness Chiropractic & Physical Therapy in New York City. With more than 26 years of clinical experience, Dr. Kulla evaluates the underlying cause of lower back and leg symptoms and develops a conservative treatment plan when chiropractic care is appropriate.
Sciatica commonly causes pain, burning, tingling, numbness, or weakness that travels from the lower back or buttock into one leg. Symptoms can range from mild and intermittent to severe enough to interfere with sitting, standing, walking, exercise, and sleep.
Our Manhattan office at 237 First Avenue near East 14th Street offers chiropractic care, rehabilitation, Cox Flexion-Distraction, spinal decompression, physical therapy, and other conservative treatment approaches when clinically appropriate.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica describes symptoms caused by irritation or compression of nerve roots that contribute to the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is formed from nerve roots in the lower spine and travels through the buttock and down the leg.
Sciatica is not a diagnosis by itself. It is a group of symptoms that can develop from several underlying spinal conditions, which is why identifying the cause of the nerve irritation is an important part of treatment planning.
What Causes Sciatica?
One of the most common causes of sciatica is a bulging or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. When disc material irritates or places pressure on a nearby nerve root, symptoms may travel into the buttock, thigh, calf, or foot.
Other possible causes include spinal stenosis, degenerative changes in the spine, arthritic changes, foraminal narrowing, spondylolisthesis, joint dysfunction, and other conditions that affect the lower spinal nerves.
In some patients, symptoms develop after an obvious injury such as a fall, lifting injury, or motor vehicle accident. In others, symptoms may develop gradually following years of repetitive stress, prolonged sitting, reduced mobility, poor conditioning, or age-related spinal changes.
Common Symptoms of Sciatica
Sciatica symptoms can vary depending on which nerve root is involved. Common symptoms may include:
- Lower back pain with pain traveling into the buttock or leg
- Burning, tingling, or pins-and-needles sensations
- Numbness in the leg or foot
- Weakness involving the leg, ankle, or foot
- Pain that worsens with prolonged sitting or standing
- Pain with coughing, sneezing, bending, or certain movements
Because several different conditions can produce similar symptoms, a clinical evaluation is important before beginning treatment.
How Is Sciatica Evaluated?
At Synergy Wellness, Dr. David Kulla, DC evaluates patients individually to determine the likely source of their symptoms and whether conservative chiropractic care is appropriate.
The evaluation may include a detailed history, orthopedic and neurological examination, postural and movement assessment, muscle-strength testing, reflex testing, and review of relevant MRI or X-ray images when available.
When examination findings suggest that additional imaging, medical evaluation, or specialist consultation may be necessary, patients may be referred for further assessment.
Chiropractic Care for Sciatica in NYC
Chiropractic care for sciatica is designed around the underlying mechanical and neurological findings rather than simply treating the location of pain. Depending on the patient’s condition, treatment may include spinal manipulation or mobilization, Cox Flexion-Distraction, soft-tissue techniques, rehabilitation exercises, movement correction, and other conservative therapies.
The goal is to improve spinal and joint mobility, reduce mechanical irritation when possible, improve function, and help patients return to normal daily activities.
Cox Flexion-Distraction for Sciatica
Cox Flexion-Distraction Technique is a specialized chiropractic method performed on a segmented treatment table. Dr. Kulla uses controlled flexion and distraction movements to address selected spinal and disc-related conditions when appropriate.
The technique may be incorporated into treatment for patients with disc-related sciatica, spinal stenosis, restricted lumbar mobility, and other mechanical lower-back conditions. Treatment is individualized according to examination findings, diagnosis, tolerance, and patient goals.
Can a Herniated Disc Cause Sciatica?
Yes. A herniated or bulging lumbar disc can irritate or compress a spinal nerve root that contributes to the sciatic nerve. Disc-related sciatica may cause lower-back pain along with leg pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness.
Not every disc abnormality seen on an MRI causes symptoms, however. Imaging findings need to be interpreted together with the patient’s history and physical examination.
Can Chiropractic Care Help Sciatica?
Some patients with mechanical or disc-related sciatica may benefit from conservative chiropractic and rehabilitation care. The appropriate treatment depends on the cause of the symptoms, neurological findings, severity, duration, and overall health of the patient.
Chiropractic care is not appropriate for every cause of sciatica, which is why an individualized evaluation is important before beginning treatment.
How Long Does Sciatica Take to Improve?
Recovery time varies considerably. Some patients improve relatively quickly, while others with chronic disc changes, spinal stenosis, neurological deficits, or long-standing symptoms may require a longer period of treatment and rehabilitation.
Progress at Synergy Wellness is reassessed throughout care. Treatment recommendations may be modified according to changes in pain, mobility, neurological findings, strength, function, and the patient’s ability to return to normal activity.
When Sciatica Requires Prompt Medical Evaluation
Most cases of sciatica are not medical emergencies, but certain symptoms require prompt evaluation. Seek urgent medical attention for new bowel or bladder dysfunction, numbness in the groin or saddle region, rapidly progressive leg weakness, significant loss of coordination, fever with severe back pain, or symptoms following major trauma.
These symptoms can indicate a condition that requires immediate medical assessment rather than routine conservative care.
Schedule a Sciatica Evaluation in New York City
If you are experiencing lower-back pain, leg pain, numbness, tingling, or other symptoms that may be related to sciatica, Dr. David Kulla, DC can evaluate your condition and help determine whether chiropractic care, rehabilitation, physical therapy, additional imaging, or another form of care may be appropriate.
Synergy Wellness Chiropractic & Physical Therapy is located at 237 First Avenue near East 14th Street in Manhattan. Call (212) 533-4900 to schedule an appointment.