Find Out What May Be Irritating Your Sciatic Nerve
Sciatica can cause pain, burning, tingling, numbness, or aching that travels from the lower back or buttock into the leg. The goal of your evaluation is to determine what may actually be contributing to those symptoms.
At Godo Chiropractic in Lakeview Chicago, Dr. Jason Godo evaluates the lower back, pelvis, hips, piriformis, neurological findings, posture, and movement patterns to determine whether chiropractic care may be appropriate.
Do These Sciatica Symptoms Sound Familiar?
Sciatic nerve irritation can present differently from one patient to another. Dr. Godo commonly evaluates patients experiencing:
- Buttock pain, especially on one side
- Pain traveling down the back or side of the leg
- Burning or electric-type pain
- Tingling or numbness in the leg or foot
- Calf or foot symptoms
- Pain aggravated by prolonged sitting
- Pain with bending or getting out of a chair
- Pain with standing or walking
- Tightness through the buttock or piriformis area
- Symptoms that temporarily improve but repeatedly return
Not every case of leg pain is sciatica, and not every case of sciatica has the same source. Your examination helps determine which structures and movement patterns appear most relevant.
If numbness, tingling, or leg weakness is one of your main symptoms, learn more about how sciatica can cause numbness or weakness in the leg .
Piriformis Syndrome or Sciatica From the Lower Back?
One of the most important parts of evaluating sciatic pain is determining whether symptoms appear to originate primarily from the lumbar spine or whether the muscles around the hip and buttock are significantly involved.
In many patients, the problem is not simply a lumbar disc. Piriformis involvement, muscle imbalance, shortened hip flexors, tight hamstrings, dominant adductors, prolonged sitting, and athletic compensation may all influence how the pelvis and lower back function.
Piriformis & Muscular Involvement
The piriformis is a deep muscle in the buttock located close to the sciatic nerve. Excessive tension, overuse, muscle imbalance, altered pelvic mechanics, or repetitive movement may make the piriformis region a significant contributor to sciatic-type symptoms.
This is a pattern Dr. Godo frequently sees and one he particularly focuses on during a sciatica evaluation.
Lumbar Disc & Spinal Involvement
Herniated or bulging discs, degenerative changes, joint irritation, and inflammation around the lumbar spine may also irritate or place pressure on nerve structures.
Dr. Godo commonly treats patients who have already been diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation or degenerative disc changes when the examination indicates that conservative chiropractic care is appropriate.
The Painful Nerve May Not Be the Entire Problem
Some patients experience temporary improvement only to have their sciatica return after sitting, exercising, traveling, working, or resuming normal activity.
One reason is that the underlying mechanical pattern may still be present.
If your symptoms repeatedly improve and return, our guide explains why recurring pain may keep coming back after temporary relief .
Shortened Hip Flexors
Prolonged sitting may shorten the muscles at the front of the hip and influence pelvic position and lower-back mechanics.
Tight Lower Back
Restricted lumbar and pelvic movement may increase mechanical demand on surrounding muscles during standing, walking, lifting, and exercise.
Hamstring Dysfunction
Tightness, weakness, or poor coordination of the hamstrings can influence hip and pelvic movement and increase compensation.
Dominant Adductors
Overactive or disproportionately developed inner-thigh muscles may alter hip mechanics and contribute to muscular imbalance around the pelvis.
Rounded Shoulder Posture
A forward-rounded upper body can increase tension through the latissimus muscles and alter movement through the thoracic and lumbar spine.
Piriformis Overwork
When surrounding muscles and movement patterns are not functioning efficiently, the piriformis may be required to work harder and may become part of the pain pattern.
Sitting Habits and Sports Can Create One-Sided Compensation
Sciatica is not always caused by a single injury.
Repetitive habits may gradually create asymmetry in how the hips, pelvis, and lower back move.
Dr. Godo frequently evaluates factors such as:
- Long periods of sitting
- Crossing one leg repeatedly
- Sitting unevenly at a desk or in a car
- One-sided lifting or carrying
- Golf and other rotational sports
- Tennis and pickleball movement patterns
- Hockey skating and rotational mechanics
- Weightlifting and gym-related compensation
- Previous injuries that changed movement habits
Identifying these patterns can be important when symptoms repeatedly return despite treating only the painful area.
