Sciatica Treatment - Chiropractor
in Memphis, TN
Shooting pain down your leg, numbness in your foot, that electric jolt every time you stand up — sciatica makes everything harder. Dr. Matt Hayden treats sciatica at the source: the spine. When we remove the pressure on your sciatic nerve, the pain, tingling, and weakness resolve — often without surgery or medication.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica is pain caused by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve — the largest nerve in your body, running from your lower back through your hips and down each leg. It's not a condition in itself — it's a symptom of an underlying problem in the lumbar spine.
Common causes include herniated or bulging discs, spinal misalignment, spinal stenosis, piriformis syndrome, and degenerative disc disease.
Common Symptoms
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Shooting or burning pain from the low back into the buttock, thigh, or calf
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Numbness or tingling in the leg or foot
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Weakness in the affected leg
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Pain that worsens with sitting, standing, or bending
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Symptoms typically affect one side of the body
How Chiropractic Treats Sciatica
Dr. Hayden evaluates your lumbar spine to pinpoint exactly what's compressing the nerve. Treatment focuses on corrective chiropractic adjustments that restore spinal alignment, reduce disc pressure, and free the sciatic nerve from compression. For most patients, this produces significant relief without drugs or surgery.
Spinal Decompression for Sciatica
For disc-related sciatica — herniated discs, bulging discs, or degenerative changes — Dr. Hayden may recommend non-surgical spinal decompression.
This motorized traction therapy gently separates the vertebrae, creates negative pressure within the disc, and allows bulging or herniated material to retract — relieving nerve compression at the source.
Why Choose Us
Dr. Hayden has been treating sciatica in downtown Memphis since 2006. His evaluation process identifies the precise cause of nerve compression — not just the symptoms — so your care plan directly targets the root of the problem. For disc-related cases, the combination of chiropractic adjustments and spinal decompression is one of the most effective non-surgical approaches available for true sciatic nerve relief.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a chiropractor help with sciatica?
Yes. Most sciatica is caused by spinal misalignment or disc issues compressing the nerve. Chiropractic adjustments and decompression address those root causes directly.
How long does sciatica take to heal with chiropractic?
Many patients feel meaningful relief within the first few visits. Full resolution depends on the cause and severity — disc-related sciatica typically requires a longer corrective plan.
What causes sciatica?
The most common causes are herniated discs, spinal misalignment, spinal stenosis, piriformis syndrome, and degenerative disc disease — all of which create pressure on the sciatic nerve.
Is spinal decompression good for sciatica?
Yes. Decompression is one of the most effective non-surgical treatments for disc-related sciatica. It relieves pressure on the nerve by gently retracting bulging or herniated disc material.