Chiropractor for Sciatica in Milwaukee, WI

Pain running down your leg? Let’s find where it starts.

Trusted, personal care in neighborhood clinics throughout Greater Milwaukee.

Find a location Where sciatica comes from
Understanding sciatica

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is pain that follows the path of the sciatic nerve. This nerve runs from your lower back, through your buttock, and down the back of each leg.2

Sciatica isn’t a condition on its own. It’s a sign that something is pinching or irritating the nerve, most often a herniated disc in the lower back.2,3 That’s why finding where it starts matters.

Sciatica usually affects one side of the body.2 It can feel like a mild ache or a sharp, burning jolt. The good news is that most cases get better with time and the right care.

10% to 40%

of people will have sciatica at some point in their lives, according to a 2024 review1

1% to 5%

of people get sciatica in any given year, according to the same review1

Before age 20

sciatica is rare, unless it follows an injury1,3

Symptoms

Sciatica symptoms: what you may notice

Sciatic nerve pain can show up almost anywhere along the nerve. It most often runs from the lower back to the buttock and down the back of the thigh and calf.2

  • Legs

    Pain down one leg

    Pain that travels from your lower back or buttock down the back of your thigh and calf.

  • Feel

    Burning or shooting pain

    Anything from a mild ache to a sharp, burning pain or an electric jolt.

  • Buttock

    Pain deep in the buttock

    An ache in one buttock that can spread into the hip or upper leg.

  • Nerves

    Numbness or tingling

    In your leg or foot. One spot can hurt while another feels numb.

  • Strength

    Leg or foot weakness

    Your leg or foot feels weak. Mention it to your doctor right away.

  • Sitting

    Worse when you sit

    Pain builds the longer you sit, at a desk, in the car, or on the couch.

  • Coughing

    Worse when you cough or sneeze

    A cough or sneeze sends a jolt of pain down your leg.

  • Side

    Usually one side

    Sciatica most often affects only one leg. Pain in both legs needs a prompt check.

Pain that stays in your lower back? See lower back pain. Numbness or tingling in your arm instead? See pinched nerve in the neck.

When to seek medical care first

Most sciatica isn’t dangerous. A few warning signs can point to pressure on the nerves at the base of the spine. Doctors call it cauda equina syndrome, and it needs emergency care.4 Once a medical provider has cleared you, we’re here to help.

Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have:

  • Loss of bladder or bowel control, or trouble urinating2,4
  • Numbness in your groin, inner thighs, or buttocks, the area that would touch a saddle4
  • Sudden numbness or weakness in a leg, or leg weakness that keeps getting worse2,4
  • Sciatica after a serious fall, car crash, or other hard injury2,5
  • Back or leg pain that comes with a fever5

See a medical provider promptly if sciatica:

  • Lasts longer than a week, is severe, or keeps getting worse2
  • Spreads into both legs5
  • Comes with weight loss you can’t explain5
Causes

What causes sciatica?

Sciatica happens when something pinches, presses on, or irritates the sciatic nerve or the nerve roots that form it. Common causes include:2,3

Herniated or bulging discs Bone spurs Narrowing of the spinal canal Wear on the discs over time A slipped bone in the lower back A tight piriformis muscle Pregnancy Injuries

Sciatica after a crash? See our car accident injuries page. Pain mostly in the outer hip? See hip pain.

What can raise your risk

Age

People ages 20 to 50 are most likely to have herniated discs. Bone spurs become more common as you get older.2

Sitting a lot

People who sit for long stretches or don’t move much are more likely to have herniated discs.2

Extra body weight

Extra weight adds stress to your spine.2

Lifting and twisting at work

Jobs that involve twisting, carrying heavy loads, or driving for long periods may play a role in herniated discs.2 Wisconsin ranks first in the U.S. for manufacturing jobs per person, based on 2025 data.7

Diabetes

Diabetes raises the risk of nerve damage.2

Pregnancy

Pregnancy hormones can loosen ligaments in your spine, and the growing baby can press on the sciatic nerve.3 Learn about chiropractic care during pregnancy.

Hurt on the job? We accept workers’ compensation, and we offer workplace wellness programs for local employers.

Where it starts

Where is your sciatica coming from?

Sciatica can start in a few places. Your exam helps show which one, and that shapes how your care begins.