$29 AI-Assisted Posture & Pain Assessment
The first step is determining whether your symptoms appear to involve the lumbar spine, piriformis, muscle imbalance, posture, movement compensation, or a combination of factors.
Your sciatica assessment may include:
- Consultation with Dr. Godo
- Review of your symptoms and health history
- AI-assisted posture and body assessment
- Lumbar and pelvic range-of-motion testing
- Orthopedic testing
- Straight-leg raise and nerve-tension testing when appropriate
- Neurological evaluation
- Reflex testing when indicated
- Sensation and muscle-strength testing
- Applied Kinesiology and manual muscle testing
- Piriformis and hip evaluation
- Hamstring and hip-flexor assessment
- Movement and functional testing
- Postural analysis
- Discussion of findings and treatment recommendations
What If You Have Already Tried Other Treatments?
Many patients come to Godo Chiropractic after their symptoms have continued despite trying one or more approaches.
You may have already tried:
- Anti-inflammatory or pain medication
- Muscle relaxers
- Physical therapy
- Massage therapy
- Stretching programs
- Exercise programs
- Rest or reduced activity
- Injections
- Waiting for the symptoms to resolve on their own
Previous treatment does not necessarily mean that nothing else can be evaluated. Dr. Godo looks at the entire mechanical pattern to determine whether an overlooked muscle, joint, posture, or movement factor may still be contributing.
What Sciatica Treatment May Include
Treatment depends on what the examination identifies. Dr. Godo does not use the same treatment plan for every person with sciatic pain.
Chiropractic Treatment
Appropriate chiropractic adjustments or joint mobilization may be used to address restricted movement through the lower back, pelvis, SI joints, or hips.
Piriformis & Soft-Tissue Treatment
Manual techniques may address excessive tension through the piriformis, gluteal muscles, hamstrings, hip flexors, adductors, and other tissues involved in the movement pattern.
Muscle Balancing
Applied Kinesiology and manual muscle testing may help evaluate muscle function, weakness, inhibition, overactivity, or compensation affecting the lower back, pelvis, and hip.
Mobility & Exercise
Stretching, mobility exercises, strengthening, and corrective movements may be recommended based on your findings.
Posture & Activity Changes
Sitting position, workstation habits, training mechanics, and repetitive movement may be addressed when they appear to be contributing to recurring symptoms.
What Happens During Your Sciatica Evaluation?
Tell Dr. Godo What You Are Feeling
Your visit begins with a detailed discussion of where the symptoms travel, when they began, what aggravates them, previous diagnoses, imaging, treatment, work habits, exercise, and daily activities.
Identify the Pattern
Dr. Godo evaluates neurological findings, lumbar and pelvic mechanics, piriformis function, muscle balance, posture, movement, and other factors relevant to your symptoms.
Review the Findings
Dr. Godo explains which findings appear most important and whether chiropractic treatment is appropriate.
Begin Care When Appropriate
Treatment may begin during the same appointment when the examination indicates that conservative care is safe and appropriate.
Why Patients Choose Godo Chiropractic for Sciatica
- More than 23 years of clinical experience
- Acute and chronic sciatica care
- Special focus on piriformis and muscular involvement
- Evaluation of lumbar disc and degenerative conditions
- Neurological and orthopedic testing when indicated
- Applied Kinesiology and manual muscle testing
- AI-assisted posture and body assessment
- Assessment of muscle imbalance and movement compensation
- Chiropractic and manual therapy in the same visit
- Corrective exercise and mobility recommendations
- Every examination performed directly by Dr. Godo
- Every treatment performed directly by Dr. Godo
- No handoff to therapy aides or provider assistants
- Convenient Lakeview Chicago location
If you are comparing chiropractic providers, our guide explains what to look for when choosing a chiropractor in Chicago .
Sciatica and Lower Back Pain Can Overlap
Sciatica frequently occurs with lower-back pain, but the two are not identical. Some people experience primarily lumbar pain without nerve symptoms, while others have significant leg symptoms with relatively little back pain.
If lower-back pain is your primary complaint, learn more about our back pain chiropractic evaluation in Lakeview Chicago .
