Sciatica: There Are Real Answers

"It isn't an exaggeration to say that I thought I would be wheelchair bound and would never be back on my feet the rest of my life. The pain in my right leg was that severe. ...One day in the summer of 2007, I noticed that some numbness and tingling pain in my right leg just did not go away. Not only that, it became worse and worse. When I walked a little, the pain in the back of my thigh down to the outside of my right calf to ankle got so severe, I had to stop, sit down, and wait until the pain subsided. The distance between the rests got shorter and shorter to finally down to 10 steps. It was the worst kind of pain that I have felt, so intense it was like poking my brain with a needle...I allowed myself to be chair bound for almost a month... He (Dr. Morris) gave me a thorough examination, asked me a hundred questions, and instructed me to have an MRI to confirm his diagnosis...A little over 3 months later, I am writing this to let the world know that my pain level is a humble 1 out of 10 (10 is the most severe)! When I first met Dr. Morris, my pain level was easily over 8. I can walk with my friends in a shopping mall, do grocery shopping, and will be back in my dance class soon...All these were unimaginable 3 months ago. If anyone is in the same condition as I was then, I know how it feels. And I am very fortunate that I met Dr. Morris and his great team of professionals: Dr. Tang, Marcus and Michael, and Mario. Thank you and hope there will be more patients like myself who find you and your incredible practice."
-- Yuriko Imashuku, Language Instructor

Click Letters and Videos From Our Patients to learn from those who suffered with and know most about these conditions.

The Sciatic Nerve is the largest nerve in your body (as you probably can tell from the pain your feeling down your leg right now!). It leaves between the vertebrae in your lower back, travels through a group of muscles in your buttocks, and can refer pain down the back of your thigh and all the way to your foot. The pain usually flares-up with bending over, running, sitting and many other of your favorite, everyday movements.

The problem usually is caused by the lower back vertebrae moving out of alignment and pinching the nerve directly or by the nearby disc herniating into it.

Notice the Sciatic Nerve leaving under the Piriformis Muscle. The Gluteal Muscles lie on top of the Piriformis Muscle. Either can squeeze the sciatic nerve and are often overlooked. Either can squeeze the sciatic nerve and are often mistreated.

These muscles can be imbalanced, atrophied or shortened.  Muscular compressions are often misdiagnosed and lead to unnecessary and prolonged suffering.

In fact, while medications may deaden the pain, if the underlying cause isn't treated, the damage to the Sciatic nerve will continue and even worsen.  General exercise programs will help minor cases, but not those that are more serious and complicated.

How Should Difficult Cases of Sciatica Be Treated?

The alignment of the lumbar spine and pelvis must be carefully checked and corrected. Very specific spinal adjustments- combined with physical therapy, muscular balancing and lengthening of the shortened muscles-must be provided in an exact manner.

Notice how the canal is larger in figure A and is narrowed in the photo to its right. Spinal misalignments and muscular asymmetry can cause this canal to narrow and pinch the Sciatic Nerve travelling through it.  Careful and deliberate treatment must be designed to restore it's proper position and size. The Morris Spinal Stenosis and Disc Center is unmatched at finding the exact structural cause and answer to your problem.

In very difficult cases a "Double Crush" phenomenon may occur meaning that the Sciatic Nerve is pinched in more than one area. These cases often only partially resolve if the secondary site isn't discovered and treated.   We successfully treat the most complicated cases of Sciatica by finding ALL the areas of nerve impingement and releasing every one of them--only then will the pain go away and stay away.

If a disc is herniating into the nerve and is not being resolved by traditional treatments, then non-surgical spinal decompression may be the answer.   The DRX 9000 is a Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression device designed to moving the disc back into position and away from the nerve, WITHOUT SURGERY.  Using the right protocol and with the right patients, it is probably more effective than surgery and definitely safer.

Click here to learn more about our center's Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression program.

These are side view x-rays of the low back. Notice that when the disc narrows, there is less room for the nerve to leave between the vertebrae. Our non-surgical techniques, including Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression with the DRX 9000, are designed to prevent disc narrowing and to remove pressure from the entrapped nerve.

It's important that all these options are available to you in the low back center you choose.

We are remarkably successful.

Click Here To Find Out How We Treat Discs That Cause Sciatica

If you have signs of nerve damage (numbness, leg or foot weakness or pain that continues down your leg below your knee--seek treatment as soon as possible to avoid possibly permanent nerve damage

For Further Information:

Click on Research to see the low back study was performed in our center.

Click on the Morris Spinal Stenosis and Disc Center to learn more about our center.

Click on Morris Spinal Stenosis and Disc Center Staff to learn more about the professionals we work with.

To Get Help For Severe or Chronic Sciatica:

Schedule an appointment with our office by calling (310) 451-5851 or contact us by E-Mail.

Click here to have a free on-line consultation with one of our doctors.