Sciatica is traveling pain down any nerve track. This may feel like numbness, tingling, or weakness traveling from your back into your leg or legs. For example, this could follow the L1 nerve track into the groin, the L3 nerve track around the front of the thigh, or the L5 nerve track down the back of the center of the leg. Each nerve track has its own destination. You can also have sciatica down the actual sciatic nerve.
The sciatic nerve is the largest and longest single nerve in the entire body. It begins in the lower back and runs through the hips and buttocks and travels down the back of each leg to the feet. Sciatica symptoms can range from a mild ache to a sharp burning sensation or electric shock traveling into the legs, feet, and toes. It could be made worse with coughing, especially if a disc is involved. The most common cause is subluxation or misalignment of the spine creating nerve pressure and radicular symptoms. Other causes are herniated discs, bone spurs or arthritis (which is from old subluxation), spinal stenosis, and piriformis syndrome.
Sciatica is common because it is usually caused by subluxation or spinal misalignment, and subluxation is caused by the 3 T’s — Thoughts, Traumas, and Toxins. Since emotional stresses, chemical stresses, and physical stresses are very common, subluxation is common and sciatica is fairly common. Since subluxation happens on a regular basis, this is why regular chiropractic check-ups should happen on a regular basis. It is important to treat sciatica quickly because symptoms are the last thing to surface. In other words, breakdown of the spine happens gradually over a long period of time, and symptoms are the last thing to come. So, by the time you feel the sciatica, the problem has most likely been there for a long time. Luckily, symptoms are the first thing to go away. So as we work with patients, they typically feel better quickly within a couple of weeks, but correcting the underlying subluxation and poor structure — the root cause — takes longer. So, it is important to address sciatica from a mechanical approach, because a chemical approach will not fix a mechanical problem.
This is why chiropractic is so effective at helping sciatica: it removes the subluxation or misalignment with a specific adjustment addressing the root cause of the problem instead of just masking the symptoms with a medication or injection. It is very important to note that the same nerve giving you sciatica pain also controls a list of other functions that you don’t feel are being impacted. This is why basing health on how you feel is the primary mistake most people make in contributing to the destruction of their health.
The main difference between conventional treatment for sciatica and the chiropractic approach is that medicine typically addresses the symptoms with medication and therapy, while chiropractic addresses the root cause of the symptoms by removing misalignment or subluxation with specific adjustments to restore proper alignment and nerve flow, allowing sciatica to heal from inside-out versus treatment from outside-in. This is extremely safe and does not have any side effects like medication and surgery. Improper spinal alignment not only creates sciatica, it also creates osteoarthritis, or the “wear and tear” arthritis. If you drive on a crooked tire, it wears out faster. If you live with a crooked spine, it wears out faster. We don’t get osteoarthritis because we are old; we get osteoarthritis because we have old misalignment. So, not only is losing spinal alignment causing you potential pain and sciatica, it will begin the process of osteoarthritis or degenerative disc disease, which creates more pain and dysfunction and irreversible damage to your body’s computer system — your nervous system.
If your spine is out of alignment or subluxated, and you eat healthy, or take a pill, or do therapy, or take supplements, or get an injection, is it going to change the structure of the spine? No — the only thing that improves the structure of the spine is specific corrective chiropractic adjustments addressing the root cause of the sciatica instead of just masking the symptoms. If you don’t improve the structure, the problem is not going away. Biomechanics matter, and if there is misalignment, there will be structural compromise, often leading to osteoarthritis or joint problems, muscular imbalances, and neurological imbalances such as sciatica, leading to a host of possible problems (please see the spinal nerve chart).
So, what causes subluxation? Subluxation can be caused by daily activities like sitting, standing, and poor posture, poor sleeping habits, and more obvious things like work injuries, sports injuries, slips and falls, auto accidents, and even the birth process. Only about 10% of our nerves are pain nerves, so lumbar subluxation can contribute to sciatica, but it more commonly contributes to many other conditions we don’t necessarily feel, like digestive problems, bladder trouble, hormonal problems, and poor circulation. Let that sink in — most dysfunction we don’t feel, but what do we base health on? How we feel. The two top killers in the U.S. are heart disease and cancer. Do we feel heart disease and cancer? No — two things we don’t feel, but we still base health on how we feel. It’s not congruent, and it doesn’t make sense. The spine, which houses your nervous system that runs every function of our body, shouldn’t be the last thing we check; it should be the first. And if the body can’t heal itself due to some limitation of time or matter, we’re fortunate to have alternative medicines, therapies, and surgeries to help us — but that shouldn’t come first; taking care of the spine should. This doesn’t sell drugs, but it does create a proven lifestyle strategy for building healthy human beings without the use of drugs or surgery. It supports the flow of information that keeps the body healthy and healing, operating without interference. This not only results in less sciatica — it’s healthcare, not sick-care, restoring and maintaining optimal function in the entire body for a lifetime.
