Sciatica Treatment
Sciatica Treatment in Holland, MI — McAlpine Chiropractic
The shooting pain down your leg is not normal – and it is not something you have to live with.
If sciatica is keeping you from sleeping, sitting at your desk, or getting through a normal day, you already know that ibuprofen and stretching are not cutting it. You need sciatica treatment that addresses the actual source of the problem — not just the symptoms.
At McAlpine Chiropractic in Holland, MI, we provide advanced, non-surgical sciatica treatment using chiropractic adjustments, spinal decompression, and Class IV laser therapy. Our doctors find the structural cause of your sciatic nerve pain and correct it — so you get lasting relief instead of temporary fixes.
Schedule Your Appointment | Call 616-392-7031
Serving Holland, Zeeland, Saugatuck, and the greater West Michigan area. 4.9 stars on Google.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica is pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve — the longest and thickest nerve in your body. The sciatic nerve originates from nerve roots L4 through S3 in your lower spine, bundling together to form a nerve roughly the diameter of your thumb. It runs from your lower back, through your hips and buttocks, and down each leg. When something compresses or irritates this nerve, the result is pain that can range from a dull ache to a sharp, burning sensation that makes it hard to stand, walk, or sit.
Sciatica is not a diagnosis in itself. It is a symptom of an underlying problem in the lumbar spine. That distinction matters, because treating the symptom without finding the cause is why so many people deal with sciatica for months or even years.
Common Sciatica Symptoms
- Sharp, shooting pain from the low back into the buttock and down the leg
- Numbness or tingling in the leg or foot (the specific location of numbness often indicates which nerve root is affected)
- Burning sensation along the back of the thigh
- Weakness in the affected leg
- Pain that worsens when sitting, coughing, or sneezing
- Difficulty standing up from a seated position
- Pain on one side of the body (rarely both sides)
If you are experiencing any combination of these symptoms in Holland, MI, or the surrounding area, early treatment significantly improves outcomes. Sciatica that is left untreated can progress, and nerve damage can become harder to reverse over time.
What Causes Sciatica?
The sciatic nerve becomes irritated when something in your lower spine is pressing against it. The most common causes include:
Herniated or bulging disc — The most frequent cause. The gel-like center of a spinal disc pushes outward and compresses the nerve root. This can happen from an injury, repetitive stress, or gradual disc degeneration.
Spinal stenosis — The spinal canal narrows, reducing the space available for the nerve. This is more common in patients over 50 and often develops gradually.
Degenerative disc disease — As discs lose hydration and height over time, the space between vertebrae decreases. This can lead to bone-on-nerve contact and chronic sciatic nerve irritation.
Spondylolisthesis — One vertebra slips forward over the one below it, compressing the nerve. This can result from a stress fracture or age-related degeneration.
Piriformis syndrome — The piriformis muscle in the buttock tightens or spasms, compressing the sciatic nerve where it passes beneath the muscle.
Understanding the root cause is the first step toward effective treatment. At McAlpine Chiropractic, we perform a thorough examination and can order diagnostic imaging — including X-rays and MRI — to identify exactly what is compressing your sciatic nerve before we start treatment.
How We Treat Sciatica at McAlpine Chiropractic
We do not prescribe painkillers. We do not recommend surgery as a first option. What we do is find the structural problem causing your sciatica and correct it using three proven, non-invasive treatments — individually or in combination, depending your case.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Chiropractic adjustments are targeted, controlled corrections to misaligned vertebrae in your lumbar spine. When vertebrae are out of position, they create pressure on the nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve. Restoring proper alignment relieves that pressure directly.
For many sciatica patients, adjustments provide noticeable relief within the first few visits. A proper course of care ensures the correction holds and prevents recurrence. Learn more about the research behind chiropractic adjustments and how they work.
Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression
Our FDA-cleared SpineMed decompression table is one of the most effective treatments available for disc-related sciatica. The table gently stretches the lumbar spine, creating negative intradiscal pressure. This causes herniated or bulging disc material to retract away from the nerve, restores nutrient flow into the damaged disc, and promotes natural healing.
Spinal decompression is particularly effective for patients diagnosed with herniated discs, bulging discs, or degenerative disc disease — the three most common causes of sciatica. It requires no anesthesia, no incisions, and no downtime. Learn more about our non-surgical spinal decompression program and the research supporting it.
Class IV Laser Therapy
Class IV laser therapy delivers concentrated photon energy deep into the inflamed tissue surrounding the sciatic nerve. This accelerates cellular repair, reduces inflammation at the source, and provides significant pain relief — often within the first session.
When combined with adjustments and decompression, laser therapy amplifies the overall treatment effect. Each therapy reinforces the others: adjustments correct the structural cause, decompression addresses disc involvement, and laser therapy speeds healing and reduces pain during recovery.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Your first visit at McAlpine Chiropractic in Holland, MI is focused entirely on understanding your condition. We start with a detailed health history and a hands-on orthopedic and neurological examination. If imaging is needed, we can order X-rays or MRI to get a clear picture of what is happening in your lumbar spine.
