Sciatica

Sciatica Didn’t Start When You Felt It

Most people can point to a specific moment when the pain began — bending over to pick something up, getting out of the car, maybe reaching for something overhead. It feels sudden. But in almost every case, the sciatica had been developing quietly for months or years before that painful moment.

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body, running from the lumbar spine and pelvis all the way down through the leg. When the vertebrae or discs in the lower back shift out of alignment and begin placing pressure on that nerve, the body compensates — sometimes for a long time — before the pain becomes impossible to ignore.

What We’re Looking For When You Have Sciatica

The lumbar spine and pelvis are complex, and identifying the true source of sciatic irritation requires more than a physical exam. At Cornerstone, we use detailed X-rays and thermography to see exactly what’s happening structurally — which vertebrae are misaligned, how the discs are positioned, and where nerve interference is occurring. That precision is what allows us to correct the cause rather than chase the symptom.

On Surgery — and Why Most People Don’t Need It

Back surgery is far more common in the United States than it should be — and the outcomes are sobering. Research suggests spinal surgery is effective in only about 15% of cases over a five-year period. That’s a significant intervention with a low success rate. For the vast majority of sciatica cases, the issue is structural and correctable through precise, conservative chiropractic care.