Back Pain and Sciatica Treatment Denver

There’s nothing quite like sciatica to make you miserable. That shooting pain down your leg. The burning sensation in your butt. The numbness in your foot. And the back pain on top of it all that makes you wonder if you’re ever gonna feel normal again.

I had a patient from Cherry Creek come in last month who’d been dealing with sciatica for six weeks. She couldn’t sit for more than 10 minutes without excruciating pain shooting down her left leg. Couldn’t sleep. Couldn’t work. Couldn’t do anything without that constant reminder that something was seriously wrong.

Turns out she had a herniated disc at L5-S1 pressing right on her sciatic nerve. Three weeks of treatment and she was back to sitting through meetings at work. Six weeks and she was hiking at Red Rocks again.

I’ve been treating back pain and sciatica here in Glendale for over 14 years now. These are some of the most rewarding cases to treat because people are usually so miserable when they come in and so relieved when they start getting better.

So let’s talk about what’s actually causing your back pain and sciatica, why it hurts so much, and how we can get you out of pain without surgery or a lifetime of pain pills.

What’s Really Causing Your Sciatica Pain

Here’s the thing about sciatica – it’s not actually a diagnosis. It’s a symptom. Sciatica pain just means you’ve got pain radiating down the path of your sciatic nerve which runs from your lower back down through your butt and leg all the way to your foot.

But what’s causing that pain? That’s what we need to figure out.

Most of the time it’s a herniated or bulging disc. The discs between your vertebrae act like cushions. When one of those discs bulges out or herniates it can press on the sciatic nerve. That’s when you get the shooting pain down your leg that makes you want to cry.

Sometimes it’s spinal stenosis. That’s when the spaces in your spine narrow and put pressure on the nerves. More common as you get older but I’ve seen it in younger people too.

Could be piriformis syndrome. Your piriformis muscle is in your butt. When it gets tight or goes into spasm it can compress the sciatic nerve. This one gets misdiagnosed all the time and people end up getting treatment for the wrong thing for months.

Degenerative disc disease is another one. As discs wear down over time they cause inflammation and nerve irritation. Not as dramatic as a herniation but it still hurts like all get out.

Or spondylolisthesis where one vertebra slips forward over another. Can put pressure on nerves including the sciatic nerve.

SI joint dysfunction can also cause lower back pain that radiates into your leg mimicking sciatica pain.

I had this guy from University Hills who came in convinced he had sciatica. Pain down his right leg, numbness in his foot, the whole deal. Turns out his piriformis muscle was in severe spasm from sitting at a desk all day. We loosened up that muscle, fixed his posture, and his “sciatica” was gone in two weeks. Wasn’t even a disc problem.

That’s why proper diagnosis matters. You can’t treat sciatica pain effectively if you don’t know what’s causing it.

Understanding Herniated Discs and Nerve Pain

Let me explain what’s actually happening when you’ve got herniated discs causing nerve pain. Your discs have a tough outer layer and a soft jelly-like center. When that outer layer tears or weakens the jelly can push out. That’s a herniation.

The problem is your spinal nerves run right next to your discs. When a disc herniates it can press directly on a nerve. That’s what causes the nerve pain shooting down your leg. The sciatic nerve is the biggest nerve in your body so when it gets compressed the pain is intense.

Herniated discs don’t always cause symptoms. You could have a disc bulge and not even know it. But when they press on a nerve? That’s when you know something’s wrong.

The nerve pain from herniated discs is different than regular back pain. It’s sharper. More electrical. Burns or tingles. Radiates down specific paths depending on which nerve is compressed. With sciatica the pain follows the sciatic nerve down your butt and leg sometimes all the way to your foot.

I’ve had patients describe it as lightning bolts shooting down their leg. Or like someone’s holding a blowtorch to the back of their thigh. Or numbness that makes them feel like their foot’s not even there. That’s nerve pain and it’s miserable.

The good news? Herniated discs can heal. Your body can reabsorb that herniated material over time with proper treatment and pain management. Surgery isn’t always necessary even though a lot of doctors jump straight to recommending it.

Why Denver Back Pain and Sciatica Hurt So Much

If you’ve got sciatica you already know it hurts. Your sciatic nerve is the biggest nerve in your body. About as thick as your pinky finger. When something compresses or irritates that nerve it sends pain signals that are intense and hard to ignore.

The back pain part usually comes from whatever’s causing the sciatica. If you’ve got a herniated disc the disc itself is injured and inflamed. The muscles around it go into spasm trying to protect the area. Your spine gets misaligned. All of that creates pain in your lower back.

Then add the nerve pain shooting down your leg and you’ve got a really unpleasant situation. Some people have more back pain. Some people have more leg pain. Some unlucky folks have both equally bad.

