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It probably started in your lower back. Weeks ago, maybe months ago - possibly from lifting something the wrong way, possibly after a long drive, possibly from no obvious trigger at all. You iced it, took some ibuprofen, waited it out. The back pain got better.
And then the pain showed up somewhere new.
Shooting down your glute. Into your hamstring. Burning through your calf. Sometimes all the way to your foot. It flares when you sit at your desk for more than fifteen minutes. It wakes you up when you roll over at night. Bending to put on your shoes has become a genuine ordeal.
That's sciatica. And if you're dealing with it right now, you already know two things: it's miserable, and it doesn't resolve on its own the way regular back pain does.
At NJ Sports Spine and Wellness in Freehold, NJ, sciatica is one of the most common reasons patients walk through our door. It's also one of the conditions we're best positioned to treat. Our combination of DRX9000 spinal decompression, chiropractic care, physical therapy, and advanced therapeutic modalities - all under one roof - gives us a wider set of tools than most practices have. For the overwhelming majority of patients, we can resolve sciatica without surgery, without injections, and without long-term pain medication.
Let's talk about what's actually causing your pain and what we can do about it.

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body. It starts as a bundle of five nerve roots in your lower spine, exits through small openings between the vertebrae, merges in your pelvis, and runs down the back of each leg all the way to your foot. When any of those nerve roots - or the sciatic nerve itself further down - gets compressed, irritated, or inflamed, the signal it carries gets disrupted. The result is the very specific pattern of symptoms we call sciatica: pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness that radiates from the lower back into the buttock and down the leg.
Sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis. The real question is: what's compressing or irritating the nerve in the first place? Because the answer determines what actually works to fix it.

One of the reasons sciatica doesn't respond to generic treatment is that "sciatica" covers several very different underlying problems.
The most common cause. When the soft inner material of a spinal disc pushes out against the fibrous outer layer - or breaks through it entirely - it can press directly against a nerve root. That compression, combined with the chemical irritation from the disc material itself, creates classic shooting leg pain.
A narrowing of the spinal canal or the small openings where nerves exit the spine. Common in patients over 50. Usually causes leg pain that's worse with standing or walking and eases when you sit down or lean forward on a shopping cart.
Age-related wearing of the spinal discs reduces cushioning between vertebrae and can lead to nerve compression over time.
One vertebra has shifted forward relative to the one below it, narrowing the space where a nerve exits.
The small joints at the back of the spine become inflamed or develop bone spurs that encroach on nearby nerves.
The sciatic nerve passes under (and in some people, through) the piriformis muscle deep in the buttock. When that muscle is tight, spasming, or inflamed, it can compress the nerve - creating sciatica symptoms that have nothing to do with your spine. This one gets missed a lot, and the treatment is completely different from disc-related sciatica.
Weight distribution changes and hormonal ligament laxity during pregnancy can put new pressure on the sciatic nerve.
Our Freehold, NJ team evaluates for all of these, because treating a disc herniation like it's piriformis syndrome (or vice versa) is how patients end up stuck in treatment that isn't working.
Sciatica has a signature pattern, but it shows up differently in different patients. Common symptoms:
If your symptoms appear on both sides at once, or you're experiencing loss of bladder or bowel control, saddle-area numbness, or rapidly progressing leg weakness - that's a red flag. Those symptoms can indicate cauda equina syndrome or another urgent spinal issue, and you should go to an emergency room, not a clinic.
A lot of patients have been through a standard treatment cycle before they walk into our Freehold, NJ office. Rest, anti-inflammatories, maybe a round of muscle relaxants. Physical therapy somewhere that treated the back generically. Maybe an epidural injection that helped for a few weeks, then wore off. By the time they get to us, they're frustrated, skeptical, and often being nudged toward surgery.
Here's why that cycle is common. Epidural steroid injections reduce inflammation around the nerve, which can provide real short-term relief - but they don't address the mechanical compression that's causing the inflammation in the first place. When the steroid wears off, the compression is still there. Generic physical therapy helps some patients and frustrates others because it doesn't distinguish between a compressed disc that needs decompression and a piriformis issue that needs completely different work.
Effective sciatica treatment has to do two things: identify the specific source of the nerve compression and address it mechanically. That's what our approach is built around.