$149 New Patient Special
Includes Neurological Functional Assessment & Spinal Image, Consultation, Exam, X-Rays & Doctor’s Report of Findings.
How Our Care Plan Works
1. Finally Be Heard
Too often, patients feel like just another number in a crowded waiting room, leaving them frustrated and unheard. We believe your recovery starts with a conversation. That’s why we dedicate a full 30 minutes to your initial exam—giving you the floor to share your history, your concerns, and your goals. We’re here to listen intently, ensuring that the path we build together is one that finally puts your needs first.
2. Tailored Plan Of Attack
Knowledge is the first step toward lasting health. Once we’ve analyzed your exam results and digital X-rays, you’ll return for a detailed Report of Findings. We don’t just tell you what’s wrong; we show you why it’s happening. Together, we’ll walk through a personalized care plan tailored specifically to your lifestyle and goals. Our objective isn’t just a quick fix—it’s a sustainable strategy designed to resolve the root cause of your discomfort and prevent it from returning.
3. Take Back Control Of Your Health
Health is wealth. While resolving your symptoms is our first priority, our ultimate goal is to empower your future. We shift the focus from how you feel to how you function, teaching you the principles of spinal hygiene and proactive wellness. By investing in your health today, you aren’t just adding years to your life—you’re adding life to your years, ensuring you have the energy and mobility to enjoy every moment with the people you love.
How We Treat Sciatica In Birdsboro & Reading, PA
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
At McClimon Chiropractic, we know that in order to eliminate sciatica, we must first accurately diagnose it. Upon greeting the patient by name and giving them a tour on the way back, the doctor will help educate them on what it is we do. We then listen to the patient through a thorough consultation of their signs, symptoms, and history. You will have an opportunity to discuss your specific problem with the doctor and have all of your questions and concerns answered. After the consultation, the doctor will perform appropriate orthopedic tests, a palpation exam, a postural exam, and spinal range-of-motion testing. Once all exam information is compiled, the doctor will recommend appropriate X-rays and schedule your day-two doctor’s report of findings to review all findings and recommendations. The doctor’s recommendations are based on your goals and the doctor’s findings.
Digital X-rays
We believe to see is to know, and not to see is to guess, and we don’t guess with our patients’ health. Our state-of-the-art digital X-ray machine is essential to fully evaluate the health or sickness of the spine and how to precisely make our specific chiropractic adjustments based on your misalignment or subluxation pattern. X-rays not only allow us to see what is there, but also allow us to monitor your progress or regression if future films are warranted. They are also valuable to screen for any pathology or contraindications to adjust. There are circumstances where they may not be utilized, such as being pregnant. Please note disc bulges or herniations do not show up on X-ray because they are soft tissue — they are clearly seen on MRI. X-ray will allow us to see misalignment and degenerative disc disease, which are often associated with sciatica. If symptoms are severe, we will refer out for additional testing such as an MRI or CT scan.
Report of Findings
At McClimon Chiropractic, this is your second appointment to review what we found in your examination. This appointment is about 30 minutes and will be extremely educational. We will discuss your findings and our recommendations based on your health goals. Then we will discuss your insurance benefits, if you have insurance, and how they participate. You will know exactly how often you will need to come in, how long it will take to correct your problem, and how much it will cost. Once all of your questions are answered, you will receive your first adjustment.
Specific Chiropractic Care in Birdsboro, PA
Subluxation is misalignment in the spine or in an extremity, creating pressure on your nervous system and diminishing the flow of information over your nervous system, creating dysfunction and dis-ease. This will create dysfunction of the nerve and what it controls in the body. This can create pain and sciatica, or you may not feel any outward symptoms at all. This is important because if you have subluxation, it can not only create sciatica, it can create various symptoms depending on what nerve it is. The spinal nerve chart is like the electrical panel of the body (please see the spinal nerve chart). It shows the nerve level and what can be impacted from pressure from subluxation or disc bulge at that level. For example, if you have subluxation at your C6 nerve root, it could cause neck pain or pain into your shoulder, arm, and hand. Subluxation and pressure on your C2 nerve root could cause sinus problems, allergies, earaches, and headaches. Pressure on the C1 nerve root could cause headaches, high blood pressure, insomnia, nervousness, migraines, dizziness, or chronic tiredness, just to name a few. Pressure at L3 could cause sciatica, bladder problems, or menstrual problems.
