Non-Surgical Orthopedics
SCIATICA TREATMENT
Serving the greater Phoenix Valley Area including Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Maricopa County and beyond.
Dedicated to Medical Excellence for Over 15 Years.
Booking
OVERVIEW
Here's the part that confuses people about sciatica. The pain is in your leg, but the problem almost never is. The sciatic nerve runs from your lower back, through the buttock, and all the way down the back of your leg. Irritate it anywhere along that route and your brain reports the pain along the whole length of it.
Which is why massaging your calf accomplishes exactly nothing.
People describe it differently depending on what's going on. Some say electric or burning. Others get numbness or pins and needles instead of outright pain. What most of them share is that sitting is the worst of it, which makes long drives and desk days genuinely unpleasant.
What's bothering the nerve varies. A disc in the low back pressing on the nerve root, narrowing in the spine that leaves it less room, or a tight muscle deep in the buttock crowding it. Which one you've got changes the approach, so that's where we start. At Modern Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine of Phoenix, AZ, we track down the source and settle it, and most people get there without surgery.
BOOKING APPOINTMENTS
Getting in is easy. Call our office to set up a visit, or fill out the online booking form whenever it works for you. We'll match you with the right provider and get you looked at soon.
Request An
Appointment
SCHEDULE
REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT
Pick a time by phone or online. We work around your week and get you in without a long wait.
DIAGNOSE
EXAM & IMAGING
We ask how it started and what makes it better or worse, test your movement, strength, and reflexes, and find which positions bring it on. Imaging comes in when it'll change the plan.
TREATMENTS
CUSTOM TREATMENT PROGRAM
We use targeted movement and hands-on work to take pressure off the nerve, then build the core and hip strength that stops your back loading it.
FOLLOW UP
WE CALL TO CHECK IN
We track how the leg responds, move the plan forward as things ease, and sort out the daily habits that kept setting it off.
Feedback
Customer Reviews
Testimonials for
The MODERN Approach
At MODERN, we take tremendous pride in making our customers happy above and beyond their expectations. We invite you to read what a few of our customers have to say about their MODERN experience.
450+
5 Star Reviews
13
Locations
100+
Different Services Offered
20+
Orthopedic Experts
I have had a great experience with Dr. Patrick O’Brien . He is very thorough and takes time to explain the detail of every step in each exercise. I also appreciate that each office visit is truly one on one with him. And most importantly -after just one very first session- I felt tremendous relief from lower back pain that had been bothering me for 2 months. I’m grateful for his expertise and highly recommend him.
Kathy C.
Google review
Patrick and the team are outstanding! They are very skilled in their field; they incorporate practices that root out the pain or discomfort; they do a great job of crafting programs and exercises to solve the symptoms being experienced; their customer service is excellent; and, their facility is perfect for the individualized care a person wants. I'm so glad I found them for my particular issues, and I highly recommend them.
Robert L.
Google review
This is my 2nd stint at rehab with Dr Patrick. He’s very knowledgeable and works with you 1 on 1. I would never go to a cookie cutter P/T clinic ever again. I recommend him without reservation.
Susan M.
Google review
What Are You Experiencing?
You may not know specifically what type of treatment you would require. What you do know is that you hurt, and right now that’s really what is most important. To better know how to serve you, please take a few minutes to fill out this brief form describing the discomfort or pain you are experiencing. With a clearer idea, we will contact you to discuss what may be occurring and how we may be able to assist.
LOW HIGH
SEVERE PAIN
If you are experiencing severe or unbearable pain, don’t wait. Call 911 or proceed directly to your nearby hospital. When the emergency is treated, we will then be prepared to work together to assist you in gaining longer-term relief.
MODERATE PAIN / DISCOMFORT
Maybe your pain isn’t keeping you back, but it is making daily living a bit harder than it has to be. If it’s sharp, annoying, or keeps coming back, let us know what you’re dealing with. We can start together to investigate why it’s happening and how we can make it better.
MINOR PAINS & ACHES
Minor aches may not seem significant, but sometimes they are your body’s way of telling you it needs a helping hand. The stiffness, soreness, or occasional pains are great things to bring to our attention. Let us know what you’ve been experiencing, and we’ll point you in the direction of care that prevents small issues from turning into large ones.
Quick Diagnosis Form
Answering Your Questions
Why does my leg hurt if the problem is my back?
The nerve runs the whole distance, so trouble up at the spine gets reported down its entire length. That's why chasing the leg never works. You have to deal with what's irritating the nerve at the source.
Should I rest until it settles down?
A bit early on, but not for long. Lying still seems safe when your leg is burning, and overdoing it backfires. Your back stiffens, the muscles go soft, and the whole thing drags out.
Why is sitting so much worse than standing?
Sitting loads the discs in your low back more than standing does, and a slouched chair makes it worse. Fixing how you sit lifts a constant daily irritation off the nerve.
Is numbness or tingling worse than pain?
Not necessarily, though it's worth mentioning to us. Tingling and numbness are just different ways the nerve reports irritation. Real weakness in the leg is the symptom we want to hear about promptly.
Will I need surgery for this?
Most people don't. The large majority settle with conservative care given an honest shot. Surgery mainly comes up with progressing weakness or when months of good treatment haven't moved anything.
"Our goal is to help you solve some of your most painful life experiences."
Josh Adams
MODERN PHYSICAL THERAPY & SPORTS MEDICINE
CEO
Without Advanced Imaging
Your PT
WHY WE'RE DIFFERENT
CHOOSING THE MODERN WAY
What sets MODERN PHYSICAL THERAPY & SPORTS MEDICINE apart is that our physical therapists and orthopedists utilize advanced imaging technology to enable them to SEE what they are doing. That means care is guided by what we can actually see, not guesswork.
ADVANCED IMAGING + TREATMENT = MODERN
we TREAT you
like a 200
Million-Dollar
Athlete
so you can get back to
work or play
FASTER.
