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Sciatica.
Understand the source.
Pain that travels down your leg can interrupt work, sleep, and everyday movement. Start with a focused evaluation and a conversation about the next step that fits your situation.
Non-surgical spine care on Weston Road · Weston, Sunrise & Broward County
When pain travels down the leg.
Leg pain deserves
a closer look.
Sciatica describes pain along the sciatic nerve pathway, often from the buttock into one leg. It is a symptom pattern, not a single diagnosis. A herniated disc or spinal narrowing may irritate the nerve roots that contribute to it.
Notice what
has changed.
Bring specific examples of what you feel and which activities have become difficult.
Where it travels
Tell us whether pain reaches your thigh, calf, or foot—and whether it is accompanied by tingling or numbness.
What changes it
Describe how sitting, standing, walking, coughing, or changing position affects your symptoms.
What you can do
Share changes in walking, sleep, work, or your ability to use your leg or foot. New weakness needs prompt assessment.
Different causes.
Different decisions.
Your clinician considers the symptom pattern, examination, and any imaging together. Pain in the leg can also arise from conditions outside the spine, so identifying the cause matters before choosing care.
- Listen: your symptoms, health history, and previous care.
- Examine: movement and neurological function as appropriate.
- Review: available imaging and whether further testing is useful.
- Plan: reasonable goals, options, costs, and when to reassess.
Discuss your options.
Define your goals.
A useful plan should explain why each step is recommended and how you will know whether it is helping.
Rehabilitation & activity
Discuss an individualized movement plan, activity adjustments, and rehabilitation when appropriate.
Symptom management
Ask about medication or injection options, including the expected benefit, limitations, and risks for your health history.
Specialist input
Ask when persistent symptoms or neurological findings should prompt a surgical or other specialist opinion.
Bring the images.
Bring your questions.
Have an MRI or X-rays? Bring the images and written reports, together with your medication list and a brief history of previous care. You can contact NSI before obtaining new imaging.
Request your evaluation ↗A team you
can get to know.
Founder and Clinic Director Dr. Darran Hamm has shaped NSI around individualized non-surgical care. Dr. Maritza Novas brings regenerative medicine experience to the institute. Learn about their roles and meet Dr. Rosemary Daly on our provider page.
Meet the NSI team ↗Your questions
belong here.
Is sciatica always caused by a herniated disc?
No. A disc herniation is one possible cause. Spinal narrowing and other conditions can produce similar symptoms.
Does sciatica mean I need surgery?
Many cases improve with non-surgical care. The underlying cause, severity, and neurological findings help determine when a surgical opinion is appropriate.
Can I have sciatica without much back pain?
Yes. Leg symptoms may be more noticeable than back pain. Describe the entire pattern during your evaluation.
Do I need an MRI before scheduling?
No. Bring the records you already have and contact the team first. Your clinician can determine whether additional imaging would help.
What should I know about costs?
Ask which services are recommended, what insurance may cover, and your expected out-of-pocket costs before care begins.
How will we review progress?
Choose meaningful goals with your clinician, such as an everyday activity you want to improve, and agree on when to reassess.
Patient education sources: AAOS: Sciatica · AAOS: Low Back Pain. Educational information does not replace an individual evaluation.
Explore your non-surgical options
Decompression requires a suitability assessment; it is not appropriate for every cause of pain.
Explore spinal decompression ↗Request a Spine Evaluation
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Prefer to call? 954-280-2230
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