Sciatica & Nerve Pain Relief in Sarasota
The pain is in your leg. The problem usually isn’t.
We follow the nerve back to where it leaves the spine, because that is usually where the answer is.
Why nerve pain shows up so far from the source
Your sciatic nerve is the longest and thickest nerve in your body, and it’s packed with pain sensors. It starts from nerve roots in your lower back, runs through your hips, and travels down both legs into your feet. Put pressure on it anywhere along the way and you feel it.
That’s why sciatica can show up as a deep ache in the buttock, a hot line down the back of the thigh, or tingling in the foot, even when your lower back barely hurts. How you feel it depends on where the pressure is. It’s the same nerve either way.
The same idea applies to nerve pain in the arms and hands, which usually traces back to the neck.
A word on neuropathy: numbness and burning in the hands or feet can come from many places, including diabetes, medications, and circulation. We look at the spinal component, since pressure where the nerves exit the spine may add to the problem, and we’re glad to work alongside your physician on the rest.
does this Sound familiar?
- Pain, burning, or electric shocks that travel down one leg
- Numbness or pins and needles in your foot or toes
- Pain that gets worse sitting or driving
- Tingling or weakness in your hands that will not go away
How we find the cause: Alignment, movement, spinal Damage
Every new patient gets the same thorough starting point. We test your spine three ways:
Alignment
Posture checks, balance scales, and eyes-closed stability testing to see how your body is carrying itself.
movement
Range of motion through your whole spine, plus how each segment moves on its own.
spinal Damage
Full-spine digital X-rays can show disc changes, arthritis, bone spurs, or old injuries that may have created a stress pattern.
For nerve pain, our nerve scans are especially useful. They help show where your nervous system is under stress, and your X-rays show us what may be crowding the nerve at that level.
From the side, your spine should have smooth, healthy curves. We measure yours and chart it against normal:
MildUp to 15% loss of curve
Moderate15–30% loss of curve
SevereMore than 30% loss of curve
Your PostureRay X-Ray Report shows you exactly where you stand, and we re-measure along the way so you can see progress, not just feel it.
How we help sciatica and nerve pain
Depending on what is irritating the nerve, your plan may include:
Corrective Chiropractic Care
Adjustments aimed at the spinal levels where the irritated nerves exit, to reduce pressure and restore motion, plus spinal hygiene exercises and/or orthotics to hold the change.
Spinal Decompression
If your exam shows a potential disc bulge or herniation pressing on the nerve root, or if we visualize degeneration on X-ray, decompression on our Chattanooga Triton 6M traction table is used to gently create space and take pressure off both the disc and the nerve.
NeuFit (nervous system + fitness)
Nerve pain often comes with muscles that have gone quiet or will not let go. The Neubie lets us find where your nervous system is holding back and reset those patterns, so strength and range of motion come back with it.
PLACEHOLDER – YOUR STORY: A short story about a sciatica patient, or your own experience with nerve pain as an athlete. – Dr. Alex
What to expect
Feeling better and being fully better aren’t the same thing. Most people notice changes early on. Truly stabilizing a spine that’s been out of alignment for years can take up to 6-12 months of consistency… That doesn’t mean 6-12 months to feel better, it just means that your body needs time to hold the correction so it doesn’t slide back.
Will it hurt? Changing a spine that hasn’t moved in years can feel like a workout at the beginning. If you feel it, it’s usually in the first couple of weeks, and we adapt our technique to what works best for you.
When to get emergency care: Go to the ER right away if you have loss of bowel or bladder control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or weakness in a leg that is getting worse quickly. If your exam points to something that needs an MRI or a surgical consult, we will tell you straight and help you get there.
What our patients say
After 3 visits I had full relief from sciatic pain and have been going weekly for maintenance since!
★★★★★ Google review
Frequently asked questions
Why does my leg hurt when the problem is in my back?
Nerves carry signals along their whole path. Pressure where the sciatic nerve leaves your lower back can be felt anywhere that nerve travels, all the way down to your foot.
Is sciatica always a disc problem?
No. It can come from a disc, from arthritis narrowing the space around the nerve, from alignment problems, or from tight muscles in the hip. Your exam tells us which one we are dealing with.
Can you help with neuropathy?
We can address the spinal side of it. Because neuropathy has many possible causes, we’ll be clear about what’s in our lane and work alongside your physician when it makes sense.
Should I stretch it?
Some stretches help and some make an irritated nerve angrier. We’ll give you specific exercises for your spine rather than a generic stretching routine.
Where are you located?
We’re at 5250 17th St, Unit 101, on the corner of 17th & Honore, centrally located between University and Fruitville and about 5 minutes from I-75 and UTC. We see patients from Sarasota, Bradenton, and Lakewood Ranch.
Ready to find out what’s going on?
Your new patient exam includes a full consultation, nerve scans, digital X-rays, and a PostureRay report, so you leave knowing exactly where you stand.
Related: Lower Back Pain · Disc Issues · Hip, Knee & Foot Injuries · Nervous System Health