Back Pain & Sciatica Relief in Kearney
Whether it’s a sharp ache in your lower back or that shooting, tingling pain running down your leg, we start by figuring out exactly which of several very different causes is actually yours — then build a plan around it.
Back Pain and Sciatica Don’t Get Better on Their Own
By the time most people call us, they’ve already tried rest, ice, and “giving it time.” Spinal and nerve pain rarely stays the same size — left alone, it tends to get worse, not better.
The problem usually isn’t effort. Back pain and sciatica come from a handful of genuinely different root causes, and treating the wrong one just wastes weeks. That’s why every evaluation at True Health & Performance starts with figuring out which one is actually yours — not a generic “back pain” protocol handed to everyone who walks in the door.
Most patients have more than one contributing factor at once. Our evaluation looks for all of them, so treatment addresses the full picture instead of just the loudest symptom.
What Causes Back Pain & Sciatica
Herniated & Bulging Discs
The disc’s outer ring weakens and its soft center presses on a nearby nerve — usually what’s behind burning, radiating pain, numbness, or weakness.
Sciatic Nerve Compression
Tension or pressure on the sciatic nerve as it runs from your lower back down your leg — the classic sharp, shooting, or tingling sciatica pain.
Facet Joint Dysfunction
Stiffness or irritation in the small joints connecting each vertebra, often felt as localized stiffness that’s worse first thing in the morning or after sitting.
Muscular Trigger Points
Overworked muscles form tight, tender knots that cause localized pain and can refer pain elsewhere, often after repetitive strain or poor posture.
“This is a wonderful team of amazing people in our local community. They will work hard to help you improve in any area, and they are going to always go out of their way to make you feel like the most valued customer.”
— Kurt Hamilton, True Health & Performance PatientA Real Evaluation, Not a Five-Minute Guess
Figuring out which of these is actually driving your pain takes more than a quick look. Your evaluation is built to pinpoint the real source — not just note where it hurts.
That clarity is what lets us build a plan aimed at your actual cause, instead of a generic protocol handed to every back-pain patient who walks in.
Movement & Nerve Testing
Range-of-motion limits, nerve tension signs, and palpation to find exactly where the pain is coming from.
Posture & Gait Assessment
How you stand, sit, and walk often points straight at the muscular imbalance or strain pattern behind the pain.
Imaging Review
If you already have relevant imaging on file, we’ll factor it into the full picture rather than starting from scratch.
Restoring Comfort Through Personalized Treatment
Physical Therapy
Targeted exercise and manual therapy to relax irritated tissue, restore movement, and rebuild the strength that keeps pain from coming back.
Massage Therapy
Hands-on work with Kyla to release muscular trigger points and loosen the tight tissue that’s often part of the picture.
A Plan for Real Life
Coaching on posture, activity pacing, and day-to-day habits so what you learn in the clinic actually holds up at home, at work, and in the gym.
Back Pain & Sciatica FAQs
What’s the fastest way to get relief from sciatica?
There’s no single fix that works in one visit, but most patients feel real improvement within the first few weeks of a plan that actually targets the cause — combining hands-on treatment, targeted exercise, and clear guidance on what to avoid while it heals.
How do I know if my back pain is actually sciatica?
Sciatica usually has a distinct, “electric” shooting quality that runs down the leg — often into the foot or toes — rather than just general soreness or stiffness. Specific movement tests during your evaluation help confirm whether the sciatic nerve is actually involved.
What makes sciatica worse?
Long stretches of sitting, especially on hard or uneven surfaces, forceful twisting, and even sitting on a thick wallet can all add pressure to the nerve. Staying mobile, changing position often, and paying attention to posture all help keep symptoms from flaring.
What can I do at home while I wait for my appointment?
Cold packs can help take the edge off an acute flare, gentle nerve-glide movements like pulling one knee toward your chest can ease tension, and changing position often — rather than staying still — tends to help more than resting completely.
Stop Working Around the Pain
Back and nerve pain tends to get worse without the right plan, not better. Schedule an evaluation and let’s find out exactly what’s causing yours — so we can fix it at the source.
True Health & Performance · Kearney, MO · 5.0 rating across 119+ reviews
Warm, credible, capable — the doctor next door who happens to be exceptional.
Location
100 E 6th St, Suite 3
Kearney, MO 64060
Mon–Fri, 7AM–6PM
© True Health & Performance. All rights reserved.