Piriformis syndrome is often mixed up with sciatica from the spine. It starts in the buttock, not the back.6

Where it startsWhat’s going onWhere to start
Herniated or bulging discThe soft center of a disc in your lower back pushes out and presses on a nerve root. It’s the most common cause.1,2Your chiropractic exam
Bone spurs and wearExtra bone growth or worn discs crowd the nerve roots. This is more common as you age.2,3Your chiropractic exam
Narrowing of the spinal canalThe space around the nerves in your lower back gets tighter. Doctors call it spinal stenosis.3Your chiropractic exam
A slipped boneOne of the bones of your lower back slides forward over the one below it. Doctors call it spondylolisthesis.3Your chiropractic exam, with X-rays if needed
Piriformis syndromeA muscle deep in your buttock, the piriformis, presses on the sciatic nerve. Long sitting, running, or stairs can make it worse.6Your chiropractic exam
PregnancyLooser ligaments and the growing baby can put pressure on the nerve.3Your OB or midwife, then care during pregnancy
A fall or crashA hard hit can injure the lower back or the nerves around it.2A medical provider first, then car accident injury care
Rare causesAn infection or tumor can press on a nerve. This is uncommon.2,4A medical provider, right away
Your care

How chiropractic care helps sciatica

Your chiropractor for sciatica starts by listening: where the pain travels, when it started, and what makes it better or worse. Then your doctor looks for where it starts. That includes a full exam of your back, hips, and legs, and X-rays only if your exam calls for them.

If anything needs medical care first, your doctor will tell you and help you get it. Your doctor then explains what they found and talks through care options with you. You decide what’s right for you.

Care is natural and drug-free, designed around your condition, your medical history, your daily life, and your goals.

What the research says about sciatica

A national guideline in the U.K. says hands-on care, such as spinal adjustments, gentle joint movement, or massage, can be considered for back pain with or without sciatica. It should be part of a plan that includes exercise.9 A review found moderate-quality evidence that spinal adjustments help new sciatica. The evidence for long-lasting sciatica is weaker.10

What the research says about back pain

Leading U.S. physician guidelines recommend natural, drug-free care first for low back pain. Spinal adjustments are among the options, though the evidence behind them is rated low quality.8

What your care may include

Good to know

If you don’t want an adjustment

Say so, and your doctor won’t adjust you. Gentle joint movement, muscle work, and exercise are other options. You choose your care.

Hands-on

Chiropractic adjustments

Gentle, targeted adjustments help restore motion to stiff joints in the lower back and pelvis.

Gentle option

Gentle joint movement

Slow, controlled movements help loosen stiff joints when a full adjustment isn’t the right fit.

Rehab

Stretches and strengthening

Guided exercises for your back, hips, and core, including stretches for a tight piriformis when it plays a part.

Select clinics

Physical therapy

Available at our Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, and West Allis North clinics.

Select clinics

Massage therapy

Available at our Hales Corners and Oconomowoc clinics.

Between visits

Sitting, sleep, and lifting tips

Practical tips for your desk, your car, and your bed help you stay active without flaring the nerve.

Pregnancy

Care during pregnancy

Your doctor adapts positions and techniques as your pregnancy changes. Learn more.

Recovery

How long does sciatica last?

Most sciatica gets better within 4 to 6 weeks, often without long-term problems.1,3 Staying with your normal activities as much as you comfortably can is part of most care plans.9

For some people, the pain lingers or comes back. Your timeline depends on what’s pressing on the nerve, how long you’ve had it, and your daily demands. Call a provider if your pain lasts longer than a week, is severe, or keeps getting worse.2

4 to 6 weeks

is how long most cases of sciatica take to improve.1,3

Insurance and your first visit

Care that fits your coverage

We’re in-network with most insurance plans, including Medicare, and our team can check your benefits before you come in. No insurance? New patients can start with the $29 first visit.

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$29*
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  • Consultation
  • Exam
  • X-rays if needed
  • With or without insurance
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With insurance
In-network with most insurance companies
  • Most commercial plans
  • Medicare
  • Auto accident claims
  • Workers’ compensation
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Your first visit

What to expect at your first visit

  1. Share your story

    Your doctor asks when the pain started, what makes it better or worse, your daily activities, and your goals.

  2. Get a thorough exam

    Your doctor checks how your back and hips move, where it’s tender, and the strength, reflexes, and sensation in your legs. X-rays are taken if needed.

  3. Talk through your options

    Your doctor explains what they found and walks you through care options. You decide what's right for you.

  4. Begin care at your next visit

    Treatment begins at visit two. In acute cases, your doctor may decide same-day treatment is appropriate.

You'll see the same doctor as your care continues, so the person treating you knows your history and your progress.

Your care team

Meet Milwaukee chiropractors who treat sciatica

Our chiropractors care for sciatica every week. These doctors bring backgrounds that fit patients with leg pain from the lower back.

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[Doctor name], DC

DC · [Clinic]
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[One or two sentences on this doctor’s background with sciatica.]

More about Dr. [Name]

[Doctor name], DC

DC · [Clinic]
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Meet your care team
Why Milwaukee trusts us

Trusted by Greater Milwaukee since 1982

Personal care in neighborhood clinics, with more than 1,400 five-star Google reviews from real patients.