What makes sciatica especially frustrating is that it affects everything. You can’t sit comfortably. Standing too long hurts. Walking can make it worse. Lying down might help or it might not depending on your position. You’re constantly trying to find a position that doesn’t hurt and usually failing.

I’ve had patients tell me sciatica is worse than childbirth. I can’t verify that personally but I believe them based on how miserable they are when they come in. One woman told me she’d rather go through labor again than deal with another sciatica flare-up.

The altitude here in Denver doesn’t help either. Some people find their back pain gets worse at altitude though the research on that is mixed. What I do know is that people here are active – hiking, skiing, biking – and when sciatica hits it takes away all those activities they love.

How Chiropractic Treatment Helps with Sciatic Pain

A lot of people don’t realize that chiropractors are actually specialists in treating sciatica. They think we just crack backs and maybe help with minor aches and pains. Sciatica pain and disc problems? That’s literally a huge part of what we do.

When you come in with back pain and sciatica I’m looking at the whole picture. What’s causing the nerve compression? Where’s the inflammation? What’s your spinal alignment like? How are you moving? What makes it better or worse?

Then we figure out a treatment plan based on what’s actually wrong. Not just “you have sciatica” but figuring out exactly why you have it.

Spinal adjustments help restore proper alignment and take pressure off the nerve. We’re careful with disc cases – gentle techniques that don’t make things worse. I’m not gonna twist you like a pretzel if you’ve got a herniated disc.

Non-surgical spinal decompression is huge for disc-related sciatica. We use a special table that gently stretches your spine creating negative pressure in the disc. That can help pull the herniated material back in and take pressure off the nerve. It’s not painful – most people find it really relieving. Some people even fall asleep during decompression therapy.

This is where a lot of back pain specialists focus their treatment for herniated discs. Non-surgical spinal decompression has become one of the most effective options we have for avoiding surgery while still getting real results.

Soft tissue therapy addresses muscle spasms and tightness. Your piriformis, hip flexors, hamstrings – all of these can contribute to or result from sciatica. We work on loosening everything up. Sometimes this is uncomfortable but in a good way.

You also need exercises and stretches. Specific movements to reduce nerve irritation and strengthen supporting muscles. You can’t just get adjusted and expect to be fixed. Gotta do the work at home too as part of your pain management plan.

And we fix your posture. Because often poor posture is contributing to the problem. If you sit hunched over a computer all day we need to address that or you’re just gonna keep herniating discs.

Most people start feeling better within the first week or two. The shooting pain down the leg usually improves first. Then the back pain. Then we work on getting you back to full function so it doesn’t come back.

Why Some Pain Management Approaches Don’t Work for Sciatica

I see a lot of people who’ve tried other stuff before coming to see me. They’ve been to physical therapy. They’ve had injections. They’ve tried acupuncture. They’ve been on pain meds for months. Nothing helped or it only helped temporarily.

Traditional pain management with pills just masks the pain but doesn’t fix what’s causing it. As soon as you stop taking them the pain comes back. Same with muscle relaxers. You’re just covering up the problem.

Generic physical therapy exercises might help a little but if you’ve got herniated discs you need specific treatment for that. Random stretches and exercises won’t cut it. You need specialists who understand disc problems and nerve pain.

Massage feels good but if you’re not doing anything to fix the underlying problem you’re just getting temporary relief. You feel better for a day then it’s back.

Some treatments make sciatica worse. Deep tissue massage on an inflamed nerve. Aggressive stretching that irritates a herniated disc. You need the right treatment at the right time. That’s where working with specialists who understand sciatica pain makes all the difference.

And you can’t just do one thing. You need adjustments AND decompression therapy AND soft tissue work AND exercises. One piece of the puzzle isn’t enough for effective pain management.

I had a patient from Glendale who’d done six weeks of physical therapy for her sciatica. She said it helped a little but she still couldn’t sit through dinner without pain. We did a thorough exam and found she had a disc bulge that was never properly addressed. Added non-surgical spinal decompression to her treatment and she was pain-free in four weeks. She was mad nobody had suggested it sooner.

What to Expect with Treatment

When you come in with back pain and sciatica here’s what happens.

First visit we do a complete history and exam. I need to know when the pain started, what makes it worse, what makes it better, if you’ve had this before, all that stuff. Then I examine your spine, test your reflexes and nerve function, check your range of motion.

Sometimes we need X-rays. Or I might refer you for an MRI if I suspect significant herniated discs.

Once I know what’s wrong I’ll explain it in plain English. Not medical jargon. And I’ll tell you honestly what I think it’s gonna take to get you better. For most sciatica cases we’re looking at 8-12 weeks of treatment and therapy. Acute cases might be shorter. Chronic cases might take longer.