When Sciatica Symptoms Need Urgent Medical Evaluation
Most sciatic symptoms are not medical emergencies, but certain findings require prompt medical assessment rather than routine chiropractic treatment.
Seek urgent medical evaluation for symptoms such as:
- New loss of bowel or bladder control
- Numbness in the saddle or groin area
- Rapidly progressing leg weakness
- Severe neurological loss
- Significant recent trauma
- Suspected fracture
- Fever or signs of significant infection
- History or concern for cancer or tumor
- Unexplained severe or rapidly worsening pain
- Findings suggesting severe spinal stenosis or another condition requiring medical evaluation
Dr. Godo may also recommend imaging or referral when the examination indicates that additional diagnostic information is needed before treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sciatica Chiropractic Care
Where can I find a sciatica chiropractor in Chicago?
Godo Chiropractic is located in Lakeview Chicago and provides individualized sciatica evaluations for leg pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, piriformis-related symptoms, and lower-back nerve irritation. Treatment recommendations depend on the examination findings and whether chiropractic care is appropriate for the individual case.
Can a chiropractor help with sciatica?
Chiropractic care may be appropriate for some cases of sciatica involving mechanical, muscular, joint, or movement-related factors. An examination is necessary to determine whether conservative treatment is appropriate for your specific presentation.
What is the difference between sciatica and piriformis syndrome?
Sciatica describes symptoms associated with irritation of the sciatic nerve. Piriformis syndrome refers to a pattern in which the piriformis region appears to contribute to irritation or sciatic-type symptoms around the buttock and leg.
Can tight muscles contribute to sciatica?
Muscle imbalance, restricted hip mobility, shortened hip flexors, tight hamstrings, dominant adductors, and excessive piriformis tension may contribute to altered pelvic and lower-back mechanics in some patients.
Can sitting make sciatica worse?
Yes. Prolonged or asymmetrical sitting can aggravate symptoms in some people and may contribute to shortened hip flexors, increased muscular tension, and altered pelvic mechanics.
Do you treat sciatica from a herniated disc?
Dr. Godo evaluates many patients with known lumbar disc herniation or degenerative disc changes. Whether chiropractic treatment is appropriate depends on the patient's examination, neurological findings, imaging when available, and overall clinical presentation.
Do I need an MRI before seeing a chiropractor for sciatica?
Not every patient needs an MRI before beginning conservative care. Imaging may be recommended when the history, examination, neurological findings, trauma, or other clinical concerns indicate that additional information is needed.
Do you treat both acute and chronic sciatica?
Yes. Dr. Godo evaluates both recently developed and long-standing sciatic symptoms, provided that the examination indicates chiropractic care is appropriate.
What if physical therapy or medication did not solve my sciatica?
Previous treatment does not necessarily mean that every potential contributing factor has been evaluated. Dr. Godo may examine posture, muscle balance, piriformis function, hip mobility, sitting habits, and movement compensation in addition to the lumbar spine.
Does the $29 assessment include treatment?
The $29 assessment includes consultation, examination, AI-assisted posture and body assessment, and discussion of findings and recommendations. Treatment is separate unless specifically stated.
Can treatment begin during my first visit?
Treatment may begin during the same appointment when Dr. Godo's examination indicates that conservative chiropractic care is safe and appropriate.
Are same-day appointments available?
Same-day appointments may be available depending on the office schedule. Call (773) 525-0007 for current availability.
Sciatica Chiropractor Near You in Chicago
Godo Chiropractic is located at 3118 N. Sheffield Avenue, Unit 1S, Chicago, Illinois 60657.
We provide sciatica chiropractic care for patients from:
- Lakeview
- Lincoln Park
- Wrigleyville
- Northalsted
- Roscoe Village
- Uptown
- River North
- Other Chicago neighborhoods
Schedule Your $29 Sciatica Assessment
Whether your sciatica started recently or has been returning for months, the first step is identifying what may be contributing to the irritation.
Schedule online or call Godo Chiropractic with questions about your symptoms.
3118 N. Sheffield Avenue, Unit 1S
Chicago, IL 60657
Individual results vary. Information on this page is educational and is not a substitute for individualized medical evaluation, diagnosis, or emergency care.