400,000+
Patients cared for
1,400+
Five-star Google reviews
20+
Neighborhood clinics
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Serving Greater Milwaukee since
  • Best of MilwaukeeRecognized 13 years
  • Top Choice AwardsRecognized 7 years
  • UWM AthleticsOfficial chiropractors since 2019

Winners and finalists, including our doctors and practices before they joined us. See every award, with sources

Common questions

Frequently asked questions about sciatica

Many patients find chiropractic care helps them move more comfortably. A review found moderate-quality evidence that spinal adjustments help new sciatica, and weaker evidence for long-lasting sciatica. Your doctor looks for where your pain starts, then talks through options like adjustments, gentle joint movement, and exercise.

A herniated or bulging disc in the lower back is the most common cause. Bone spurs, narrowing of the spinal canal, a tight piriformis muscle, and pregnancy can also press on the nerve.

Most sciatica improves within 4 to 6 weeks. Call a provider if your pain lasts longer than a week, is severe, or keeps getting worse. See how long sciatica lasts for what affects your timeline.

Sciatica from the spine usually starts with a disc or narrowing in the lower back. Piriformis syndrome starts in the buttock, where a tight muscle presses on the sciatic nerve. Both can send pain down your leg, so an exam helps tell them apart.

No. Lower back pain stays mostly in your back. Sciatica travels from your lower back or buttock down your leg, often with numbness or tingling. You can have both at once. See our lower back pain page for back pain that stays put.

Yes. Pregnancy hormones can loosen ligaments in your spine, and the growing baby can press on the sciatic nerve. Check with your OB or midwife, and learn about chiropractic care during pregnancy.

Go to the emergency room for loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in your groin or inner thighs, or leg weakness that’s getting worse. These can be signs of pressure on the nerves at the base of the spine. Sciatica after a serious fall or crash, or with a fever, needs prompt medical care too.

Usually, yes. Care guidelines encourage people with sciatica to keep up their normal activities. Move as much as you comfortably can, and avoid positions that clearly make your leg pain worse. Your doctor can help you find movement that feels manageable.

Not always. Your doctor decides based on your history, your symptoms, and your exam. When needed, X-rays are taken right in the clinic.

Tell your doctor and they won’t. Gentle joint movement, muscle work, stretches, and exercise are other ways to care for sciatica. Your doctor explains the options, and you decide what’s right for you.

Often, yes. Same-day appointments are available at many of our clinics, depending on the day and each clinic’s hours. Call your nearest clinic or request an appointment online to check today’s openings. Your first visit is for your consultation and exam, and treatment typically begins at your next visit.

Usually not. Your first visit is for listening, a full exam, and X-rays if needed. Treatment begins at visit two. In acute cases, your doctor may decide same-day treatment is appropriate.

No referral is needed. Some insurance plans may require one for full benefits. Our team checks your plan when you verify your insurance and lets you know before your visit.

Eligible new patients can request a first visit for $29, including a consultation, an exam, and X-rays if needed. The offer requires requesting an appointment online and a visit within five business days. Medicare and Medicaid patients aren’t eligible.

Chiropractic Company has 20+ neighborhood clinics across Greater Milwaukee, and every one offers chiropractic care for sciatica. Find a location close to your home or work.
Milwaukee-area chiropractic clinics near you

Find sciatica care near you: 20+ locations

Every clinic offers chiropractic care for sciatica, close to home or work.

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Sciatica shouldn't keep you from doing what you love.

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Keep reading
Article

How Long Does Sciatica Last?

Most sciatica improves within four to six weeks, but some lingers for months.

Article

Sciatica Warning Signs: When to Worry

Most sciatica isn’t dangerous.

Related conditions

Lower back painHip painPinched nerve in the neckCar accident injuriesPostureHerniated disc

Related services

Patient resources

Sources

  1. Davis D, Taqi M, Vasudevan A. Sciatica. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; updated January 4, 2024.
  2. Mayo Clinic. Sciatica: Symptoms and causes.
  3. Cleveland Clinic. Sciatica.
  4. Cleveland Clinic. Cauda Equina Syndrome.
  5. Mayo Clinic. Back pain: Symptoms and causes.
  6. Cleveland Clinic. Piriformis Syndrome.
  7. Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Advanced Manufacturing by the Numbers (Manufacturing Snapshot 2026; Lightcast 2025 Q4 data).
  8. Qaseem A, Wilt TJ, McLean RM, Forciea MA. Noninvasive treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2017;166(7):514–530.
  9. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s: assessment and management (NG59). 2016; updated 2020.
  10. Leininger B, Bronfort G, Evans R, Reiter T. Spinal manipulation or mobilization for radiculopathy: a systematic review. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 2011;22(1):105–125.
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