Acupuncture for Sciatica | Big Easy Acupuncture, Metairie LA
Natural Support for Sciatic Nerve Pain, Back Pain, Tingling, and Leg Symptoms
Sciatica can be painful, frustrating, and limiting. Many people feel sharp pain, burning, numbness, or tingling that starts in the low back or hip and travels down the leg. Sitting, driving, walking, or sleeping can become uncomfortable.
If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Sciatic nerve pain is one of the most common nerve-related issues we see. Many people come in after trying stretches, rest, or other treatments without lasting relief.
It is common to worry that something is permanently damaged or that movement will make things worse. In most cases, sciatic nerve irritation is very responsive to the right care.
At Big Easy Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine in Metairie, we help people with sciatica reduce pain, calm irritated nerves, and move more comfortably again using a structured, hands-on approach.
We commonly see sciatica in people who sit for long hours, stay physically active, or have jobs that place repeated stress on the body. Desk workers, active adults, and people with physically demanding work often experience sciatic nerve irritation for different reasons, but the symptoms can feel very similar.
What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is nerve pain caused by irritation, inflammation, pinching, or compression of the sciatic nerve, which is the longest and thickest nerve in the body. It runs from the low back through the buttocks and down each leg, and symptoms can range from mild burning or tingling to sharp pain or numbness that radiates down the leg.
Sciatica is very common: about 40% of people in the U.S. will experience it during their lifetime.
What Does Sciatica Feel Like?
Sciatica usually affects one side of the body and may feel like:
- Sharp or shooting pain down the leg
- Burning or electric sensations
- Tingling or numbness (pins and needles)
- Tightness in the low back, hip, or glutes
- Weakness in the leg or foot
Symptoms often worsen with sitting, bending, long drives, or sudden movements.
For many people, these symptoms interfere with daily life. Sitting at work, driving, exercising, or even relaxing can feel uncomfortable or unpredictable. This loss of confidence in movement is often just as frustrating as the pain itself.
What Causes Sciatic Nerve Pain?
Sciatica is less about one sore spot and more about how the sciatic nerve is being stressed along its pathway.
Nerve irritation commonly occurs in three main ways:
- Compression: pressure on the nerve from discs, joints, masses, tumors, or tight surrounding tissues
- Overstretching (elongation): excessive tension placed on the nerve during movement or posture
- Restriction (shortening): shortened or tight muscles limiting how the nerve moves and glides
When the sciatic nerve is stressed in one or more of these ways, symptoms often follow the nerve’s path. This creates the familiar pattern of pain, tingling, or burning that travels from the low back or hip down the leg.
This is why sciatica often does not respond fully to rest or simple stretching alone. The nerve itself needs to be unloaded, calmed, and supported so normal movement and recovery can return.
Pain that travels down the leg is an important clue. Pain that stays only in the low back and does not travel is typically not sciatica.
Common sources of sciatic nerve irritation include:
- Disc bulges or herniations
- Degenerative disc conditions
- Muscle tension or guarding in the hips or glutes
- Piriformis muscle irritation or spasm
- Low back or pelvic joint restriction
- Spinal stenosis or foraminal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Arthritic changes in the spine
- Postural stress from prolonged sitting or repetitive work
- Pregnancy
- Tumors, cysts, or other growths
- Old injuries that never fully resolved
More than one factor is often involved. Sciatica can feel intense, but intensity does not always reflect damage. Nerve irritation often improves when pressure, tension, movement, and strength patterns are addressed.
When to Seek Medical Evaluation First (🚩 Red Flags)
Seek medical care if you have:
- Sudden or worsening leg weakness
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Numbness in the groin or inner thighs
- Severe pain after a fall, accident, or injury
If any of these are present, imaging or medical testing may be needed before starting treatment.
Risk Factors of Sciatica
Certain factors can increase stress on the sciatic nerve or make irritation more likely. These include a combination of physical, lifestyle, and health-related factors.
