Sciatica Treatment in Overland Park, KS

Sciatica can turn simple things like sitting through a meeting, getting in and out of the car, or walking the dog into a challenge. At Active Family Chiropractic, Dr. Chad Welter and Dr. Curt Welter help patients from Overland Park, Olathe, and across the Kansas City area look for relief from sciatic nerve pain.

What Is Sciatica?

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It runs from the lower back through the hips and buttocks and down each leg. “Sciatica” describes pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness along that path, usually on one side. Some people feel a dull ache, while others describe a sharp or burning pain that shoots down the leg.

Common Causes of Sciatica

Sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis on its own. It happens when something irritates or puts pressure on the sciatic nerve or the nerve roots in the lower back. Common contributors include:

A bulging or herniated disc in the lower back
Tight muscles in the hip and buttock, including the piriformis muscle
Stiffness or irritation in the joints of the lower spine or pelvis
Long periods of sitting
Age-related changes in the spine
Injuries from lifting, sports, falls, or car accidents

Finding the likely source of your symptoms is an important first step. That’s why your visit starts with a careful exam.

How Chiropractic Care May Help Sciatica

Chiropractic care takes a drug-free, hands-on approach to problems with the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. For sciatica, your doctor will look at how your lower back and pelvis are moving and where pressure on the nerve may be coming from. Chiropractic adjustments aim to restore proper joint movement, which may help reduce irritation in the area and improve mobility.

Your care plan may also include rehab exercises, stretches, and postural guidance to support your lower back and hips. Learn more about our chiropractic services. If your pain is mostly in your lower back, our back pain page has more information.

How High Intensity Laser Therapy May Help Sciatica

Inflammation and muscle tension around the lower back and hips can add to sciatic pain. High intensity laser therapy is a non-invasive, drug-free, and surgery-free treatment we can use alongside chiropractic care. Laser therapy, also called photobiomodulation, uses light energy to stimulate a response in irritated tissue. It may help reduce pain and inflammation, support circulation, and support the body’s natural healing process.

For people with sciatica, laser therapy may be applied to the lower back, hip, or buttock, depending on where your exam suggests the irritation is coming from. Used together with adjustments and rehab exercises, it may help you stay more comfortable while you work on improving how your spine and hips move.

Sessions are typically short. Most people feel a soothing warmth and can return to normal activities afterward. Your doctor will let you know whether laser therapy is appropriate for your symptoms.

What to Expect at Your First Visit

Your doctor will start by asking where you feel symptoms, when they began, and what makes them better or worse. The examination may include checking your posture, range of motion, and how your lower back, hips, and legs move. Your doctor will explain what they found and recommend a care plan. If your symptoms suggest you need a different kind of care, they’ll refer you to the right provider.

New patients can complete paperwork in advance on our forms page.

Why Choose Active Family Chiropractic?

Award-winning care: Voted Best Chiropractic Clinic in the Best of Johnson County Awards in 2023, 2025, and 2026.
Serving Overland Park since 2013
Two doctors: Dr. Chad and Dr. Curt Welter, both graduates of Cleveland Chiropractic College.
Chiropractic care and laser therapy in one office
Same-day appointments with hours Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 6:30pm, plus Saturdays by appointment.

Sciatica FAQ

Is sciatica the same as back pain? Not exactly. Sciatica usually means symptoms that travel along the sciatic nerve into the buttock and leg. Many people have both back pain and sciatica at the same time.

Can high intensity laser therapy be used with chiropractic adjustments for sciatica? Yes. Laser therapy is often used alongside chiropractic care in the same visit. Your doctor will recommend a combination that fits your exam findings.

When is sciatica an emergency? Seek medical care right away if you have numbness in the groin or inner thighs, loss of bladder or bowel control, or rapidly worsening weakness in your legs.

Schedule Your Sciatica Visit in Overland Park

Let’s figure out what’s behind your leg pain. Call Active Family Chiropractic at (913) 681-6013 or contact us to book. Same-day appointments are available. Find us at 8917 West 135th Street in Overland Park.

Call (913) 681-6013