Sciatica Chiropractor in Honolulu

Sciatica Symptoms

Not all lower back pain is sciatica. What sets it apart is where the pain travels and how it feels:

• Pain that runs from the lower back through the buttock and down the back of one leg
• A burning, shooting, or electric quality rather than a dull ache
• Numbness, tingling, or a pins-and-needles feeling in the leg or foot
• Weakness in the leg or foot (some patients notice their foot catching or dragging)
• Pain that gets worse when you sit, cough, or sneeze
• Discomfort on one side of the body rather than both

If that sounds like what you've been dealing with, it's worth having someone look at why. Sciatica that's left alone tends to settle into a pattern rather than resolve.

What Causes Sciatica?

The sciatic nerve is the longest in the body, running from the lower spine through the hips and down each leg.

Anything that crowds it can produce sciatica, including:

• A bulging or herniated disc pressing on the nerve root where it exits the spine. This is the most common cause.
• Disc degeneration that narrows the space the nerve passes through.
• Spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that tends to develop with age.
• Piriformis involvement, a muscle deep in the buttock that can compress the nerve as it passes beneath.
• A vertebra that has shifted position, reducing the opening the nerve travels through.
• Pregnancy, as changes in pelvic alignment and weight distribution alter pressure on the lower spine.

Long hours of sitting, repeated heavy lifting, and long commutes all make these more likely.

1️⃣ Consultation

Your first visit runs about 45 minutes and starts with a conversation. This discussion will cover what your pain is doing, when it started, what makes it worse, and what you've already tried.

2️⃣ Analysis

From there, we do a complete chiropractic analysis, including digital X-ray imaging and an infrared paraspinal thermography scan. Detailed imaging is what determines whether your care is focused on the lower back, the upper neck, or both.

3️⃣ Treatment

On your second visit, Dr. Luke will go through the findings with you, explaining exactly where the pressure is coming from and where he intends to work. Should you be a good fit for chiropractic care, we’ll build a treatment plan around your unique anatomical needs.

Some patients notice a change within a few visits, while others take several months - particularly when the problem has been building for years.

Anyone who gives you a fixed number before looking at your imaging is guessing. We'll give you a realistic range after your second visit, once we've seen what's actually going on.

No. We take our own digital X-rays as part of your first visit. If your imaging suggests something outside what chiropractic can address, we'll tell you and refer you on.

Yes. Sitting puts more pressure on the lumbar discs than standing does, and a long stretch in a car seat or at a desk is one of the most reliable ways to aggravate sciatica. If you can't avoid it, get up every 30 to 45 minutes, even briefly.

It depends entirely on what's compressing the nerve, which is why there's no single answer and why we always image before we treat. Most cases respond to conservative care: chiropractic, movement, and time.