Low Back Pain and Sciatica

Low back pain takes over your day. Sitting through a meeting hurts, getting out of the car takes a minute, and a full night of sleep gets harder to find. Sciatica makes things worse by sending sharp or burning pain down your leg. If this sounds familiar, we're glad you found us. As back pain chiropractors at Hanson Chiropractic Center in Edmond, we work out what's behind your pain, and then we build a gentle plan around you.

Sciatica or a sore back? Here's how to tell

A sore back usually feels like a dull ache or tightness across your lower spine. Sciatica feels different because the pain follows a path. A nerve root in your lower spine gets squeezed or irritated, and the pain travels through your hip and glute. From there the pain runs down the back of your leg. Often only one side hurts.

Many people with sciatica also notice tingling, numbness, or a weak feeling in the foot. Sitting for a long stretch, coughing, and sneezing tend to make the pain worse. Walking or changing position sometimes eases the pain for a few minutes. This is why so many people shift around in their chair all day.

What sets back pain off

Your lower back carries most of your body weight and moves all day long, so a lot of things go wrong here. Stiff joints, tight muscles, and worn discs all send pain signals. Long hours of sitting, heavy lifting, and a sudden twist are common triggers. So are an old injury or years of poor posture.

Sometimes nothing seems to set the pain off at all. You wake up one morning and your back hurts, with no clear reason. An exam sorts out which parts of your back are involved, and we explain what we find in plain language.

How we get you moving again

After your exam, our chiropractors match your care to what's causing your pain. Many plans combine a few of the options below.

We use gentle chiropractic adjustments to restore movement in stiff joints. There's no twisting and no forceful popping. We apply light pressure where your spine needs help, and most patients find the visit calming.

When a disc presses on a nerve, spinal decompression therapy gently stretches your spine to take the pressure off. The nerve gets more room to calm down, and the care is non-surgical and drug-free.

Class IV laser therapy sends light energy into sore tissue to calm inflammation and support healing. Most people feel only gentle warmth. Tight muscles in your low back, glutes, and hips keep pain going too. Our massage therapist works on those areas when your plan includes massage.

Staying comfortable while you heal

Short, gentle walks help more than bed rest. If you sit most of the day, stand up and move around every half hour. Set your chair so your feet rest flat and your screen sits at eye level. When you lift, bend your knees and keep the load close to your body. We'll also teach you a few simple stretches and strengthening moves for your back and hips, so you keep making progress between visits.

Your first visit

We start by listening. You tell us where you hurt, what makes the pain worse, and what you've already tried. Then we examine your back, check your movement and reflexes, and take digital x-rays when they help. Before you leave, we walk you through your care plan, so you know what we recommend and why.

To save time, fill out your new patient paperwork before you arrive. You'll also find the people who will care for you on our team page.

When to get medical care first

A few symptoms need a doctor right away. Go to an emergency room or call 911 if you lose control of your bladder or bowels. Do the same if you feel numbness in your groin or inner thighs, notice sudden leg weakness, or have back pain with a fever. Seek care right away after a fall or an accident too.

Questions about back pain and sciatica

Does chiropractic care help sciatica?

Plenty of people with sciatica see us, and the American College of Physicians lists spinal manipulation among its nondrug options for low back pain. Your exam shows what's behind your pain, and we recommend a plan from there. Most plans pair gentle adjustments with decompression, laser therapy, or massage.

Does spinal decompression help sciatica?

Decompression gently stretches your spine to take pressure off a disc pressing on a nerve, which is a common reason for sciatica. Many people with disc-related leg pain choose decompression because the care is non-surgical and drug-free. During your exam, we check whether decompression fits your case.

Will sciatica go away on its own?

Many cases ease over several weeks, but the pain often lingers or comes back when the cause is still there. Care aims to calm the pain sooner and to deal with whatever keeps irritating the nerve, such as a stiff joint or a bulging disc.

How long does sciatica treatment take?

Many people notice a difference within the first few visits. Pain you've lived with for months takes longer than a recent flare. After your exam, we give you a realistic timeline, and we check your progress at every visit.

Will an adjustment hurt?

Most patients feel little or no pain because our methods avoid twisting and forceful popping. You lie comfortably while we apply gentle pressure, and you tell us right away if anything feels uncomfortable.

Do I need x-rays?

Not always. We decide after your exam and history. When x-rays help us see your spine's structure, we take digital images in our office.

Last reviewed October 2026 by the chiropractors at Hanson Chiropractic Center. This page gives general information and does not replace advice from your physician. Individual results vary. Read about other concerns we help with on our Conditions We Treat page.