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Request a Sciatica Consultation

Struggling with lower back pain, radiating leg pain, or persistent discomfort? Answer a few quick questions about your symptoms to help our team determine whether our approach to sciatica care may be a good fit for your needs.

Take the Free Questionnaire

Let’s See How We Can Help

Every patient is unique, and we want to ensure we are the right fit for your recovery. Please answer a few brief questions so our team can understand your symptoms and prepare to give you the care you deserve.

In pain right now? If you need to book an appointment immediately, please skip this form and call us directly at (520) 731-9595.

 

Sciatica Explained: What It Is, Why It Happens, and What Actually Helps

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Treat Your Sciatica with Dr. Cox

Dr. Cox is the driving force behind Life Aligned Wellness Center in Tucson, and for 23 years he’s helped people get their health back without leaning on endless medications or rushing into unnecessary surgeries. He earned his BS in Human Biology and his Doctor of Chiropractic degrees from Northwestern Health Sciences University, giving him the clinical foundation to create real change through chiropractic care. And because he’s worked through his own challenges—knee pain, ruptured spinal discs, and more health issues than he’d ever want to repeat—Dr. Cox knew there had to be a better way. Chiropractic care gave him his life back, and now he’s focused on paying it forward, one adjustment at a time.

What Our Patients Are Saying

How We Assess Your Sciatica

How We Assess Your Sciatica

Understanding what’s causing your symptoms is the first step toward developing an appropriate care plan. Our assessment includes three key steps:

1. Comprehensive Health History

  • Review when your symptoms started and how they’ve progressed
  • Identify what makes your pain better or worse
  • Discuss previous episodes and potential warning signs

2. Focused Physical Examination

  • Check reflexes, muscle strength, and sensation
  • Perform orthopedic tests to assess possible nerve involvement
  • Evaluate posture, movement, and walking patterns

3. Identify the Underlying Cause

  • Assess potential causes, including disc issues, spinal stenosis, and joint or muscle conditions
  • Differentiate between possible sources of leg pain
  • Use the findings to guide a personalized care plan

What About X-Rays or MRIs?

Imaging isn’t always necessary. We recommend it when findings suggest it could meaningfully influence your diagnosis or treatment plan, such as when warning signs are present or symptoms aren’t improving as expected.

Physiotherapist examining and assessing a patient’s knee.

Ready to Book? Follow these steps

Take the questionnaire

Answer a few quick questions about your pain and history.

We confirm fit

If it looks like decompression may help, we’ll reach out to book your evaluation.

Get a clear plan

You’ll know what’s going on, what we recommend, and what to expect.

Fill out our questionnaire to find out

Sciatica Frequently Asked Questions

What does the first visit look like?

Your first visit centers on a detailed consultation and a thorough examination, including a neurological and orthopedic screen. We explain what we find in plain language, outline the recommended next steps, and, when appropriate, begin care that same day.

Do I need an MRI for sciatica?

Usually not at first. For typical sciatica without red flags, guidelines advise against routine early imaging, since it rarely changes initial treatment. Imaging is appropriate when red flags are present, when there is a progressive deficit, or when symptoms are not improving as expected.

Can sciatica be treated without surgery?

For most people, yes. Conservative, non-surgical care is a reasonable first step, and surgery is generally reserved for specific situations such as progressive nerve deficits or symptoms that do not respond to a fair trial of conservative treatment.