“I’ve Been Doing PT for Weeks and My Sciatica Is Still There.” Here’s Why — and What to Try Next.
“I’ve Been Doing PT for Weeks and My Sciatica Is Still There.” Here’s Why — and What to Try Next.
It’s one of the most common things we hear at West Los Angeles Chiropractic®: a patient has spent weeks diligently attending physical therapy — stretching, strengthening, icing — and the shooting pain down their leg is still there. Often, it’s worse. The reason usually comes down to one thing: PT treats the muscles around the problem, but chiropractic care and non-surgical spinal decompression treat the problem itself.
The Core Difference Nobody Explains to You
Sciatica is nerve pain. It happens when something — usually a herniated disc, a misaligned vertebra, or a bone spur — presses directly on the sciatic nerve in your lower spine.
Physical therapy excels at strengthening the muscles that support your spine. However, if a disc is pressing on your sciatic nerve, no amount of core strengthening can move that disc. The compression remains, the nerve stays irritated, and the pain continues.
Chiropractic care works on the spine itself, realigning vertebrae and relieving mechanical pressure on the nerve. But for many patients with a true disc herniation, a second problem exists that even a great chiropractic adjustment can’t fully address: a tear in the disc wall.
The Disc Herniation Problem Most Providers Miss
When a disc herniates, two things happen at once:
- The outer wall tears. Every disc in your spine has a tough outer ring called the annulus fibrosus. When that outer wall develops a tear — from injury, repetitive stress, or degeneration — the soft inner material (nucleus pulposus) pushes through the opening.
- That inner material compresses your nerve. The escaped disc material presses on the sciatic nerve, causing the shooting pain, numbness, and tingling down your leg.
Most treatments focus only on the second problem: relieving nerve pressure. That matters. But if the tear in the disc wall goes unaddressed, the disc stays structurally compromised, and the pain often returns.
Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression: Targeting the Disc Itself
At West Los Angeles Chiropractic®, Dr. Michael Karr offers Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression using the DRX9000 — FDA-cleared technology designed to address disc herniation at its source.
How the DRX9000 Works
The DRX9000 gently distracts the spine, creating precise negative pressure inside the damaged disc. This negative intradiscal pressure aims to:
- Help retract herniated disc material away from the nerve
- Promote nutrient flow and rehydration to the damaged disc
- Support healing of the annular tear itself
The goal isn’t simply to mask pain — it’s to support the disc’s own healing process, reducing the herniation and encouraging repair of the torn wall.
The DRX9000 is the most researched non-surgical spinal decompression technology available, with 28 clinical studies to date, 20 of them published in peer-reviewed journals. Clinics nationwide have used the DRX9000 as a non-surgical alternative before patients consider injections or surgery.
Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression isn’t appropriate for every patient. Dr. Karr reviews your X-rays and clinical presentation to determine whether you’re a candidate.
What Dr. Karr Does That Most Providers Skip
Dr. Michael Karr is a UCLA Kinesiology graduate who has treated sciatica and disc injuries in West LA since 1989. Because he received radiology honors, he reads your X-rays himself, in the office, the same day you arrive.
Most new sciatica patients have never had a lumbar spine X-ray. Instead, providers often treat them based on symptoms alone. That changes on your first visit here: you see exactly where the problem is, you understand what’s causing your pain, and we build treatment around your specific spine — not a generic protocol.
How the Three Approaches Compare
| Your Situation | Best Fit |
|---|---|
| Sharp, shooting pain down one leg | Chiropractic + Spinal Decompression evaluation |
| Diagnosed herniated or bulging disc | Chiropractic + Spinal Decompression (DRX9000) |
| Pain after lifting, twisting, sudden movement | Chiropractic adjustment first |
| Tried PT 4+ weeks with limited improvement | Chiropractic + Spinal Decompression evaluation |
| Post-surgical spine rehab | Physical therapy |
| General core weakness, no nerve pain | Physical therapy |
| Mild aching without radiating pain | Physical therapy |
What Your First Visit Looks Like
- Digital X-rays of your lumbar spine — taken and read same day
- Orthopedic testing to identify the exact nerve level involved
- A clear explanation of what’s causing your pain
- A treatment plan that may include chiropractic adjustment, Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression, cold laser, MedX rehabilitation, or massage — based on your specific condition
We accept Medicare, most PPO insurance (Anthem Blue Cross, Cigna, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare), Workers’ Comp, MedPay, and CareCredit. New patients pay $99 for your first chiropractic visit. Call Betty for spinal decompression pricing and coverage verification.
We’re at 11340 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 165 — ground floor, free parking, near the 405 and 10. We serve West LA, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Venice, Westwood, Mar Vista, Playa Vista, and West Hollywood.
Call Betty: 310-914-9400
Frequently Asked Questions
Why didn’t physical therapy fix my sciatica?
Physical therapy strengthens the muscles around your spine, but it can’t reposition a herniated disc, correct spinal misalignment, or repair a tear in the disc wall. If disc compression or annular damage caused your sciatica, structural treatment — chiropractic adjustment and/or spinal decompression — targets the source directly.
What is Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression, and how does it help a herniated disc?
Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression uses the FDA-cleared DRX9000 to gently distract the spine, creating negative pressure inside the damaged disc. This pressure helps retract herniated disc material, promotes disc rehydration, and supports healing of the annular tear — the structural damage that caused the herniation in the first place. The DRX9000 has now been the subject of 28 clinical studies, 20 of them peer-reviewed.
Is Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression FDA-cleared?
Yes. The DRX9000 is FDA-cleared technology that treats disc herniation, bulging discs, degenerative disc disease, and sciatica without surgery. Dr. Karr determines candidacy based on your clinical history and X-rays.
How is treating the disc different from treating the nerve?
Treating the nerve addresses your pain symptoms — the shooting, burning, or numbness down your leg. Treating the disc addresses the structural cause: the herniation and the annular tear that created it. Ideally, we address both. Chiropractic adjustment restores alignment and relieves nerve pressure, while spinal decompression helps the disc itself heal.
Can I do both chiropractic and physical therapy?
Yes — many patients benefit from both, at different stages. Chiropractic care and spinal decompression work well during the acute disc phase, while PT-style stabilization helps rebuild strength and prevent recurrence afterward.
Does insurance cover chiropractic and spinal decompression?
We accept Medicare, most PPO plans, Workers’ Comp, and MedPay. Call Betty at 310-914-9400, and we’ll verify your specific coverage at no cost to you. Note: Medicare does not cover spinal decompression.
Does Dr. Karr treat sciatica from herniated discs?
Yes — herniated and bulging discs causing sciatica are among the most common conditions we treat. In-office digital X-rays show the exact vertebral levels involved, so treatment stays targeted, not guesswork.
Individual results vary. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before beginning any treatment program. Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression may not be appropriate for every patient — candidacy is determined by clinical evaluation and review of diagnostic imaging.
📞 Call Betty: 310-914-9400
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