Sciatica Treatment in Arlington Heights

woman experiencing low back pain due to sciatica

Sciatica can cause sharp, burning, or electric-like pain that begins in the lower back or buttock and travels down the leg. Some people also experience numbness, tingling, or weakness.

At O’Hara Family Chiropractic in Arlington Heights, Dr. Kevin O’Hara evaluates patients with sciatic nerve symptoms to determine what appears to be irritating or compressing the nerve before recommending treatment.

The goal is straightforward:

Find the problem.
Fix the problem.
Leave it alone.

If your leg pain may be coming from your lower back, identifying the cause is the first step toward choosing the right treatment.

What Is Sciatica?

Sciatica is a term used to describe pain and other symptoms that travel along the distribution of the sciatic nerve.

The problem usually begins when one of the nerve roots in the lower spine becomes irritated or compressed. Symptoms may begin in the lower back or buttock and travel into the thigh, lower leg, or foot.

Sciatica is not a diagnosis by itself. Several different conditions can produce sciatic nerve symptoms, which is why an examination is important before treatment begins.

What Causes Sciatica?

Several lower-back conditions may irritate a spinal nerve and produce sciatic symptoms.

Herniated or Bulging Discs

A lumbar disc can bulge or herniate and irritate a nearby nerve root. This may produce sharp or shooting pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness extending into the leg.

Degenerative Disc Changes

As spinal discs lose hydration and height over time, the space surrounding a nerve root may become smaller and contribute to irritation.

Spinal Joint Dysfunction

Restricted or painful movement in the joints of the lower spine may contribute to mechanical lower-back problems and irritation of surrounding tissues.

Structural conditions such as spondylolisthesis may also contribute to nerve irritation in some patients.

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces surrounding the spinal cord or nerve roots. When this occurs in the lower back, it may contribute to pain, numbness, heaviness, or weakness in the legs.

What Does Sciatica Feel Like?

Sciatica can feel different from one person to another.

Common symptoms include:

• Sharp or shooting pain down one leg
• Burning or electric-like pain
• Numbness or tingling
• Pain in the buttock, thigh, calf, or foot
• Muscle weakness
• Pain that becomes worse while sitting
• Difficulty standing or walking for long periods
• Symptoms that interfere with sleep or normal daily activity

Some cases are relatively mild. Others can significantly interfere with mobility.

What I Commonly See in Patients With Sciatica

Patients often come into our Arlington Heights office saying they have “sciatica,” but not every case of leg pain has the same cause.

Some patients have symptoms associated with a lumbar disc problem. Others may have spinal stenosis, degenerative changes, mechanical joint problems, or another condition producing referred or nerve-related pain.

That is why I do not treat every patient with leg pain the same way.

The examination comes first.

Once I have a better understanding of what appears to be causing the symptoms, I can determine whether chiropractic care is appropriate and what type of treatment makes sense.

— Dr. Kevin O’Hara

Why Can Sciatica Persist?

Sciatica sometimes lasts longer than expected because there is no single cause and no single treatment that is right for every patient.

A herniated or bulging disc, degenerative changes, spinal stenosis, inflammation around a nerve root, or other mechanical problems may contribute to persistent symptoms.

Treatment may therefore focus on:

• Reducing mechanical stress when appropriate
• Improving movement of restricted spinal joints
• Improving strength and stability
• Reducing irritation of sensitive tissues
• Helping the patient gradually return to normal activity

The goal is not simply to chase the pain. It is to identify what appears to be contributing to the symptoms and treat the patient accordingly.

Can a Chiropractor Help With Sciatica?

Chiropractic care may be appropriate for some patients with sciatica depending on the cause of their symptoms and the findings of the examination.

At O’Hara Family Chiropractic, treatment is individualized rather than using the same adjustment or treatment plan for every patient.

Care may include:

Chiropractic Adjustments

Chiropractic adjustments may be used to improve movement in restricted joints of the lower back and pelvis when appropriate for the patient’s condition.

Cox Flexion-Distraction and Spinal Decompression

Dr. O’Hara uses Cox flexion-distraction, a controlled form of spinal decompression that gently mobilizes the lower spine.

The treatment table allows controlled flexion and distraction movements while the doctor directs motion to specific areas of the lumbar spine.

This technique may be considered for appropriate patients with conditions such as disc-related lower-back pain, nerve-root irritation, or spinal stenosis.

Not every patient with sciatica requires decompression, which is why treatment is based on examination findings rather than the symptom alone.

Therapeutic and Corrective Exercises

Exercises may be recommended to improve strength, stability, mobility, and tolerance for normal activity.

The exercises selected depend on the patient’s condition and stage of recovery.

Sciatica vs. General Back Pain

Not every case of lower-back pain is sciatica.

Sciatica typically involves symptoms that extend beyond the lower back into the buttock or leg. These may include pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness.

Lower-back pain without nerve involvement may come from muscles, joints, discs, or other structures and may require a different approach.

If you are unsure whether your symptoms are sciatica or another lower-back condition, an examination can help clarify the source.

When Should You See a Chiropractor for Sciatica?

Consider having your condition evaluated if you experience:

• Pain traveling from the lower back or buttock into the leg
• Persistent numbness or tingling
• Recurring episodes of lower-back and leg pain
• Difficulty sitting, walking, standing, or sleeping comfortably
• Symptoms that are not improving with normal activity modification
• Symptoms that repeatedly return

An examination can help determine whether conservative chiropractic treatment is appropriate or whether additional medical evaluation is needed.

When Is Sciatica an Emergency?

Certain symptoms require prompt medical evaluation rather than routine chiropractic care.

Seek immediate medical attention for:

• Significant or rapidly progressing muscle weakness
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Numbness in the groin or saddle area
• Severe neurological symptoms that are rapidly worsening

These symptoms may indicate significant nerve compression and should not be ignored.

Sciatica Treatment Near You in Arlington Heights

Sciatica frequently occurs alongside other lower-back problems, including disc injuries, degenerative changes, and spinal stenosis.

At O’Hara Family Chiropractic, Dr. Kevin O’Hara has treated patients with lower-back and leg symptoms for many years using a conservative, individualized approach.

Your examination is used to determine what appears to be causing the symptoms, whether chiropractic care is appropriate, and which treatment methods make the most sense for your condition.

Dr. O’Hara also takes the time to explain what he finds and why a particular treatment is being recommended.

The goal is to help you move better, function better, and return to normal activity as safely as possible.

Schedule an Evaluation for Sciatica

If you are experiencing sciatic nerve pain, numbness, tingling, or pain traveling from your lower back into your leg, an evaluation can help determine what may be causing it.

Contact O’Hara Family Chiropractic in Arlington Heights to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kevin O’Hara.

O’Hara Family Chiropractic
Dr. Kevin O’Hara
940 S. Arthur Ave.
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
847-577-3597

What Patients Are Saying

“Dr. O’Hara is truly incredible. I was dealing with a bulging disc issue and literally after the second session with Dr. O’Hara I felt 100x better.”

— Google Review

“I never thought I’d see a chiropractor because it scares me. But with the disc problems I have and nothing else working I decided to try. I’m functioning well after epidural injections weren’t helping much. If you’re looking give him a try. Super friendly, honest, and tells you the truth about what to expect.”