Evaluate the Source
We assess movement, posture, and nerve symptoms to understand what is driving your sciatica.
Sciatica Treatment in Miami Lakes
Optimize Health Chiropractic Center
Sciatica Pain Relief in Miami Lakes
Reviewed by Dr. Denis Chang, DC — Nov 3, 2026
Sciatica can cause sharp, radiating pain in your lower back, hip, or leg. We focus on finding the root cause and creating a personalized plan that may help reduce irritation, improve mobility, and support your daily comfort.
Find the pinch.
Calm the nerve.
Sciatica symptoms often come from pressure or irritation along the nerve pathway. Our goal is to identify what’s contributing to your pain and create a plan that may help reduce irritation and support better movement.
Disc Pressure
Irritation from disc changes can press on nearby nerves.
Pelvic Imbalance
Imbalances may alter movement and add stress to the spine.
Sciatic Nerve Irritation
Nerve irritation can cause radiating pain, numbness, or tingling.
Leg Symptoms
Pain, numbness, or weakness can travel down the leg.
Reduce Pressure
Targeted chiropractic and soft-tissue care may help reduce irritation around the nerve pathway.
Restore Confidence
We build a plan to support mobility, strength, and day-to-day comfort so you can get back to living.
Common Causes of Sciatica
Herniated Disc
Disc changes can press on nearby nerves and cause radiating pain.
Spinal Stenosis
Narrowing in the spine can irritate nerves traveling into the legs.
Piriformis Tension
Tight hip muscles can irritate or compress the sciatic nerve.
Pelvic Misalignment
Pelvic imbalances may change movement patterns and increase nerve stress.
Pregnancy/Compression
Changes during pregnancy may put added pressure on nerve pathways.
Muscle Guarding
Tight or overactive muscles can contribute to sciatic nerve irritation.
How Chiropractic Care May Help
Identify the underlying factors contributing to nerve irritation.
Improve spinal alignment and movement to reduce stress on the nerve.
Use targeted adjustments to support nerve function and mobility.
Incorporate soft-tissue therapies that may help ease tension and tightness.
Provide stretches and exercises to support strength and flexibility.
Create a personalized plan that may help you move more comfortably.
Depending on your exam, care for sciatica here may include adjustments or spinal decompression for disc-related leg pain. A disc that may be pressing on the nerve is covered on our herniated and bulging disc page. Sciatica is one pattern of a pinched nerve in the low back. If irritated soft tissue is part of the picture, a MedRay Class 4 laser may be used after the exam.
When Sciatica Comes From a Disc
If your exam shows a herniated or bulging disc pressing on a nerve root, lumbar spinal decompression may be part of your plan. If the cause is muscular (such as piriformis tension) or joint-related, other care usually comes first.
When Sciatica Needs Urgent Care
Most sciatica is uncomfortable but not an emergency. Go to an emergency room or call 911 right away if leg pain comes with any of these:
- Numbness in the groin, inner thighs or buttocks (the “saddle” area)
- New trouble controlling your bladder or bowels
- Leg weakness that is getting worse, or a foot that starts to drag
- Pain after a major fall or crash, or with fever or unexplained weight loss
These signs can point to severe nerve compression that needs medical evaluation the same day. If we see them during an exam, we refer you out for urgent care.
What to Expect at Your First Sciatica Visit
Your first visit starts with a conversation about where the pain travels, what makes it better or worse and how long it has been going on. Dr. Denis Chang or Dr. Nico then does a hands-on exam that includes posture, range of motion, reflexes, strength and nerve-tension tests. X-rays are taken only if they are needed. Before any treatment, we explain what we found, whether chiropractic care or spinal decompression fits your case, and what a plan would look like. If your symptoms point to something outside our scope, we tell you and refer you.
Staying Comfortable While You Wait
Until your exam, gentle movement usually helps more than staying in bed. Short, easy walks, changing position often, and avoiding long stretches of sitting can ease pressure on the nerve. Some people find ice or heat on the low back comforting. Stop any activity or stretch that sends pain further down your leg. This is general information, not a diagnosis; call 786-931-8333 to schedule an evaluation.
Who this page is for
This page is for leg or buttock pain that may be coming from the low back, in Miami Lakes and nearby cities including Hialeah. It is not a diagnosis. An exam here checks whether the pattern fits sciatica or something else.
How it fits with other care
Depending on the exam, care may include chiropractic adjustments, spinal decompression when a disc is pressing on a nerve, or other work when the cause is muscular. Pain that started in a crash is covered on the auto accident page. Back pain that stays in the back, without leg pain, is a different page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is sciatica?
Sciatica can cause sharp, radiating pain in the lower back, hip, or leg. On this page, symptoms along the nerve pathway can include radiating pain, numbness, or tingling, and pain, numbness, or weakness that travels down the leg.
What can cause sciatica?
This page lists a herniated disc, where disc changes can press on nearby nerves; spinal stenosis, where narrowing can irritate nerves traveling into the legs; piriformis tension, where tight hip muscles can irritate or compress the sciatic nerve; pelvic misalignment, where pelvic imbalances may change movement patterns and increase nerve stress; compression during pregnancy; and muscle guarding from tight or overactive muscles.
How may chiropractic care be used for sciatica?
Care described here may include identifying factors that contribute to nerve irritation, adjustments to support nerve function and mobility, soft-tissue work for tension and tightness, and stretches and exercises for strength and flexibility. Depending on the exam, that can include spinal decompression for disc-related leg pain.
When might spinal decompression be part of sciatica care?
If the exam shows a herniated or bulging disc pressing on a nerve root, lumbar spinal decompression may be part of the plan. If the cause is muscular, such as piriformis tension, or joint-related, other care usually comes first.
What does the exam look at?
The exam assesses movement, posture, and nerve symptoms to understand what is driving the sciatica. The plan is built from what that exam shows. A disc that may be pressing on the nerve is covered on the herniated and bulging disc page. Sciatica is one pattern of a pinched nerve in the low back.
Who sees patients for sciatica, and where?
Dr. Denis Chang sees patients at Optimize Health Chiropractic Center, 15450 New Barn Rd Suite 105, Miami Lakes, FL 33014. Call 786-931-8333 to book. No referral is needed.
How much does sciatica care cost?
This page does not list a separate sciatica price. The home page lists a $97 new-patient special. The FAQs page says the cost of care depends on the condition and severity, and that pricing is explained after the consultation, when a custom treatment plan is built.
Do I need an MRI before sciatica care?
No. An MRI is not required before the exam. If imaging would change the plan, the chiropractor says so and refers you when a medical doctor should order it.
Are X-rays used for sciatica?
X-rays are used only when bone alignment or disc-space height would change the plan. They do not show the sciatic nerve.
Meet Dr. Denis Chang
Dr. Denis Chang leads a patient-centered approach to care, focusing on identifying the root cause of your sciatica and creating a plan that may help reduce irritation and support your active lifestyle.
Learn MoreReady to move without that nerve pain holding you back?
Keep exploring
How we treat it
Related conditions
Next steps