Chiropractor for Sciatica: Relief for Shooting Leg Pain

You know that electric shock feeling that starts in your lower back and shoots straight down your leg? The one that makes you freeze mid-step and wonder if you’ll ever walk normally again? That’s sciatica, and if you’re dealing with it right now, you have my sympathy. It’s absolutely miserable.

Here’s what most people don’t realize: you don’t need surgery to fix it. A good chiropractor can help you get rid of sciatica without drugs, injections, or going under the knife.

Let me walk you through what sciatica actually is, how we treat it at our St. Paul clinic, and why so many people in the Twin Cities are finding relief through chiropractic care.

What’s Actually Happening When You Have Sciatica

Sciatica isn’t a disease—it’s what happens when your sciatic nerve gets pinched or irritated. This nerve is huge. It runs from your lower back, through your butt, and down each leg all the way to your foot.

When something compresses that nerve—usually a herniated disc, bone spur, or narrowing of your spinal canal—you get pain. And not just any pain. We’re talking about:

Sharp, shooting sensations that travel from your back down through your leg, sometimes reaching your foot. It feels like someone’s running electricity through your leg.

Numbness or that “pins and needles” feeling that won’t go away, no matter how much you move around.

Weakness that makes your leg feel unreliable, like it might give out when you’re walking or standing.

A burning sensation that comes out of nowhere and stops you dead in your tracks.

Most people only get it on one side—either the left or right leg, not both. And it gets worse when you sit for too long, stand in one spot, or even when you cough or sneeze. Some mornings, you wake up and can barely get out of bed.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. We see it all the time at our clinic.

Can Chiropractors Actually Help with This?

Yes. I’ve seen it work hundreds of times over the past 25 years.

The difference between chiropractic care and other treatments is that we’re not just covering up your symptoms. We’re fixing the actual problem—the thing that’s putting pressure on your sciatic nerve.

Pain medication might make you feel better temporarily, but it’s not doing anything to address why your nerve is getting compressed in the first place. Once the meds wear off, you’re right back where you started.

Chiropractic care tackles the root cause. If a disc is pressing on your nerve, we take that pressure off. If your spine is out of alignment and causing the compression, we adjust it back into place. No surgery required. No recovery time. You come in, get treated, and go about your day.

The research backs this up, too. Studies show that chiropractic adjustments and spinal decompression work just as well as surgery for most people with sciatica—without the risks, the hospital stay, or the months of recovery.

How We Treat Sciatica at Twin Cities Chiropractic

When someone comes to our St. Paul office with sciatica, here’s what actually happens.

Figure Out What’s Causing It

First, I need to know exactly why your sciatic nerve is getting compressed. Not everyone’s sciatica is the same. The treatment depends on what’s causing the problem.

I’ll do a physical exam, check how well you can move, test your reflexes and muscle strength, and look at any X-rays or MRIs you’ve had. I need to see where the compression is happening and what’s causing it before we can fix it.

Adjust Your Spine

If your vertebrae are out of alignment and putting pressure on the nerve, I’ll do specific adjustments to get everything back where it belongs. When your spine is properly aligned, it takes the pressure off the sciatic nerve and gives your body a chance to heal.

These aren’t random adjustments. I’m targeting the exact vertebrae that are causing your problem. Most people start feeling some relief after the first few visits, but it takes time for the inflammation to go down and the nerve to fully recover.

Decompress the Disc

If a herniated or bulging disc is pressing on your nerve, spinal decompression works incredibly well. We use a special table that gently stretches your spine, creating negative pressure inside the disc.

That negative pressure pulls the bulging part of the disc back toward the center, taking the pressure off your nerve. It also helps nutrients and oxygen get into the damaged disc so it can heal.

The treatment is comfortable—a lot of people actually fall asleep during it. Each session takes about 20-30 minutes, and you’ll usually need somewhere between 20 and 30 sessions over a couple of months to get full relief.

I’ve seen people who couldn’t walk without severe pain get back to completely normal after decompression therapy. It’s one of the most effective treatments we have for disc-related sciatica.

Release the Muscle Tension

Sciatica doesn’t just affect your spine. Your muscles tighten up trying to protect the irritated nerve, and that tension makes everything worse.

Joy Vang, our massage therapist, works on releasing that muscle tension with deep tissue massage and myofascial release. She focuses on your lower back, hips, and legs—all the areas that tighten up when you have sciatica.

When we combine my adjustments with Joy’s soft tissue work, people recover faster. You need both the structural work and the muscle work to fully resolve the problem.

Strengthen Your Core

Once the acute pain starts improving, we’ll give you exercises to strengthen your core and improve your flexibility. Weak core muscles put extra stress on your spine, which can lead to sciatica coming back.

These aren’t just generic stretches. They’re specific exercises designed to support the work we’re doing with adjustments and decompression.

How Long Before You Feel Better?

Everyone asks this, and I wish I could give you an exact timeline. It depends on how severe your sciatica is and how long you’ve had it.

Some people feel significantly better within a week or two. Others with severe disc problems might need 6-8 weeks of consistent treatment to get full relief.

Here’s the typical progression:

First couple of weeks: The sharp, shooting pain starts happening less often and isn’t as intense when it does happen.

Weeks 3-4: You notice real improvement. You can move more easily, sleep better, and that constant ache starts fading.

Weeks 5-8: Most of the pain is gone. You’re back to normal activities, maybe with occasional tightness, but nothing like before.

After 8 weeks: You’re recovered. The sciatica is resolved, and we focus on keeping it from coming back.

The key is sticking with treatment. If you stop as soon as you feel a little better, there’s a good chance the problem will come back. Your body needs time to heal properly.

Finding the Right Chiropractor for Sciatica

If you’re looking for a chiropractor in the Twin Cities who treats sciatica, here’s what matters:

Experience with sciatica specifically. Not every chiropractor focuses on disc problems and nerve compression. You want someone who treats this regularly and knows what works.

A complete approach. Good sciatica treatment includes adjustments, decompression if needed, soft tissue work, and rehab—not just quick adjustments.

Honest communication. Your chiropractor should explain what’s causing your sciatica, what treatment involves, how long it will take, and what kind of results to expect.

At our St. Paul clinic, I’ve been treating sciatica since 2001. We combine adjustments with decompression therapy and work with Joy to give you comprehensive care that actually fixes the problem.

Keeping Sciatica from Coming Back

Once you’ve recovered, you don’t want to go through this again. Here’s how to prevent it:

Watch your posture. Slouching puts stress on your lower back and increases the risk of disc problems.

Strengthen your core. Strong abs and back muscles support your spine and reduce pressure on your discs.

Lift things properly. Bend at your knees, not your waist. Keep heavy stuff close to your body. Don’t twist while you’re lifting.

Stay active. Regular movement keeps your spine healthy. Walking and swimming are great.

Get occasional adjustments. Even after your sciatica is gone, periodic adjustments help maintain proper alignment and catch small problems before they become big ones.

Don’t Wait for It to Get Worse

Sciatica rarely just goes away on its own. The longer you wait, the more chronic it becomes, and the harder it is to treat.

If you’re dealing with shooting leg pain, numbness, or weakness, get evaluated by a chiropractor who specializes in treating sciatica.

At Twin Cities Chiropractic in St. Paul, we’ve helped hundreds of people get relief without surgery. I’ll figure out what’s causing your pain and create a treatment plan to get you back to normal.

Dealing with sciatica in the Twin Cities? Contact Dr. Scot Sorum at Twin Cities Chiropractic in St. Paul. We treat sciatic nerve pain with adjustments, spinal decompression, and manual therapy. Get relief without surgery—call us today.