By Dr. Todd Whittemore | June 2, 2026
If you've been dealing with sciatica long enough, you know the pattern.
It eases up. You think it's finally over. And then — bending to pick something up, sitting too long, sometimes nothing at all — it comes roaring back.
The sharp, shooting pain down your leg. The ache that radiates from your low back through your hip. The numbness or tingling that makes you shift constantly just to find a position that's tolerable.
Most patients who walk into our Stow office have already tried something. Physical therapy. Pain medication. Rest. Maybe a round of cortisone shots. And while those approaches can offer temporary relief, sciatica keeps returning for a reason.
The nerve is still being compressed.
Until you address that, the pain keeps coming back.
What Is Actually Causing Your Sciatica?
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body, running from your lower spine through your hip and down each leg. When that nerve is compressed or irritated, the result is the characteristic shooting pain, numbness, or weakness that most people recognize as sciatica.
But sciatica isn't a diagnosis — it's a symptom. The real question is: what's compressing the nerve?
In the majority of cases, the answer is a disc problem. A herniated disc, bulging disc, or degenerative disc can press directly on the sciatic nerve root. Spinal stenosis — a narrowing of the spinal canal — is another common culprit.
This matters because it explains why sciatica can be so stubborn. If the disc remains compressed and irritated, the nerve will keep firing. Treating the pain without addressing the disc is like turning off a smoke alarm without putting out the fire.
Why Most Sciatica Treatments Only Go So Far
Pain medication reduces inflammation and quiets the nerve signal — but it doesn't change the position of the disc. Physical therapy strengthens the muscles supporting the spine — which helps — but if the disc is still pressing on the nerve root, the underlying problem remains.
Cortisone injections can be highly effective at reducing inflammation around the nerve, but they're a short-term intervention, and repeated injections carry their own risks.
Surgery removes the problem directly — but it comes with meaningful recovery time and, for many patients, is not the first path they want to take.
For a significant number of sciatica patients, there's a step between conservative care and surgery that often gets skipped:
Non-surgical spinal decompression.
How Spinal Decompression Helps Sciatica
Spinal decompression is a non-invasive treatment that gently stretches the spine using a computer-controlled table — the KDT Neural Flex, which we use at our Stow office. The goal is to create negative pressure inside the disc.
Here's why that matters for sciatica specifically:
When negative pressure is created inside a herniated or bulging disc, it helps draw the disc material back toward the center and away from the nerve root. At the same time, improved pressure gradients help draw in oxygen, water, and nutrients — supporting the disc's ability to heal naturally.
Less compression on the disc means less compression on the sciatic nerve. Less compression on the nerve means less pain, less numbness, and less of that radiating ache down your leg.
Every decompression session at Stow Family Chiropractic also includes cold laser therapy using our Erchonia laser — one of a small number of clinics in Massachusetts to offer this technology. Cold laser helps reduce inflammation around the nerve and accelerates tissue healing, compounding the effect of each decompression session.
"I'd tried everything else. I didn't think anything was going to work. After a few weeks of decompression I started noticing the pain wasn't waking me up at night anymore. That was the first sign."
This is a common pattern. For many patients, the first signal that decompression is working is sleep. Then movement. Then they start doing things they'd quietly stopped doing.
Is Spinal Decompression Right for Your Sciatica?
Decompression is most effective for sciatica that is caused or worsened by disc-related compression — which accounts for the majority of chronic sciatica cases. Specifically, it tends to work well for:
- Herniated disc pressing on the sciatic nerve root
- Bulging disc with radiating leg pain
- Degenerative disc disease with sciatica symptoms
- Spinal stenosis contributing to sciatic irritation
- Chronic sciatica that has not fully resolved with physical therapy or medication
Decompression is not appropriate for every patient or every cause of sciatica. During your consultation at our Stow office, we'll evaluate your symptoms, review any imaging you have, and tell you honestly whether decompression is the right fit — or whether a different approach makes more sense.
We only recommend treatment we believe will help.
What to Expect from Decompression Treatment
Each decompression session lasts approximately 8–16 minutes and is comfortable — most patients find it relaxing. There is no downtime. You can return to normal activity immediately after each session.
Most treatment plans involve two to four sessions per week over three to six weeks, depending on your condition and how you respond. We reassess regularly throughout the plan.
Spinal decompression is not covered by insurance. We offer transparent, all-inclusive pricing and will walk you through your options during your consultation.
If Sciatica Is Limiting Your Life, It's Worth Finding Out What's Actually Causing It
Sciatica that keeps returning is trying to tell you something. Not that you're stuck with it — but that the underlying cause hasn't been addressed yet.
At Stow Family Chiropractic, we serve patients with sciatica from Stow, Maynard, Acton, Hudson, Bolton, Concord, Sudbury, and surrounding communities in the MetroWest Boston area. We'd be glad to evaluate your situation and help you understand what's driving your pain.
Find out if spinal decompression is right for you — request a consultation today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sciatica Treatment
How do I know if my sciatica is caused by a disc problem?
The most reliable way is through imaging — an MRI will show disc position and any nerve compression. If you haven't had imaging, your symptom pattern can also provide strong clues. Sciatica that radiates below the knee, causes numbness or tingling in the foot, or worsens when sitting is often disc-related. We'll review any existing imaging during your consultation.
Can sciatica go away on its own?
Sometimes. Mild sciatica from a minor disc irritation can resolve with rest and conservative care. But sciatica that has been present for more than a few weeks, that radiates below the knee, or that keeps returning despite treatment is less likely to resolve without addressing the underlying disc issue directly.
Is spinal decompression painful?
No. Most patients find decompression sessions comfortable and some find them relaxing. The traction is computer-controlled and gentle — the table cycles gradually through tension and relaxation. If you have a very acute flare-up, we'll adjust the protocol accordingly.
How is spinal decompression different from regular traction?
Traditional traction applies a constant pulling force. Spinal decompression uses computer-controlled, variable traction that cycles between tension and relaxation. This cycling motion is what creates the negative pressure inside the disc — something constant traction doesn't achieve as effectively.
How many sessions does it take to see improvement?
Many patients notice early changes within the first two to three weeks of treatment. A full decompression program typically involves 12–24 sessions over six to twelve weeks. We reassess regularly and will tell you clearly if the treatment is working.
Can I do spinal decompression if I've already had back surgery?
It depends on the type of surgery. Some patients who have had prior spinal surgery are good candidates for decompression; others are not. We'll review your surgical history during your consultation and give you an honest assessment.
Do you accept insurance for spinal decompression?
Spinal decompression is not covered by insurance. We offer clear, all-inclusive session pricing and will walk you through your options at your consultation. Our broader chiropractic services are covered by most major insurance plans.