Sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis. The pain runs from the lower back down through the buttock and into the leg, sometimes all the way to the foot. It can burn, ache, shoot, or cause numbness and weakness. The cause is almost always pressure on the sciatic nerve where it exits the lumbar spine, usually from a disc problem or a vertebra out of alignment.

The lower back carries most of the body’s weight, and the discs between the vertebrae take the brunt of it. When a disc bulges or herniates, it can press directly on the nerve root. When a vertebra shifts, it can narrow the space the nerve passes through. Either way, the nerve gets compressed, and the leg feels it.

Dr. Lena Hartwell starts by identifying the exact source of the compression. That means a careful exam and, in most cases, X-rays. The Gonstead approach is well suited to this kind of problem because it focuses on the specific joint involved rather than working the whole low back. Once pressure on the nerve is reduced, the leg pain usually starts to ease. Recovery time depends on how long the problem has been going on and how much disc involvement is present. Patients with newer cases often see fast results. Older, more degenerated cases need patience and consistent care, but improvement is the rule, not the exception.