Usually you’ll come in 2-3 times per week for the first few weeks when you’re most painful. As you improve we space visits out. By the end you might be coming once a week or every other week.

Adjustments might crack but they shouldn’t hurt. Non-surgical spinal decompression feels like a gentle stretch. Soft tissue therapy can be a bit uncomfortable in a good way if you’re really tight. Most people leave feeling better than when they came in.

Most people notice some improvement within the first week or two. The sharp shooting nerve pain usually decreases first. Then the constant ache in your back. Full recovery takes longer but you should be feeling significantly better within a month.

I’ll give you exercises and stretches to do at home as part of your pain management routine. Ice or heat depending on what phase you’re in. Activity modifications. You have to do your part.

I’m not gonna lie – treating sciatica takes time. It’s not a one-and-done thing. But if you stick with treatment and therapy most people get really good results without needing surgery.

When Surgery Might Be Necessary

I’m a chiropractor so obviously I prefer conservative treatment. But I’m also realistic. Some cases need surgery and there’s no point pretending otherwise.

You might need surgery if you have cauda equina syndrome. That’s severe nerve compression causing loss of bowel or bladder control. This is an emergency – go to the ER immediately if this happens.

Or if you have progressive weakness in your leg that’s getting worse despite treatment.

Or if the pain is so severe it’s completely debilitating and nothing helps.

Or if conservative treatment and pain management for 3-4 months hasn’t helped at all.

Or if you have massive herniated discs that are unlikely to improve without surgery.

But here’s the thing – most sciatica cases don’t need surgery. Studies show that conservative treatment works for about 85-90% of people with disc-related sciatica pain. Surgery should be a last resort after you’ve tried everything else including non-surgical spinal decompression.

I had a patient last year who came in with terrible sciatica. Her orthopedist told her she needed surgery. She wanted to try conservative treatment first. We did 12 weeks of intensive treatment and therapy. Her pain went from 9 out of 10 to 1 out of 10. She never ended up needing surgery. She sent me a thank you card with a picture of her hiking.

That’s not always how it goes. Some people do need surgery. But it’s worth trying conservative treatment first because the success rate is actually really good and surgery has its own risks and recovery time.

Why Sciatica Comes Back and How to Prevent It

Here’s what nobody tells you about sciatica – even after it gets better it can come back if you don’t address the underlying issues. That’s why ongoing pain management and prevention is so important.

I’ve treated people who’ve had multiple episodes of sciatica over the years. Each time it comes back they’re frustrated. “I thought we fixed this!”

But if the thing that caused your sciatica in the first place is still there you’re at risk for it happening again.

Poor posture. If you sit hunched over at a desk all day and we fix your sciatica but you go right back to sitting hunched over, guess what? It’s gonna come back. Maybe not next week but eventually. Your back pain will return.

Weak core muscles. Your core supports your spine. If those muscles are weak your spine has to work harder and your discs take more stress.

Tight hip flexors and hamstrings. These pull on your pelvis and lower back creating stress on your discs and nerves.

Bad lifting mechanics. Keep lifting heavy things with a rounded back and you’re asking for trouble with herniated discs again.

Being overweight. Every extra pound puts more stress on your lower back and discs. Not fun to hear but it’s true.

Sitting all day. Terrible for your back. Your discs don’t get proper nutrition when you’re not moving.

That’s why the rehab phase of therapy is so important. We strengthen your core. Improve your flexibility. Fix your posture. Teach you proper body mechanics. Give you exercises to keep doing after treatment is done.

I had this patient from Virginia Village who kept having sciatica flare-ups every few months. We’d get him better then a few months later he’d be back. Finally I said look, we need to address your core strength and your sitting posture or this is just gonna keep happening. We added exercises and ergonomic changes at his desk. That was three years ago and he hasn’t had a flare-up since. He actually sends me referrals now.

Prevention is always easier than treatment. And cheaper.

Living with Chronic Nerve Pain and Back Pain

Some people have been dealing with back pain and sciatica for months or years by the time they come see me. It’s become their new normal. They’ve adjusted their whole life around the nerve pain.

They can’t play with their kids. Can’t exercise. Can’t sit through a movie. Can’t sleep through the night. Can’t do their job properly. The pain is always there affecting everything.

That’s no way to live.

Even chronic sciatica pain can improve with proper treatment and pain management. Yeah it might take longer than acute sciatica. You might need more intensive therapy. But improvement is possible even when you’ve been dealing with it for years.

I’ve treated people who’ve had sciatica for five years who thought they’d just have to live with it. We got them better. Not overnight. But over a few months of consistent treatment and therapy we reduced their pain significantly and got them back to doing things they’d given up on.