Once subluxation or misalignment is identified through your examination and X-ray, the adjustment is the specific treatment to reduce or remove subluxation, restoring the body’s normal alignment and innate intelligence, restoring proper nerve flow and function, reducing inflammation, and improving mobility, which will help eliminate symptoms without the use of drugs or surgery. This is extremely safe and effective, addressing the root cause of the problem instead of just masking it. About 109,000 people per year, or 300 people per day, die from properly prescribed drugs; no one dies from a specific chiropractic adjustment.
Therapeutic Exercise Plan
Exercise is an important part of your recovery and healing process, as well as helping you achieve your full potential. Subluxation or spinal misalignment will create poor alignment and altered biomechanics, often leading to muscular imbalances. It is important to note that exercise helps support the adjustments and improve flexibility and range of motion, but stretching without improving the structure will not address the root cause of the imbalance and ultimately will not provide lasting results. Exercise helps mobilize tissues, stabilize them, and reinforce proper functional movement. At McClimon Chiropractic, we guide all patients through a series of spinal hygiene exercises to improve and reinforce good posture and disc health. These are designed for all areas of the spine. One of the most common problems we see today contributing to sciatica is an imbalance in the pelvis from subluxation or an anatomical short leg. This will contribute to altered lumbar spine mechanics and often nerve pressure resulting in sciatica. Research shows a loss of lumbar curve or other spinal curvature can severely impact disc health, longevity, and quality of life by causing chronic pain, nerve compression, and accelerated spinal degeneration or osteoarthritis. This can create long-term health issues like neurological dysfunction, brain circulation issues, and reduced physical mobility. Poor posture or spinal curvature is associated with much higher levels of subluxation. Patients laugh when I say to stop brushing your teeth except when they hurt, but when someone says to stop taking care of their spine, they listen? If you don’t brush your teeth, they decay faster; if you don’t “brush” your spine, it will decay faster, affecting what is on the inside of it — your nervous system that runs your life. You can live without your teeth; you cannot live without your nervous system. We provide a series of at-home daily hygienic range-of-motion exercises and core-strengthening exercises as needed to help support good disc health, good posture, your adjustments, and spinal health, leading to a healthier functioning nervous system and a healthier you.
Flexion Distraction
Sciatica comes from pressure on a nerve in your lower back. Sometimes this pressure is created from a disc bulge or herniation. When the disc bulges or squeezes out, it creates more pressure and inflammation around the spinal nerve root, creating sciatica down that nerve track. Flexion distraction is an adjustment technique we use at McClimon Chiropractic that specifically opens the disc in a way that lowers the intradiscal pressure, creating a vacuum to potentially draw the bulging disc back in and lessen the pressure on the nerve, eliminating the root cause of the sciatica.
Common Causes of Sciatica in Birdsboro & Reading, PA
Subluxation
In simple terms, this is when a bone of your spine shifts out of alignment and causes abnormal pressure on your discs and nerves. This can create sciatica or pain traveling into your leg, among many other symptoms represented on the spinal nerve chart. Sometimes we feel subluxation, but most of the time we don’t, as only about 10% of our nerves are pain nerves. So, basing health on how we feel is a bad idea. At McClimon Chiropractic, we find subluxation through examination and X-ray and make specific adjustments to restore proper alignment and nerve flow, which restores the body’s innate intelligence and usually eliminates the sciatica pain and all symptoms associated with the compromised level of nerve dysfunction. A chiropractor is the only healthcare provider trained to detect and correct subluxation.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative Disc Disease, or DDD, is the wear-and-tear arthritis, or osteoarthritis, of the spine, to the point where the disc or cushion between the vertebrae starts to degenerate or thin. There are four phases of degenerative disc disease. Phase I is where the spine is out of alignment but has not decayed or degenerated yet. Phase II is where the spine is out of alignment and there is thinning of the disc with associated osteoarthritis or bone spurring, creating nerve pressure. Phase III is when you begin to see more severe disc degeneration and osteoarthritis, creating more nerve pressure. Phase IV is when the disc is so decayed it fuses to the one next to it. DDD causes the disc space to decrease, which causes the nerve hole space to decrease, which creates more pressure on the nerves, impacting how they work and how you work. Someone with DDD will usually experience pain, inflammation, and decreased range of motion. DDD often leads to sciatica as it progresses. The number one risk factor for DDD is poor posture or poor spinal alignment. So please be conscious of your posture and ergonomics on technology and devices; this is one of the best ways to prevent and/or treat DDD. DDD, disc injury, and ultimately sciatica are not created because your spine is in good alignment — they are created because your spine is in bad alignment. If you drive on a tire that’s out of alignment, it wears out faster. If you live with a spine out of alignment, it wears out faster; it’s called Wolff’s Law, and it’s just physics. Yes, our body becomes less efficient at repairing joint tissue as we age, and low-grade inflammation over time can contribute to some cartilage loss — but we mainly don’t get osteoarthritis or DDD because we are old; we get it because we have old misalignment. At McClimon Chiropractic, the best way to treat osteoarthritis or DDD is early detection with a series of specific chiropractic adjustments and customized postural exercises. Once you get it, you can’t get rid of it, so having your spine checked at an early age is the best way to prevent it. If you have DDD, specific chiropractic adjustments can still help improve alignment and function, improve joint motion, and decrease nerve pressure and pain.