Once we identify the cause, we build a treatment plan specific to your sciatica — not a generic protocol. You will know exactly what is wrong, what we recommend, how long treatment should take, and what results to expect.
Most patients begin feeling improvement within the first few visits. Our goal is not to keep you coming back indefinitely — it is to resolve the underlying issue, get you out of pain, and give you the tools to stay healthy.
Book Your First Visit | Call 616-392-7031
Why Choose McAlpine Chiropractic for Sciatica Treatment
Three experienced doctors. Dr. Phillip Maletta, Dr. Ben De Young, and Dr. Ann McAlpine bring decades of combined experience in diagnosing and treating sciatica and other spinal conditions.
Advanced treatment technology. Our SpineMed spinal decompression table is FDA-cleared for disc-related conditions and is not available at most chiropractic clinics. Combined with Class IV laser therapy, we offer a level of care you will not find at a typical chiropractic or physical therapy office.
Diagnostic capability. Unlike many clinics, our chiropractors can order X-rays and MRI — so you do not need to wait weeks for a referral before getting answers about what is causing your sciatica.
Non-surgical, drug-free approach. We treat the cause of your sciatica without medication, injections, or surgery. Many patients come to us after being told surgery is their only option and find that conservative care resolves their problem completely.
Learn more about our team and approach.
Patient Results
“Dr. Ann has a gift in figuring out what hurts and why and how. Second to none, hands down the best.” — Verified Google Review
“Dr. Ann and her staff are truly awesome and very friendly. They give excellent care and always get me in as soon as possible. I feel so much better since starting chiropractic care with McAlpine Chiropractic Clinic.” — Verified Patient Review
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(All testimonials used with permission. Individual results may vary.)
Frequently Asked Questions About Sciatica Treatment
How long does sciatica take to heal with chiropractic care?
Most patients experience significant improvement within 4 to 8 weeks of consistent treatment. Mild cases may respond faster — within 2 to 3 weeks. Severe or chronic sciatica involving disc herniation may take 8 to 12 weeks. Your treatment timeline depends on the underlying cause, the severity of nerve compression, and how long the condition has been present.
Can a chiropractor fix sciatica permanently?
Yes — when the root cause is addressed, many patients experience complete resolution of their sciatica. Chiropractic adjustments correct spinal misalignments, and spinal decompression addresses disc problems that cause nerve compression. By treating the structural source rather than masking the pain, the results are lasting. Maintenance care and at-home exercises help prevent recurrence.
Is chiropractic or physical therapy better for sciatica?
Both are valuable, and they work best together. Physical therapy strengthens the muscles that support and stabilize your spine — which is essential for long-term recovery. Chiropractic care corrects the structural alignment and disc issues that may be causing the nerve compression in the first place. For sciatica caused by a herniated disc or vertebral misalignment, chiropractic care — especially combined with spinal decompression — addresses the structural cause, while PT strengthens the support system around it. At McAlpine Chiropractic, our doctors have passed the national board exam for physical therapy and provide corrective exercises in-house. When a patient’s rehabilitation needs go beyond what we offer, we coordinate with trusted local physical therapists to ensure the best outcome.
Do I need an MRI before starting sciatica treatment?
Not necessarily, but imaging can be very helpful. At McAlpine Chiropractic, our doctors can take X-rays in house and order an MRI when clinically indicated — so there is no need for a separate referral or long wait. If your examination suggests disc involvement or if your symptoms are severe, we will recommend immediate imaging to confirm the diagnosis and guide your treatment plan.
Is spinal decompression safe for sciatica?
Spinal decompression on our FDA-cleared SpineMed table is very safe and well-tolerated. The treatment is gentle and non-invasive. Most patients find it comfortable and even relaxing. It is one of the most effective non-surgical treatments available for disc-related sciatica, backed by clinical research. It is not appropriate for patients with spinal fractures, severe osteoporosis, or certain spinal hardware — which is why a thorough examination comes first.
What is the fastest way to relieve sciatica pain?
The fastest relief comes from identifying and treating the cause. At our Holland, MI clinic, we often combine chiropractic adjustments with Class IV laser therapy for rapid pain reduction. Laser therapy can provide noticeable relief after the very first session by reducing inflammation around the compressed nerve. Decompression is then added to address any disc component. This multi-treatment approach delivers faster and more complete results than any single therapy.
How do I know if my sciatica is serious enough to see a doctor?
If you have pain radiating from your lower back into your leg, numbness or tingling in your leg or foot, or weakness that makes it difficult to walk or stand — you should be evaluated. Sciatica that persists for more than a week, is getting worse, or involves loss of bladder or bowel control requires prompt medical attention. Do not wait for it to resolve on its own. Early treatment produces better outcomes and helps prevent nerve damage.
Stop Living With Sciatica Pain
You do not have to accept sciatica as part of your life. You do not have to wait for surgery. And you do not have to keep managing symptoms with medication that wears off every few hours.
McAlpine Chiropractic in Holland, MI has the technology, the experience, and the proven approach to treat your sciatica at its source — and get you back to living without pain.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
Call: 616-392-7031
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