One guy told me he hadn’t been able to play golf for three years because of sciatica. After treatment including non-surgical spinal decompression he was back on the course. He said it felt like getting his life back.

Don’t resign yourself to living with chronic nerve pain. There are treatment options that can help.

What About Sciatica During Pregnancy

This comes up a lot. Women who are pregnant develop sciatica and don’t know if they can get treated or if they just have to suffer through it.

Pregnancy-related sciatica is really common. Your growing belly shifts your center of gravity forward. Your pelvis changes position. Hormones loosen your ligaments. All of this can lead to sciatica pain. Plus you’re gaining weight which puts more stress on your back.

Good news – chiropractic care is safe during pregnancy and can really help with pain management. We use gentle techniques appropriate for pregnant women. We’re specialists in pregnancy-related back issues.

Treatment and therapy focuses on keeping your pelvis aligned, addressing muscle tightness, and giving you exercises and stretches that are safe to do while pregnant.

I’ve treated dozens of pregnant women with sciatica over the years. Most get significant relief and can finish their pregnancy without constant nerve pain. Some keep coming in even after delivery because it helped so much.

Don’t just suffer through pregnancy-related back pain thinking there’s nothing you can do. There are safe treatment options. You’ve got enough to deal with being pregnant without adding constant pain to the mix.

Common Mistakes People Make with Sciatica

I see people make the same mistakes over and over. Let me save you some suffering:

Waiting too long to get help. “I’ll wait and see if it gets better” turns into months of unnecessary pain. Get checked out early.

Just relying on pain management pills. Pills might mask the pain but they don’t fix anything. You’re just delaying treatment and possibly creating other problems.

Trying to stretch it out with random stretches. Can make sciatica worse especially if you have herniated discs. You need specific stretches done correctly. YouTube stretches are hit or miss.

Complete bed rest. Lying in bed all day actually makes sciatica worse. You need gentle movement and therapy.

Pushing through the pain at the gym. Can cause more damage. Rest and proper treatment first then gradually return to activity.

Stopping treatment too soon. As soon as people start feeling better they stop treatment and therapy. Then they’re shocked when the nerve pain comes back.

Not doing home exercises. You can’t just get adjusted and expect to be fixed. Gotta do the exercises at home as part of your pain management routine.

Ignoring the root cause. If poor posture caused your sciatica and you don’t fix your posture it’s gonna happen again.

I had a patient who kept canceling appointments once he started feeling better. Then his sciatica would flare back up and he’d be frustrated. Finally I explained that we hadn’t finished treatment – we’d just gotten the acute pain under control. He committed to finishing and hasn’t had problems since.

Working with Back Pain Specialists in Glendale

We’re located at 425 S. Cherry St., Suite 307 in Glendale. Easy to get to from anywhere in the Denver metro. Cherry Creek, University Hills, downtown, Aurora, Lakewood, wherever. Parking right there.

I’ve been treating back pain and sciatica for over 14 years. It’s a major focus of my practice because these conditions respond so well to chiropractic care when done right. As specialists in treating herniated discs and nerve pain, we’ve developed comprehensive approaches that work.

We use multiple techniques and therapy options:

• Specific chiropractic adjustments
• Non-surgical spinal decompression for disc problems
• Soft tissue therapy for muscle issues
• Therapeutic exercises
• Ergonomic and posture advice
• Activity modifications during healing
• Long-term pain management and prevention strategies

We also work with your insurance. Most insurance plans cover chiropractic care. We verify benefits upfront so you know what to expect.

And we’re upfront about timelines. I’ll tell you realistically what I think it’s gonna take to get you better. No false promises. Just straight talk about your condition and what we need to do.

Getting Started with Back Pain and Sciatica Treatment

If you’re dealing with back pain and sciatica don’t wait. The sooner you start treatment the better your outcome.

Call us at 720-889-1659 to schedule. We can usually get you in within a day or two. Don’t let nerve pain control your life any longer.

Bring any recent X-rays or MRIs if you have them. Bring your insurance card. And bring a list of any medications you’re taking.

Your first visit will take about 30 minutes. We’ll do a thorough exam, figure out what’s causing your sciatica pain, and start treatment if appropriate.

You don’t have to live with back pain and sciatica. You don’t have to just rely on pain pills forever. You don’t need surgery for most cases. Conservative treatment including non-surgical spinal decompression works really well.

Let’s get you out of pain and back to living normally. That shooting nerve pain down your leg? We can fix that. The constant ache in your back? We can help with that too.

Stop suffering. Call us today. As specialists in treating herniated discs and sciatica, we know how to help you get better.