Physical and Structural Factors
- Previous injuries to the low back, hips, or pelvis
- Normal age-related wear and tear of the spine
- Weak core strength, which reduces support for the lower back
- Arthritic or degenerative changes in the spine
Posture, Movement, and Work Demands
- Jobs that involve heavy lifting, repetitive bending, or prolonged sitting
- Poor posture or improper lifting mechanics
- Long periods of inactivity or limited movement throughout the day
Health and Systemic Factors
- Being overweight, which increases load and pressure on the spine
- Diabetes, which can affect nerve health and sensitivity
- Reduced circulation and oxygen delivery from tobacco use
These factors do not guarantee sciatica, but they can increase strain on the nervous system and reduce the body’s ability to recover if nerve irritation develops.
Why Sciatica Doesn’t Always Go Away on Its Own
When pain keeps returning, the body often becomes protective. Muscles tighten, movement feels unsafe, and people start avoiding certain positions or activities. Over time, this guarding can keep the nerve irritated even when no serious damage is present.
Stretching, rest, or pain medication may help temporarily, but sciatica often returns if the underlying nerve irritation and muscle tension are not addressed.
When the nervous system stays irritated:
- Muscles stay tight to protect the area
- Movement becomes guarded
- Circulation and recovery slow down
Over time, this can turn an acute issue into a chronic one.
How Acupuncture Helps Sciatica
Acupuncture works by influencing both the nervous system and the surrounding tissues.
For sciatica, acupuncture can help by:
- Reducing nerve irritation
- Decreasing muscle tension around the low back and hips
- Improving circulation to affected tissues
- Calming pain signals traveling down the leg
- Supporting better movement and recovery
During treatment, many patients notice a sense of release in the low back or hip, less pulling down the leg, or a feeling of warmth and ease in the affected area.
After sessions, people often report that movement feels smoother, sitting is more comfortable, and the leg feels less reactive during daily activities.
The Big Easy Approach to Treating Sciatica
Sciatica care at Big Easy Acupuncture is not one-size-fits-all.
Your treatment may include:
- Walking (Gait) analysis
- Orthopedic and movement assessment
- Sports Medicine Acupuncture based upon orthopedic testing
- Electro-acupuncture for nerve and muscle activation
- Manual therapy to reduce tension and guarding
- Treatment of the full chain: low back, hips, and leg
Our goal is not just to reduce pain, but to help your body move and recover more normally again.
In some cases, a referral may be recommended if imaging or bloodwork from another physician is needed to better understand your condition.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
The number of treatments depends on a few factors:
Your Symptom Stage (Relief → Correction / Root Cause → Maintenance)
Relief: calming pain, tension, or nerve irritation for reduced symptoms and better daily living
Correction / Root cause: correcting movement, strength, or structural issues
Maintenance: preventing flare-ups and supporting long-term function
Acute conditions:
If you’re dealing with recent injuries or sudden issues within the last few months, you may notice significant improvement after just a few sessions. Typically acute conditions require only 1–5 treatments compared to long-term issues.
Chronic conditions:
Chronic issues or long-term systemic conditions usually require more sessions. A typical plan involves 2 visits per week for the first 2–3 weeks, with treatments spreading out as you progress. Chronic issues often need more total sessions and may benefit from follow-up or maintenance care.
Maintenance:
Many patients choose occasional visits to keep pain from returning and to support active lifestyles.
We’ll regularly reassess your progress and adjust your treatment plan as you improve.
Who Is a Good Fit for Acupuncture for Sciatica?
Acupuncture is a good fit for people who want to keep working, stay active, or return to movement without constantly worrying about nerve pain.
Acupuncture may be a good fit if you:
- Have leg pain, tingling, or burning related to nerve irritation
- Feel stuck despite stretching, rest, or other care
- Want a drug-free approach to pain relief
- Are active and want to move better again
- Prefer a calm, structured treatment plan
Most people with sciatica improve over time with appropriate care and don’t require surgery, especially when issues are addressed early.
Sciatica Treatment in Metairie, LA
You do not have to live with constant nerve pain or feel unsure about your next step. We’ll help you understand what’s driving your symptoms and whether acupuncture is the right fit.
We work with people throughout Metairie and the greater New Orleans area who want clear answers and structured care for sciatic nerve pain.
📞 Call or text 504-650-0027
🌐 Schedule online at bigeasyacu.janeapp.com
At Big Easy Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine, we focus on helping your body calm down, move better, and recover at its own pace.
