How do you know if my symptoms are sciatica vs. hip or knee pain?

We look at your symptom map, what positions trigger or relieve symptoms, and how your nerve screen responds to movement testing. Referred/nerve pain often behaves differently than local joint pain in the hip or knee.

Conditions We Treat · Sciatica Treatment

Sciatica Treatment in Logansport, IN

Q: Is sciatica always caused by a disc herniation?

Not always. Sciatica describes a pattern—leg pain, tingling, or nerve irritation. A disc can be involved, but symptoms can also come from joint irritation, muscle/soft tissue tension, or nerve sensitivity. We confirm the most likely driver with a movement-based exam.

Q: Can chiropractic care help sciatica?

Often, yes—when it’s safe and appropriate based on your exam. Conservative care may help reduce pain and sensitivity, restore motion, and improve tolerance for sitting, walking, and daily activity.

Q: When should I worry and seek urgent medical care for sciatica?

Seek urgent care for new or worsening weakness (foot drop), numbness in the groin/saddle area, loss of bowel or bladder control, severe unrelenting pain with fever, symptoms after significant trauma, or any rapidly worsening neurologic symptoms. If you suspect an emergency, go to urgent care or the ER.

Less leg pain, calmer nerves, and a plan you can trust — without guessing.

Nerve screen + movement exam (clear answers)

Position + walking plan to calm flare-ups fast

Conservative, progress-based care (no pressure)

Sciatica can feel scary — especially when pain travels into the glute, thigh, calf, or foot, or when tingling and numbness show up. Our goal is to identify what’s driving your pattern, calm irritation, and rebuild tolerance so sitting, walking, and daily activity feel normal again. If your symptoms overlap with low back pain, disc herniation & degeneration, or hip pain, we’ll connect the dots and outline the simplest next steps.

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Clear “is this nerve-related?” screening + red flag check
Simple home steps to reduce leg pain between visits
Honest direction — including referrals when needed

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Written by:Dr. Tyler M. Graham, DC

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Clinically reviewed by:Balanced Chiropractic Clinical Team

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Last updated:December 31, 2025

Educational only. Not medical advice. If symptoms are severe, rapidly worsening, or you suspect an emergency, seek urgent care.

What’s Usually Driving Sciatica?

“Sciatica” is a pattern (leg pain/tingling), not a single diagnosis. The best plan depends on what’s irritating the nerve and which positions change symptoms.

Common patterns we see

Pain that travels from low back/glute into thigh/calf/foot
Sitting intolerance (car rides, desk work, couch time)
Bending triggers (shoes, laundry, lifting) or “can’t straighten up” episodes
Symptoms that change with position (better with walking, worse with sitting—or the reverse)
Weakness or “giving way” that requires careful screening

Sciatica is often linked to the low back and disc-related irritation, but not always. We use a nerve screen and movement testing to identify the most likely driver and the safest next step.

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How We Help Sciatica

We calm irritation, restore motion, and rebuild tolerance — so your nerve stops “yelling” during normal life.

Nerve Screen + Movement-Based Exam

We assess symptom map, strength/reflexes, and position testing to clarify what’s driving your pattern and what to avoid early on.

Targeted Conservative Care

Hands-on care and mobility strategies designed to reduce irritation and restore motion—always based on what’s safe and appropriate for your case.

Home Plan + “Do/Don’t” Guardrails

Clear positions, short walking progressions, and simple steps to reduce flare-ups between visits (without shutting life down).

Common overlap patterns

Disc-related irritation (see Disc Herniation & Degeneration)
Low back flare-ups (see Low Back Pain)
Hip vs nerve referral confusion (see Hip Pain)
When appropriate, decompression options (see Spinal Decompression)

Sciatica Self-Care: What Usually Helps (Without Making It Worse)

Small, smart inputs beat aggressive stretching. The goal is calmer symptoms today—and better tolerance next week.

Simple guardrails

Use your “relief position”: we’ll help you find the posture that reliably calms symptoms.
Walk in short bouts: many cases respond well to frequent short walks vs long sitting.
Respect the 24-hour rule: if you’re worse the next day, scale volume back.
Delay heavy bending/lifting: early on, avoid repeatedly loading the most provocative position.
Progress gradually: reintroduce bending/strength when symptoms are stable.

Sciatica FAQs

Clear answers — including “when to worry.”

Is sciatica always caused by a disc herniation?

Not always. Sciatica is a pattern (leg pain/tingling). A disc can be involved, but symptoms can also come from joint irritation, muscle/soft tissue tension, or nerve sensitivity. We confirm the likely driver with a movement-based exam.

What does sciatica usually feel like?

Common signs include pain that travels from the low back or glute into the thigh/calf/foot, tingling/numbness, pain with sitting or bending, and symptoms that change with certain positions.

How do you know if it’s sciatica vs hip or knee pain?

We compare symptom location, what positions change symptoms, and your nerve screen response to movement testing. Nerve/referred pain often behaves differently than local joint pain.

Do I need imaging (MRI) for sciatica?

Not always. Many cases improve with conservative care and a clear home plan. Imaging is more likely if there is severe or progressive weakness, bowel/bladder changes, saddle numbness, significant trauma, fever with severe pain, or symptoms that aren’t improving as expected.

Can chiropractic care help sciatica?

Often, yes—when safe and appropriate based on your exam. Conservative care may help reduce sensitivity, restore motion, and improve tolerance for sitting, walking, and daily activity.

What should I avoid when sciatica is flared up?

Avoid repeatedly forcing painful bending/long sitting early on and avoid pushing through symptoms that worsen over the next 24 hours. Most people do best with short walks, helpful positions, and a graded return to bending and lifting.

How long does sciatica take to get better?

It varies. Many people feel meaningful changes within a few weeks when the plan matches the driver and they follow clear home guardrails. More significant nerve irritation can take longer. We set expectations based on your exam and early response.

When should I worry and seek urgent medical care?

Seek urgent care for new/worsening weakness (foot drop), loss of bowel/bladder control, numbness in the groin/saddle area, severe unrelenting pain with fever, symptoms after major trauma, or any rapidly worsening neurologic symptoms.

Sciatica Treatment