How Long Does Sciatica Last? (And What You Can Do About It)
The long and the short answer about how long sciatic lasts: it depends.
Sciatica pain and symptoms of sciatica can go away relatively "quickly" or last for months and it depends on personal and environmental factors as well as "luck". Your activity level, how many times you've had sciatica before, your work and home demands, your access to healthcare, and more. You don't have to just deal with sciatica and steroid injections aren't your only option for pain relief.
But, let's be honest... if you’ve been dealing with that deep, shooting pain down your leg—maybe with tingling, numbness, a pins and needles sensation, or stiffness—you’re probably wondering:
"How long is this going to last?"
Again, the short answer? It depends. But the longer answer—and the one I’m here to walk you through—is that with the right support, sciatica doesn’t have to stick around.
Let’s talk about what causes it, how long it can last, and most importantly—what we can do in the office to help make it a thing of the past.
So… How Long Does Sciatica Really Last?
On average, sciatic pain can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the root cause. In more stubborn cases, it can linger for months if left unaddressed.
But here's the thing: pain doesn't heal on its own when the underlying dysfunction is still present.
Many patients try to wait it out, hoping it will go away on its own. And while rest might offer temporary relief, long-term results come from getting to the source of the issue. But treatment for sciatica is essential; it can help prevent sciatica from returning and avoid any long term deficits.
What Causes Sciatica in the First Place?
Sciatica happens when the sciatic nerve gets compressed or irritated, which means that there is pressure on the sciatic nerve, which runs from your low back region, down into your glutes and then all the way down your legs into your feet.
Common causes include:
Poor movement patterns or posture (while the typical "good posture" isn't the goal, consistently having poor posture can have negative side effects).
Muscle imbalances and tightness (especially in the hips or low back), which can lead to different structures pressing on the sciatic nerve and impaired mobility of the structures around the sciatic nerve
Disc irritation or inflammation
Pelvic instability or joint restriction
Pregnancy-related changes to posture and joint tension
Spinal stenosis
Every case is different. That’s why cookie-cutter solutions don’t work—and why your plan needs to be built around your body and lifestyle.
What We Can Do in the Office to Help
At Cruz Chiropractic Wellness, we don’t just chase symptoms—we solve the puzzle.
Here’s how we work together to make sciatica a thing of the past:
✅ Full-body assessment
We take the time to figure out what’s actually causing the irritation—whether it’s coming from your spine, hips, movement habits, or a combination. We look at the your whole body, not just your back or your affected leg if you're experiencing symptoms there.
💆🏽♀️ Soft tissue therapy
Tension in the glutes, piriformis, hamstrings, or hip flexors can pull on the pelvis and irritate the nerve. We release those muscles using hands-on techniques so your body can move more freely.
🔄 Gentle chiropractic adjustments
We use safe, targeted adjustments to restore mobility where your joints are restricted—especially in the lumbar spine and pelvis.
🧠 Nervous system support
This isn’t just a pain issue—it’s a communication issue. By improving how your brain and body connect, we reduce the stress signals that keep you stuck in a pain loop.
🏋🏽♀️ Rehab + movement retraining
We’ll build strength in the right places and retrain your movement patterns so you don’t keep triggering the nerve. Think mobility, core control, and long-term durability.
Let’s Not Wait for It to “Go Away”
The body is smart—but when pain lingers, it’s often a sign it needs a nudge in the right direction. If your sciatica has been hanging around longer than a few days, or keeps coming back, it’s time to take action. Chronic sciatica is not fun.
We’ll create a care plan that helps you:
Understand your body better
Move with more ease
Get back to the things you love and stay active, without that nerve pain holding you back
Where to Find Treatment for Sciatica in New York City
You don’t have to wait it out. Let’s work together to actively resolve the issue and keep it from coming back.
At Cruz Chiropractic Wellness, we offer chiropractic treatment for sciatica that will help you not only feel better now, but also long term.
We are conveniently located in NYC’s Flatiron District.
We pride ourselves in offering chiropractic care that is:
Personalized
Always 1-on-1
We also offer free 15-minute virtual consults. Feel free to get started by booking one below.