Repetitional Motion and Stress
Jobs and activities that involve repetitional motion are a major cause of disc injury and sciatica. Jobs that include a lot of repetitional twisting, bending, lifting, or turning, and involve poor posture, will create abnormal stress on the discs, creating small micro-tears in the protective coat around the disc that can lead to a larger tear and disc herniation over the course of months or years, which can create sciatica or leg pain. One of the best ways to prevent repetitional strain injury to discs is to be aware of your posture and ergonomics, and maintain good posture, minimize repetition when possible, and balance repetition between both sides. Utilizing machinery and tools to work smarter, not harder, is also beneficial. If you do get injured while working, it is best to get a professional evaluation by a chiropractor trained in evaluating spinal structure and function, so you can recover as quickly as possible and learn how to prevent future injury. Chiropractic is covered 100% under workman’s comp to get the employee back to pre-injury status.
Heavy Lifting
Another common cause of sciatica is heavy lifting. Heavy lifting in a gym would consist of 80 to 85% of your one-rep maximum. If you are lifting something five or fewer times and your form breaks down, it is heavy lifting. Heavy lifting causes subluxation, disc injury, and sciatica when excessive pressure or shear force exceeds the capacity of the spinal structure, typically due to improper form, excessive weight, or repetitional strain. The proper way to lift is with proper form, good posture, not lifting too heavy, and not lifting when already tired. Do not lift with a rounded back — keep your back straight and use your legs. Do not twist and rotate while under a heavy load; this is extremely stressful on the disc fibers and can lead to injury. Make sure you maintain strong core strength to lessen the force on the lower back muscles and discs. Sciatica can usually be corrected with consistent chiropractic care and home therapy. Almost 75% of patients with sciatica experience significant relief within 2 to 4 weeks with chiropractic care. If conservative care does not change the frequency and intensity of pain from sciatica, co-management with medical care is an option, but at McClimon Chiropractic, we always recommend working from conservative care first, with more invasive options reserved for last.
Auto Accidents or Whiplash
Sciatica can come from spinal misalignment caused by the impact of an accident, which can pinch the nerves in the lower back and create sciatica. Our approach to sciatica from an auto accident at McClimon Chiropractic is a thorough consultation and examination, followed by X-rays and a thorough doctor’s report reviewing the findings and giving recommendations to get the patient back to pre-injury status. The treatment consists of a series of chiropractic adjustments to remove the misalignment and nerve pressure, home exercises, and possible adjunctive procedures to support the adjustments. This approach addresses the root cause of the problem, not just the symptoms. Chiropractic care covers auto accident cases 100% until the patient has returned to pre-injury status.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction (SI Joint Pain)
The sacroiliac joint is the joint between the pelvis, or ilium, and the sacrum, or triangle bone in the middle of your buttocks. The SI joint connects your spine to your pelvis and is located on either side of the tailbone to carry the weight of your upper body and transfer that weight to your legs when you stand or walk. This joint can subluxate or misalign like the spine and create pain. The SI joint does not cause true sciatica, but it causes pain in the buttocks that mimics sciatica and is very uncomfortable. We can easily diagnose whether you have a pinched nerve in your lower back or whether your pain is from the SI joint. SI joint dysfunction can be easily corrected with specific chiropractic adjustments, or with a specific lift or orthotic if the misalignment is from an anatomical short leg, which an adjustment will not correct.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces within your spine, which puts pressure on your spinal cord and/or the nerves that branch out to the body. This can create sciatica and pain congruent with the nerve level being affected. It is often made worse with prolonged standing or walking and can feel like cramping, weakness in the legs or feet, and pins and needles. Often, sitting, walking with an aid, or flexion of the spine makes it feel better, as it opens the nerve space, and extension or prolonged standing makes it worse, as that closes the nerve space. Treatment typically begins with non-surgical options and progresses to surgery for the more severe, unresponsive cases.
Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis is a spinal condition where one vertebra slips forward out of its normal position over the bone beneath it. This typically happens in the lower back and creates a narrowing around the exiting nerve root. This can be asymptomatic, or it can create sciatica and leg pain. This can be diagnosed with X-ray. At McClimon Chiropractic, the best treatment is a step-by-step conservative approach, first focusing on non-surgical methods like chiropractic, with surgery reserved for the more severe, non-responsive cases.
Check Out Our Location Near You
Our office sits right on Main St in the heart of Birdsboro, just
8 miles from Reading — Main St runs straight into Reading, so it’s
an easy, direct drive either way. We’re proud to help patients
throughout Birdsboro, Douglassville, and Reading find lasting
pain relief.
3346 Main St, Birdsboro, PA 19508
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do to relieve my sciatica pain in Birdsboro, PA?
You can visit McClimon Chiropractic, which has been helping eliminate sciatica for over 20 years.
Should I see a doctor or chiropractor about sciatica?
Yes. A chiropractor is trained to evaluate and treat sciatica. Our success rates show 70–90% of patients experience significant pain relief in 4 to 6 weeks.
What is the best treatment for sciatica?
Sciatica is created from inflammation creating pressure on the nerve or nerves in the lower back. This is usually caused by misalignment or subluxation and arthritis, which narrows the space for the nerve root and creates inflammation that puts pressure on it. The best and most common solution to resolve nerve pressure and sciatica is removing the inflammation and pressure. At McClimon Chiropractic, the adjustment is the best way to restore alignment, reduce inflammation, and restore nerve function, addressing the root cause of the sciatica instead of just masking the symptoms.
How should I lie or sleep with sciatica?
Flexion of the spine opens the lower back nerve holes, and extension of the spine closes them, creating more nerve pressure. So, sleeping on your side in the fetal position with your knees up creates flexion and opens the space for the nerve, usually creating some relief. If you lie on your belly, this creates more extension and more nerve pressure. This is why pushing a shopping cart feels better than just standing or walking upright.
How long does sciatica last?
Sciatica can last from a few days to months, depending on the severity of subluxation, arthritis, and disc problem.
Can stretching make sciatica worse?
Yes, stretching can make sciatica worse if the stretching creates extension of the lower back. Do not do extension exercises with sciatica, or you will aggravate it. Flexion exercises are fine and can help.
What is better for sciatica, acupuncture or a chiropractor?
A chiropractor. A chiropractor is the only healthcare provider trained to detect and correct subluxation, removing pressure from the nervous system without drugs or surgery.
How do I get my sciatic nerve to stop hurting?
For the best relief at home, it’s best to start with icing 3x per day for 20 to 30 minutes and avoiding any kind of extension exercises. To address the root cause of the sciatica, it’s best to see a chiropractor to evaluate for spinal misalignment or subluxation through an exam and X-rays, and receive a series of adjustments to remove the misalignment, remove nerve pressure, and restore function and health in the body.
What causes sciatica flare-ups?
The number one reason sciatica flares up is from subluxation or spinal misalignment creating inflammation and pressure on the nerve root. So, the real cause of a flare-up is not correcting the underlying structural problem that is creating nerve impingement. Trying to correct a mechanical problem with a chemical solution may alter the symptoms, but it does not address the root cause. Other causes can include spinal extension exercises, which close the space around the nerve roots, bending at the waist and lifting, poor posture, and using heat instead of ice.
Should I go to the gym with sciatica?
No. Sciatica usually develops from inflammation putting pressure on a nerve. This often comes from structural misalignment, which compromises the muscular and nervous systems. If you exercise, you will most likely be exercising dysfunctionally, and it could make things worse. Rest, ice, and see your chiropractor to have your structure evaluated for subluxation, so you not only get out of pain, but exercise functionally to avoid future injury.
What exercises help with sciatica?
To ease sciatic pain, focus on core stabilization and gentle stretching. Try the piriformis stretch and knee-to-chest stretch to open the nerve holes in the lower back. Make sure to flex the knee on the affected side more, as that is the side with the nerve pressure, and you will feel it give some relief. Keep the affected leg bent during sleep to lessen impingement and irritation at night. Do not do any extension exercises, as they will make it worse.
$149 New Patient Special
Includes Neurological Functional Assessment & Spinal Image, Consultation, Exam, X-Rays & Doctor’s Report of Findings.
