Sciatica Relief in Sanford, FL — Understanding Causes, Misdiagnoses, and Treatment Options
- Dr. Sammer Yacoub
- Oct 11
- 4 min read
If you’ve ever felt sharp, radiating pain down your leg, you might assume it’s sciatica — but that’s not always the case. At Journey Spinal Care, we see many patients searching for sciatica relief in Sanford, FL, only to discover their pain is actually coming from a different source, like a disc injury or tight muscles in the hip.
Understanding what’s really causing your symptoms is the first step toward lasting relief. In this post, we’ll explain what sciatica truly is, what it’s often mistaken for, and how chiropractic care, manual therapy, and targeted home exercises can help.
What Is Sciatica?
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body, running from your lower spine through your hips and down both legs. Sciatica occurs when this nerve becomes irritated or compressed, leading to symptoms like:
Sharp or burning pain down one leg
Tingling, numbness, or “pins and needles” sensations
Weakness in the affected leg or foot
Sciatica is not a condition itself — it’s a symptom of an underlying problem that needs to be identified.
Our team at Journey Spinal Care specializes in identifying these root causes through personalized evaluations and integrative care. Learn more about our chiropractic and bodywork services.
Common Misdiagnoses: Sciatica vs. Other Causes of Leg Pain
Many people believe any leg pain is sciatica, but there are other conditions that mimic it. Here’s how they differ:
Sciatica (True Nerve Compression): Usually caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve from a herniated disc, bone spur, or tight muscle near the nerve root. Pain typically travels from the low back, through the buttock, and down one leg.
Herniated or Bulging Disc: When a spinal disc presses on a nerve root, it can create nerve pain similar to sciatica — but often with more localized back pain or pain that worsens with bending or sitting.
Piriformis Syndrome: The piriformis is a small muscle deep in the buttock that can tighten or spasm, compressing the sciatic nerve. This causes leg pain without a spinal injury — often misdiagnosed as sciatica.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction: When the SI joint becomes irritated, it can refer pain into the hip or leg but usually not below the knee.
Understanding these differences helps guide the right treatment and prevent months of trial and error.
To learn more about how we assess and treat these conditions, visit our FAQ page or contact us with your questions.
What Causes Sciatica and Related Nerve Pain
Sciatica and nerve-related pain can come from several underlying issues. Before starting treatment, it’s important to understand why it happens — because the source of irritation can vary from person to person.
Common causes include:
Poor posture or prolonged sitting
Repetitive strain or improper lifting techniques
Disc degeneration or herniation
Muscle imbalances (tight hip flexors, weak glutes, etc.)
Previous injuries or surgeries that changed spinal alignment
During your evaluation at Journey Spinal Care, we perform orthopedic and neurological testing to pinpoint the cause and determine whether your pain is coming from a spinal, muscular, or postural source. We may also recommend complementary therapies such as massage therapy or stretching routines to support your recovery.
How Chiropractic and Manual Therapy Can Help
Our approach to sciatica relief in Sanford, FL combines chiropractic adjustments, myofascial release, trigger-point therapy, stretching, and postural retraining.
Chiropractic adjustments restore motion to restricted joints and reduce nerve pressure.
Manual therapy (like deep tissue, cupping, and scraping) releases tight muscles that may be compressing the nerve.
Therapeutic stretching and vibration therapy improve mobility and circulation for faster healing.
By addressing both the spinal and muscular components of nerve irritation, we help relieve pain and prevent flare-ups. Learn more about our integrative treatment approach or read about Dr. Sammer Yacoub and Marcus Gonzalez, LMT at our Sanford office.
Empowering You at Home: Exercises for Sciatica Relief
Our care doesn’t end in the office. We teach patients simple, targeted home exercises to improve flexibility, strengthen supporting muscles, and manage flare-ups between visits.
Common recommendations include:
Piriformis stretches
Cat-cow and pelvic tilt mobility work
Glute bridges for core and hip stability
Hamstring and calf stretches for nerve gliding
These movements help retrain your body to move safely and reduce future episodes of pain. You can also read more about posture and stretching in our Blog for helpful at-home tips.
Real Results: How Patients Find Relief
Many of our patients come to us after months or years of discomfort. Some have disc injuries; others struggle with piriformis syndrome or muscle tension from long hours of sitting.
Our one-on-one, personalized care allows us to adapt each visit to what your body needs that day — whether that’s deep muscle release, chiropractic adjustments, or assisted stretching.
Patients often share that they’re finally able to sleep comfortably, walk without pain, and enjoy daily life again. Explore more patient testimonials to hear their stories.
Find Sciatica Relief in Sanford, FL
f you’ve been struggling with nerve pain, tingling, or tightness down one leg, it’s time to find out what’s really causing it. Our integrated chiropractic and manual therapy approach is designed to treat the root cause — not just the symptoms.
Ready to start your recovery? You can book your appointment online, explore our FAQs for more information, or contact us to learn more.
New patients can also take advantage of our new patient special — an affordable way to begin your care and experience the difference of personalized treatment at Journey Spinal Care.
You can also call or text us at 321-926-4565 — we’ll be happy to help guide you through your next steps toward healing.
Every visit at Journey Spinal Care is personalized, compassionate, and focused on helping you move better and feel your best.
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