What Is Sciatica and How Can We Help?

December 18, 2023

Treatment for Sciatica in Boston, MA

Each year in the United States, approximately 3 million people experience sciatica, an irritation or injury to the sciatic nerve, a large nerve originating in the pelvis and extending down the leg.

The symptoms can be excruciating—ranging from pain and numbness to muscle weakness. Before sciatica turns into a bigger issue, it’s essential to address it right away. And that starts with finding out why you have the pain.

What Are the Culprits?

In his recent YouTube video, Dr. Quigley discusses the four major causes of sciatica:

Muscle Spasm: A common cause involves muscle spasms triggered by pelvic misalignment or injury. These spasms can compress the sciatic nerve, intensifying the pain.

Spinal Disc Issues: Disc injuries or misalignments can directly pressure the nerves as they exit the spine, resulting in severe sciatica. This type tends to be particularly challenging.

Arthritis: Degeneration of the spinal discs due to arthritis can also contribute to sciatic nerve compression, leading to symptoms.

Stenosis: Advanced arthritis can lead to stenosis, a critical stage where surgical options might become inevitable. However, Dr. Quigley emphasizes the importance of early spine care to prevent stenosis, as surgical interventions for this condition often have limited effectiveness.

The Importance of Proactive Chiropractic Care

With over 30 years of experience and having administered millions of chiropractic spinal adjustments, Dr. Quigley emphasizes the importance of addressing sciatica before it worsens. So, how does chiropractic help?

A misalignment or subluxation in the spine can put pressure on the sciatic nerve which can lead to disk damage causing pain and other symptoms. By correcting these misalignments, our chiropractors can relieve the pressure on the sciatic nerve and reduce pain.

Patient Testimonial

Eileen’s transformation from back pain and sciatica.

Take That First Step Toward Relief

At Charles Street Family Chiropractic in Boston, we offer healing help for those seeking relief from their sciatica. Our highly skilled chiropractors are here to help you through natural and non-invasive chiropractic care. Call (617) 720-1992 today to book an appointment!

Dr. Christopher Quigley

“I was majoring in chemistry at Villanova University when my path turned to chiropractic. I was going on interviews to be a pharmaceutical sales representative, and they always asked me what I wanted to be doing in five years. My answer was always the same: “I want to be helping people, enjoying my work, while making a difference.”

Why Chiropractic Care Should Play a Bigger Role in Public Health

Looking for a Boston chiropractor focused on conservative, drug-free spine care? At Charles Street Family Chiropractic in Beacon Hill, Dr. Chris Quigley helps patients with back pain, neck pain, sciatica, disc problems, and recurring spinal conditions. Chiropractic care can support mobility, function, and active living while reducing reliance on medications and invasive procedures. Even major medical centers, including the University of South Florida Neurosurgery program, are integrating chiropractic care into collaborative spine treatment and research.

October 14, 2026

The Missing Piece in Chronic Neck Pain Claims: Alar Ligament Injury in Older Whiplash Clients

A 2015 MRI study found signs of alar ligament injury in 55% of older patients whose chronic neck pain had no other identifiable cause. For Boston and Massachusetts personal injury attorneys, that finding speaks to a familiar problem: the client who still hurts months after a car crash, but whose standard imaging reads as “normal” or “age-related degeneration.”

October 4, 2026

Before Back Surgery: What Three Important Studies Say About Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression

The number that should stop every elective-surgery patient in their tracks is 94%.
In a large 2017 Journal of Pain Research study of 1,842 people who had undergone lumbar spine surgery, 94% reported some degree of residual low-back pain. That does not mean 94% had severe pain, nor does it mean 94% of the operations were surgical failures. But for an invasive procedure that many patients understandably hope will eliminate their back pain, the persistence of any low-back pain in such a large proportion of respondents is difficult to dismiss.
The same study found that 20.6% met the researchers’ criteria for failed back surgery syndrome —roughly one out of every five patients. Residual numbness was reported by 69.8%, cold sensations by 43.3%, and paresthesia such as tingling or abnormal sensations by 35.3%.

September 28, 2026