Sciatica Treatment in Bloomington, MN
Shooting pain down the leg, numbness, or weakness can signal sciatic nerve compression. We help identify the source and build a plan to relieve it.
Sciatica Treatment At A Glance
Sciatica is one of the most disruptive types of pain a person can deal with. It is also one of the most misunderstood. Patients in Bloomington often describe a sharp, shooting pain that runs from the lower back through the buttock and down one leg, sometimes all the way to the foot. Others feel numbness, tingling, or weakness instead of pain. Sciatica usually starts when something in the lower spine, often a disc or an inflamed joint, irritates the sciatic nerve as it leaves the spinal column.
At Riverview Spine, our goal with sciatica is to track down which spinal structure is actually irritating the nerve and treat that source. Chiropractic adjustments, spinal decompression for disc-related cases, and rehabilitation exercises can help reduce nerve pressure, calm the inflammation, and restore the strength and movement that keep sciatica from coming back.
Last Reviewed By: Dr. Rod Opferkew on May 20, 2026
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica is a set of symptoms caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the body. The sciatic nerve forms in the lower back from several nerve roots that exit the spine, then travels through the buttock and down the back of the leg.
When one of those nerve roots gets pinched or inflamed near the spine, the entire pathway can light up. Pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness can show up anywhere along the leg, even though the actual problem is at the spine.
Most cases of sciatica are caused by a herniated or bulging disc in the lumbar spine pressing on a nerve root. Other common sources include narrowing of the spinal canal, called stenosis, and irritation from arthritic spinal joints.
Sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis on its own. The clinical work is to figure out which structure in the lower back is irritating the nerve, because the right treatment for a disc problem is different from the right treatment for a stenotic joint.
Common Symptoms Of Sciatica
Sciatica usually affects only one side of the body, though both sides can be involved. The pain is typically described as sharp, shooting, burning, or electric, rather than the dull ache of ordinary muscle soreness.
The most common pattern is pain that starts in the lower back or buttock and travels down the back of the leg, sometimes past the knee and into the calf or foot. Some patients feel pain only in the leg, with little to no back pain at all. Others feel tingling or numbness in specific parts of the foot, like the bottom or the outer edge.
Weakness can show up too. Patients sometimes notice they catch a toe on stairs, struggle to stand on tiptoe, or feel like the leg is unreliable on uneven ground.
Symptoms often follow position-based patterns. Sitting for long stretches tends to make things worse, especially in soft chairs or car seats. Bending forward, coughing, sneezing, or straining can spike the pain. Standing up, walking gently, or lying on the back with the knees supported often gives some relief.
Sleep is frequently disrupted as the leg pain refuses to settle.
What Causes Sciatica
Most sciatica traces back to the lower spine. Several structures in the lumbar area can irritate the sciatic nerve, and identifying the right one shapes the entire care plan.
A herniated or bulging disc is the most common cause. When a disc loses some of its height or pushes outward, it can press directly on a nerve root or inflame the surrounding tissue, sending pain down the leg.
Lumbar spinal stenosis, which is narrowing of the spaces where nerves exit the spine, is another common cause, particularly in older adults. The nerve has less room to function and gets irritated with certain positions or activities.
Arthritis in the spinal joints can also crowd the nerve roots, especially when paired with thickened ligaments or bone spurs.
Lifestyle factors quietly set the stage. Long hours of sitting, repeated heavy lifting, weak core muscles, and prior lower back injuries all increase the risk that a small disc problem grows into a sciatic flare-up.
Conditions That Can Mimic Sciatica
Several conditions create leg pain that looks like sciatica but starts somewhere other than the lumbar nerve roots.
Piriformis syndrome occurs when the piriformis muscle in the buttock tightens and irritates the sciatic nerve as it passes underneath. The pain pattern is similar, but the source is the muscle, not the spine.
Hip joint problems, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and certain knee issues can refer pain into the leg in ways that mimic sciatica. Peripheral nerve entrapments below the spine can also produce numbness and tingling in the leg or foot.
Because these conditions are treated very differently, a proper examination is essential. The wrong diagnosis often means weeks of treatment aimed at a structure that was never the real problem.
When To Seek Urgent Care For Sciatica
Most sciatica is managed safely with conservative care, but some symptoms point to a serious problem and require immediate medical evaluation. Seek urgent care if sciatica is paired with loss of bowel or bladder control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, sudden severe weakness in the leg, fever, unexplained weight loss, or pain that follows a fall, accident, or other major trauma. These signs need same-day medical assessment, not chiropractic care.
What Our Patients Are Saying
How We Diagnose Sciatica
Diagnosing sciatica at Riverview Spine starts with a careful history. Where exactly does the pain travel? What positions help? What makes it worse? The answers narrow the field before a hand is ever placed on the patient.
The physical exam includes posture analysis, spinal movement testing, and specific orthopedic and neurological tests for the lower extremities. Reflexes, sensation, and muscle strength along the leg are checked to confirm which nerve root is most likely involved.
Provocation tests help identify whether the source is a disc, a joint, a muscle, or a combination. Palpation of the lumbar spine reveals areas of inflammation, tightness, and restricted motion.
X-rays may be used when a structural finding is suspected. The end goal of the workup is a clear picture of which structure is irritating the sciatic nerve and why.
What to Expect From Your Care at Riverview Spine
Your care begins with a full consultation, physical examination, and X-rays to identify the structural cause of your sciatic symptoms. Dr. Rod then builds a personalized plan that may include chiropractic adjustments targeted at the lumbar spine and pelvis, spinal decompression if a disc is involved, and guidance on posture and movement. Progress is tracked throughout your care, and the plan is adjusted if your response to treatment calls for it.
How We Treat Sciatica At Riverview Spine
Sciatica care at Riverview Spine is focused on reducing the pressure on the sciatic nerve and addressing the structure causing the irritation in the first place. Treatment is layered, starting with relief and progressing toward the strength and movement that keep the nerve from getting irritated again.
Why Early Treatment For Sciatica Matters
Sciatica can settle quickly with the right care, or it can drag on for months when ignored. The longer a nerve stays irritated, the more sensitive it becomes. Pain that started as occasional shooting in the leg can shift into constant discomfort, weakness, or lasting numbness.
Early treatment also gives the disc the best chance to recover. When pressure is reduced before the nerve becomes chronically inflamed, the body has more room to heal.
Waiting often turns a treatable case of sciatica into a more complicated one. Acting early shortens the timeline and limits the impact on daily life.
Meet The Team Behind Your Care
Dr. Rod Opferkew
Dr. Rod Opferkew has over 23 years of chiropractic experience and focuses on identifying the root cause of pain before building a care plan around your needs.
Serving Bloomington And The Surrounding Twin Cities Communities
Riverview Spine is located in Bloomington, Minnesota, and treats sciatica patients across Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and nearby south Twin Cities communities. Spinal decompression for sciatica draws patients from across the region, as the service is not widely offered nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sciatica
Begin Sciatica Recovery At Riverview Spine
Sciatica wears you down. The leg pain, the lost sleep, the missed workouts, and the constant guarding all add up. Riverview Spine combines chiropractic adjustments, spinal decompression, and targeted rehabilitation to address the specific structure irritating your sciatic nerve, not just the pain it sends down your leg. Book an appointment to start a care plan built around your exam findings, or call the clinic to talk through your symptoms first.