For disc-related sciatica, the DRX9000 is one of the most effective non-surgical tools available. It uses precisely calibrated, computer-controlled traction to gently separate the vertebrae, creating negative pressure within the disc. That negative pressure can help retract disc material away from compressed nerve roots and improve circulation to the disc itself, supporting healing. The treatment is comfortable, drug-free, and has strong clinical evidence behind it for herniated discs and lumbar radiculopathy - which is why it's our primary treatment for most disc-related sciatica cases.

Not generic back exercises. Our physical therapists identify whether your sciatica responds better to flexion-based or extension-based movement (disc patients and stenosis patients often need opposite approaches), rebuild core and hip stability, and retrain the movement patterns that put recurring strain on your lower back. This is the piece that keeps sciatica from returning after the acute symptoms resolve.

Specific, targeted spinal adjustments restore proper motion to segments that have become restricted and are contributing to nerve compression. For many patients, chiropractic is the piece that relieves acute symptoms fastest.

Therapeutic laser reduces inflammation around irritated nerve roots and soft tissue, supports cellular repair, and can significantly reduce pain. We often use it alongside spinal decompression to accelerate relief during the early phase of treatment.

For piriformis-related sciatica, and for the muscular tightness that almost always accompanies disc issues, hands-on work - including instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization and cupping - releases restrictions that are contributing to compression.

A meaningful evidence base exists for acupuncture in sciatica, particularly for patients who haven't responded well to other approaches or who are looking for additional pain modulation alongside their primary treatment.

When needed, our pain management team can provide targeted interventions to help control acute pain while the mechanical treatment takes effect. The goal is always to get you moving out of the pain cycle, not to build dependence on medications or injections.

What you do in the 23 hours a day you're not in our office matters more than the one hour you are. We'll give you specific guidance on posture, work setup, sleep position, and which movements to avoid or embrace - based on your specific type of sciatica.
For a small subset of patients, surgery genuinely is the right answer. Progressive neurological weakness, cauda equina syndrome, or severe sciatica that hasn't responded to a thorough course of conservative care are legitimate surgical indications. In those cases, we coordinate with spine surgeons who use minimally invasive techniques - smaller incisions, less tissue disruption, and lower infection risk than traditional open procedures.
The honest reality: most sciatica patients do not need surgery. Most studies and clinical guidelines now recommend conservative treatment as first-line for disc-related sciatica, with surgery reserved for cases that fail to respond or involve significant neurological compromise. Before any surgical conversation, we want to know that spinal decompression, chiropractic, targeted PT, and laser therapy have all been genuinely attempted.

The word "spine" is in our name. Sciatica and disc-related conditions are a core focus of what we do, not a side service. Our team sees these cases every day and has built a specific, multi-tool approach around them.
Not every practice has it. The DRX9000 is one of the most evidence-supported non-surgical options for herniated discs and lumbar radiculopathy, and having it in-house means we can start treatment the day you come in.
Nobody dealing with sciatica wants to be told to wait three weeks for an opening. We offer same-day appointments whenever the schedule allows.
Sciatica responds best when multiple approaches work together. Our chiropractors, physical therapists, pain management specialists, acupuncturists, and podiatrist work in the same building, on the same chart, toward the same plan. If your sciatica is disc-related but has a piriformis component on top of it (a very common combination), we can address both at once without sending you to a second practice.
We track progress, adjust what isn't working, and don't keep you coming back indefinitely. The goal is to get you back to sitting through dinner, sleeping through the night, and doing the things you've been avoiding - then to stop seeing you except for the occasional check-in.
Your first sciatica evaluation at our Freehold, NJ office is thorough. We'll ask when it started, what makes it better or worse, how it's affecting your daily life, and what you've already tried. Then we'll do a comprehensive physical and neurological exam - testing reflexes, sensation, strength, and range of motion, and running specific orthopedic tests to help identify whether your sciatica is disc-related, stenosis-related, piriformis-related, or something else. If imaging would clarify the picture, we have X-ray on-site.
From there, we explain what we think is going on in plain English and walk you through your treatment options. You'll leave knowing what the plan is, what it involves, and roughly how long it should take to feel real improvement.

