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Understanding Sciatica and How Chiropractic Care Can Help

  • September 17, 2026

Episode Notes:

In this episode, Dr. Hartung from Family Chiropractic Center in Robinson Township takes a deep dive into one of the most common complaints he hears in his office: sciatica. He explains what sciatica actually is, what causes it, and why that sharp, shooting pain running down your leg can be so debilitating. Dr. Hartung walks listeners through how chiropractic care addresses the root causes of sciatic pain rather than just masking the symptoms. Whether you are currently suffering from sciatica or simply want to understand it better, this episode offers practical insights and hope for relief. Tune in to learn how Dr. Kevin Hartung and the team at Family Chiropractic Center are helping people in Robinson Township get back to living pain-free.

Hey there, and welcome back. I’m Doctor Hartung, and you’re listening to the Family Chiropractic Center podcast, coming to you from right here in Robinson Township. Today we’re talking about something I hear about constantly in my office, and honestly, something that affects so many people in our community. We’re talking about sciatica.

Now, if you’ve ever felt that sharp, shooting pain running down your leg, you already know how miserable it can be. And if you haven’t, well, I hope you never do. But I want to help you understand what’s actually going on when sciatica strikes, and what you can do about it.

So let me break this down for you. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your entire body. It starts in your lower back, runs right through your hips and glutes, and travels all the way down each leg. When something puts pressure on that nerve, or irritates it, that’s when you get what we call sciatica. And it doesn’t always feel the same for everyone. Some people describe it as a burning sensation. Others feel it like an electric shock. Some just notice a dull, constant ache running down one side. You might even feel numbness or tingling in your leg or foot.

Here’s what’s interesting. Sciatica isn’t actually a diagnosis on its own. It’s really a symptom, something telling you that there’s an underlying issue putting stress on that nerve. The most common causes are a herniated disc in the lower back, a condition called spinal stenosis where the spinal canal narrows, or sometimes even tight muscles in the hip area compressing that nerve. That last one is sometimes called piriformis syndrome, and it gets overlooked more than it should.

Now, here’s the thing a lot of people don’t realize. They assume sciatica just means surgery or living with it forever. And that’s simply not true for most people. Conservative care, meaning non-surgical options, can make a huge difference. And that’s where chiropractic comes in.

When you come see me, the first thing we do is figure out exactly what’s driving your pain. That means a thorough evaluation, looking at your posture, your movement, your reflexes, and really listening to your history. Because where the pain shows up isn’t always where the problem is coming from.

Chiropractic adjustments help restore proper movement and alignment in the spine. When the joints of your lower back are moving the way they should, it takes pressure off the surrounding nerves and tissues. Over time, that can mean less pain, better movement, and a lot more of your normal life back.

We also look at what’s happening with the muscles around your lower back and hips. Tight, overworked muscles can pull things out of alignment and keep irritating that nerve. So we often combine adjustments with recommendations for gentle stretching and movement to support what we’re doing in the office.

Here’s some practical advice you can start with today. If you’re dealing with sciatica, try to stay as gently active as you can. I know it hurts, and your first instinct might be to lay down and not move. But prolonged bed rest tends to make things worse. Short, gentle walks can actually help. Also, avoid sitting for long stretches without getting up. Sitting puts a lot of pressure on the lower spine, and that can aggravate sciatic symptoms in a hurry.

If things are severe or if you’re noticing weakness in your leg, or any changes with your bladder or bowel function, please don’t wait. That’s a situation where you need to be seen right away.

For most people though, if you’ve been dealing with that nagging leg pain, the aching, the burning, the shooting discomfort, getting a proper evaluation sooner rather than later is the smartest move you can make. The longer these things go unaddressed, the more the surrounding muscles and joints compensate, and that just creates more problems down the road.

You deserve to feel good and move well. That’s what we’re here for.

If you’re in Robinson Township or anywhere nearby and you want to get to the bottom of your sciatica, give us a call at Family Chiropractic Center. We would love to help you figure out what’s going on and put together a plan that actually makes sense for your life.

Thank you so much for listening today. I hope this gave you a little more clarity and a lot less worry. Until next time, take good care of yourself, and we’ll talk soon.