Dr. Kwang Lee Wellness Center · Glendale, CA
Sciatica Treatment in Glendale, CA: Decompression, Chiropractic & Acupuncture
Sciatica is pain that travels from the low back or buttock down the leg, usually because a disc or tight muscle is irritating the sciatic nerve roots. Dr. Kwang Lee, D.C., L.Ac., finds which structure is pressing on the nerve and treats it with decompression, adjustment and acupuncture instead of defaulting to injections.
Problems we see every week
- Sharp or burning pain from the buttock down the back of the leg
- Tingling or numbness in the calf or foot
- Pain that is worse sitting, coughing or bending forward
- Leg pain after lifting or a long drive
- Weakness lifting the foot or toes
- Pain that keeps coming back for months
What treatment involves
- Examination to tell disc-related sciatica from piriformis or hip causes, which are treated differently
- Non-surgical spinal decompression when a disc is the source
- Chiropractic adjustment and mobilization of the low back and pelvis
- Acupuncture and electro-acupuncture for nerve pain and muscle guarding
- Nerve-gliding and core exercises you continue at home
Treatments we use for this problem
- Non-Surgical Spinal DecompressionHerniated or bulging discs · Degenerative disc disease · Sciatica and radiating arm or leg pain
- Chiropractic AdjustmentAcute and chronic back pain, neck pain and sciatica · Tension and neck-related headaches · Radiating pain into the arms or legs
- Acupuncture, Electro-Acupuncture & CuppingBack, neck, joint, nerve and myofascial pain · Headache and migraine frequency · Stress, tension and poor sleep
- PhysioMagneto (High-Intensity Electromagnetic Field)Acute and chronic pain, including nerve-related pain · Swelling and inflammation · Joint range of motion and mobility
- Class 4 Cold Laser (Photobiomodulation)Ligament sprains and muscle strains · Tendonitis and bursitis, including tennis elbow · Neck, lower back and knee pain
See a doctor or emergency room first if you have
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Numbness around the groin or inner thighs
- Foot or leg weakness that is getting worse
- Severe pain after a fall or accident
Questions patients ask
Is sciatica always a disc problem?
No. A tight piriformis muscle, a facet joint or the hip can produce similar leg pain. The examination sorts this out before treatment is chosen.
How soon will the leg pain ease?
Many people feel some change within the first few visits; nerve-related pain typically takes several weeks to settle as pressure on the root decreases.
Do I need an MRI first?
Only if the examination shows progressive weakness or the problem does not respond to care. Dr. Lee will refer you if that is the case.
Can I be treated in Korean?
Yes. Dr. Lee sees patients in Korean and English.