What sciatica is
Sciatica isn't a diagnosis on its own — it's the name for pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve, the large nerve that runs from the lower back through the buttock and down each leg. When that nerve or its roots get compressed or irritated, you feel it as radiating pain, often with numbness or tingling.
What causes it
The radiating pain almost always starts in the lower spine. Common root causes include:
- Disc herniation — the most frequent cause, where disc material presses on a nerve root
- Spinal stenosis — narrowing of the spinal canal that crowds the nerves
- Facet joint involvement — inflammation or restriction irritating nearby nerve tissue
- Piriformis syndrome — the sciatic nerve irritated by a tight muscle deep in the buttock
Symptoms and when to seek care
Classic sciatica is one-sided, traveling below the knee, sometimes to the foot. It may be worse with sitting, bending, or coughing. Most cases respond well to conservative care.
Progressive leg weakness, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or any loss of bladder or bowel control. These are red flags for a more serious nerve compression and need immediate evaluation.
How chiropractic helps
This is where Cox flexion-distraction decompression shines. By gently opening space between the vertebrae, it reduces pressure on the compressed nerve root and can help retract herniated disc material — addressing the cause of the radiating pain rather than masking it. Adjustment and soft-tissue work support the process.
Our approach at Hunterdon Back Pain Center
We operate three dedicated Cox decompression tables — capacity that's rare in a single practice and the reason most sciatica patients get in within days, not weeks. Your doctor confirms the source with examination and same-day digital X-ray, then builds a decompression plan around it.
What to expect from treatment
Acute disc-related sciatica may respond in 4–8 decompression sessions; more stubborn cases take longer. Sessions are gentle and last 15–20 minutes. Your doctor will give you a specific plan and an honest read on whether Cox is the right fit — and if surgery is genuinely warranted, we'll say so.