Sciatica Chiropractor in Ann Arbor, MI

If you've ever felt a sharp, shooting pain travel from your lower back through your buttock and down your leg, you already know how disruptive sciatica can be. It can make sitting uncomfortable, standing painful, and sleeping nearly impossible. Some people describe it as an electric shock. Others feel a deep, burning ache that never fully lets up. Whatever it feels like for you, one thing is certain: it's hard to ignore.

At Paradise Chiropractic, Dr. Kadri has helped many patients find real relief from sciatica. The key is identifying exactly where the sciatic nerve is being irritated and why, because the treatment that works depends entirely on the answer to that question.

What Is Sciatica?

Sciatica refers to pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back through the pelvis, buttock, and down each leg. It's not a diagnosis in itself but rather a symptom of an underlying problem that's placing pressure or irritation on the nerve somewhere along its path.

The most common sources of sciatic nerve irritation include:

Lumbar disc herniation or bulge pressing on a nerve root in the lower spine
Piriformis syndrome, where the piriformis muscle in the buttock compresses the sciatic nerve
Lumbar spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on the nerves
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction causing irritation near the origin of the sciatic nerve
Facet joint degeneration or bone spurs that narrow the space where nerve roots exit the spine

Each of these requires a different approach, which is why identifying the actual source of the problem is the most important first step in treatment.

How Dr. Kadri Treats Sciatica

Before any treatment begins, Dr. Kadri conducts a thorough evaluation to determine where the sciatic nerve is being irritated and what's causing it. This includes a detailed health history, orthopedic and neurological testing, and a full assessment of how you move.

Once the source is identified, he builds a targeted treatment plan that may include:

Chiropractic adjustments to restore proper spinal and pelvic joint mechanics and reduce nerve pressure
Manual therapy and soft tissue work to release piriformis and surrounding muscle tension when the compression is muscular
Therapeutic exercise and rehabilitation to address the core weakness, hip dysfunction, and movement faults that contribute to ongoing nerve irritation
Shockwave therapy for chronic cases involving significant soft tissue involvement

The combination of approaches used depends on what's driving your sciatica specifically. There is no one-size-fits-all protocol here.

Sciatica vs. Piriformis Syndrome

Not all sciatic pain originates in the spine. Piriformis syndrome occurs when the piriformis muscle, located deep in the buttock, becomes tight or spasms and compresses the sciatic nerve as it passes through or beneath it. The symptoms can feel identical to disc-related sciatica, which is why it's commonly misidentified.

The distinction matters because the treatment is different. Adjusting the lumbar spine won't resolve piriformis syndrome, and releasing the piriformis won't help if the problem is a disc herniation. Dr. Kadri's evaluation process is designed to tell the difference so your treatment is aimed at the right target from the start.

When Sciatica Doesn't Get Better On Its Own

Mild sciatica sometimes resolves on its own with rest and time. But when symptoms are severe, have been present for more than a few weeks, or keep coming back, waiting it out usually isn't the right strategy. The longer nerve irritation goes unaddressed, the more compensation patterns develop in the surrounding muscles and movement patterns, making the problem harder to resolve.

If your sciatica is affecting your ability to sleep, sit, work, or stay active, it's worth getting a proper evaluation to find out what's actually going on and what can be done about it.