If you've been dealing with sciatica for weeks or months - and nothing you've tried has actually resolved it - let's take a look. For the vast majority of patients, we can get sciatica resolved without surgery, without long-term medication, and without waiting it out indefinitely.
Call our Freehold, NJ office at (908) 866-7246 to schedule. Same-day appointments available.
It depends on the cause and how long it's been going on. Acute disc-related sciatica caught early often responds to spinal decompression, chiropractic, and targeted PT within a few weeks. Chronic cases with long-standing disc involvement typically need a longer treatment arc. Most patients feel meaningful improvement in the first few weeks, even when full resolution takes longer. Your provider will give you a more specific timeline after your evaluation.
No. Most patients describe it as a gentle stretching sensation, and many find it genuinely relaxing. You lie on a specialized, computer-controlled table while it applies precise, calibrated traction. Sessions typically run 20â30 minutes, and most patients are comfortable throughout.
Not always. A thorough physical exam and targeted orthopedic testing can identify the cause of most sciatica cases. If imaging is needed - to distinguish between possible causes, rule out a serious issue, or confirm a surgical indication - we'll let you know. We don't order imaging reflexively, because it often doesn't change the treatment plan for conservative care.
In most cases, yes. Current clinical guidelines recommend conservative treatment as the first line for disc-related sciatica, with surgery reserved for cases that don't respond or involve progressive neurological weakness. Many patients who've been told they need surgery find that spinal decompression, chiropractic care, and proper physical therapy resolve their symptoms without it. If you've been told surgery is your only option, a second opinion is almost always worth getting.
A lot of conditions mimic sciatica - hip issues, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, piriformis syndrome, and certain nerve entrapments lower in the leg can all produce similar patterns. Getting the right diagnosis is the first step. If what you thought was sciatica hasn't responded to standard treatment, there's a good chance the original diagnosis was incomplete. We'll work out exactly what's driving your pain before recommending any treatment.
FREEHOLD, NJ — A new indoor pickleball club is set to host its Grand Opening event toward the end of March.On Thursday, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Dill Dinkers Freehold will host its Grand Opening celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Monmouth Regional Chamber of Commerce.During the grand opening event, attendees will be able to enjoy free open play, local vendors and free giveaways, officials said.The grand opening will begin at 4:30 p.m., with the ribbon-cutting ceremony set to begin at 4:45 p.m. You can ...
FREEHOLD, NJ — A new indoor pickleball club is set to host its Grand Opening event toward the end of March.
On Thursday, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Dill Dinkers Freehold will host its Grand Opening celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Monmouth Regional Chamber of Commerce.
During the grand opening event, attendees will be able to enjoy free open play, local vendors and free giveaways, officials said.
The grand opening will begin at 4:30 p.m., with the ribbon-cutting ceremony set to begin at 4:45 p.m. You can register here.
“Come experience the energy on the courts and meet the growing pickleball community right here in Freehold,” the club said in an online post. “We can’t wait to celebrate with you!”
Located on Mounts Corner Drive, Dill Dinkers Freehold first opened its doors to players in late January and is now hosting its official grand opening event.
Stephen Hafner, the regional developer for Dill Dinkers in New Jersey, previously said that Dill Dinkers provides “exceptional resources for pickleball players,” and that he’s “thrilled to bring this experience to the Freehold community.”
“Our indoor facilities allow community members to safely stay active during the colder months while offering a fun and community-first environment," he said.
At Dill Dinkers Freehold, players can enjoy:
Alongside the club features, Dill Dinkers also offers private event spaces for community celebrations and various leagues for players of all ages and skill levels, officials said.
To learn more, you can visit the Dill Dinkers Freehold website.
Dill Dinkers Freehold is located at 202 Mounts Corner Drive, Freehold.
Previous Coverage
Tasked with figuring out how to mine raw materials on Venus and bring them to an orbital settlement, these four students got the job done:HIGHLANDS, NJ — Tasked with figuring out how to mine raw materials on Venus and transport them to an orbital settlement, four students from the Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) dove into the science-developed plans to get the job done.Their efforts earned accolades at the prestigious East Coast Space Settlement Design Competition (ECSSDC) held on March 7 at Toms River E...
HIGHLANDS, NJ — Tasked with figuring out how to mine raw materials on Venus and transport them to an orbital settlement, four students from the Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) dove into the science-developed plans to get the job done.
Their efforts earned accolades at the prestigious East Coast Space Settlement Design Competition (ECSSDC) held on March 7 at Toms River East High School.
During the intense, day-long competition, students from throughout the region worked in large multinational-style teams to develop a comprehensive engineering proposal addressing the systems, hardware, personnel and operational processes required to mine raw materials from Venus and transport them to the fictional Nubarum settlement for processing and distribution.
MAST junior Dolan Dunnigan of Middletown was part of the competition’s winning team, helping develop the final proposal selected by judges.
Alongside Dunnigan, MAST sophomore Daniel Chiu of Edison received the competition’s Paul Stenzel STEM Pioneer Award, recognizing exceptional design ingenuity and innovation.
MAST juniors Noah Eckert of Aberdeen and Jason Samuel of Freehold also delivered outstanding performances.
“This experience pushes students to imagine ambitious futures while also considering responsible and human-centered design,” said MAST technology studies teacher Wendy Green. “The skills they practice — collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and resilience — extend far beyond the competition.”
Competition participants were responsible for developing solutions across multiple engineering disciplines, including transportation systems, life-support infrastructure, mining technologies, human factors, communications, and logistics.
Students collaborated under real-world constraints, producing technical documentation, system diagrams, and a formal presentation to the judges by the end of the 12-hour design sprint.
The East Coast Space Settlement Design Competition is modeled after real aerospace industry proposal processes and is affiliated with the internationally recognized International Space Settlement Design Competition.
Students are challenged to approach space settlement not just as a scientific problem but as a complex systems engineering endeavor requiring coordination across many technical fields, officials said.
The competition emphasized more than technical knowledge. It challenged students to work together under pressure, think boldly while remaining grounded in practical engineering, and communicate complex ideas across disciplines.
MAST is one of six full-time career academies in the Monmouth County Vocational School District (MCVSD) that welcomes students as freshmen and retains them through their senior year of high school for a "focused learning experience that helps them take meaningful steps toward their college and career goals."
Alongside MAST, other schools in the MCVSD include the Academy of Allied Health and Science, the Academy of Law and Public Safety, Biotechnology High School, Communications High School and High Technology High School.
UPPER FREEHOLD — The mayor and council of this Monmouth County town are furious that land meant for warehouses will instead be preserved as open space.The Monmouth County commissioners approved a plan to buy 115.5 acres of land in Upper Freehold off I-195 and Old York Road from developers. Thursday's 3-1 vote came after years of protests to stop developers from building warehouses on the Stein Property, as it's locally known. Instead, it will be preserved as open space.The buy was championed by Allentown Mayor Thomas Frit...
UPPER FREEHOLD — The mayor and council of this Monmouth County town are furious that land meant for warehouses will instead be preserved as open space.
The Monmouth County commissioners approved a plan to buy 115.5 acres of land in Upper Freehold off I-195 and Old York Road from developers. Thursday's 3-1 vote came after years of protests to stop developers from building warehouses on the Stein Property, as it's locally known. Instead, it will be preserved as open space.
The buy was championed by Allentown Mayor Thomas Fritts, who said the commissioners' vote was "a truly historic moment." Some of the largest protests came from residents of Allentown, which sits next to the land.
"Together, we have permanently protected another vital piece of our green belt —preserving our rich history, the historic byway, our residential neighborhoods, and our cherished village," Fritts said on social media.
Fritts also congratulated Upper Freehold. Many residents came out to last week's commissioners meeting to thank them for stopping the warehouses. But the neighboring township's officials aren't celebrating.
There's fury from Upper Freehold Mayor Stanley Moslowski Jr. and the local council. They condemned the commissioners' decision, which takes away the town's autonomy over its land that was zoned for warehouses.
Moslowski and the council questioned why Monmouth County spent $27.75 million — over $240,000 an acre — to buy the land from developers who spent $15 million on the same land four years earlier.
And new warehouses would have brought in vital tax revenues for the township for at least the next decade, said a resolution the officials sent to the Monmouth County commissioners. The warehouses would have generated $13 million in local taxes, including over $9.5 million in school taxes.
"This commercial rateable would ease the tax burden of the residents of Upper Freehold and provide much needed funds to the Upper Freehold Regional School District," the resolution said.
Upper Freehold isn't the only township that's counting on warehouses to support local schools. According to a recent study from researchers at Rutgers University, warehouses generate over $11 billion in local and state taxes in New Jersey.
Warehouses have become the lifeblood of New Jersey's economy. The study found that the Garden State has more than 1 billion square feet of warehouse space, and 95% of it is being used.
The study shows that nearly 764,000 workers are employed in New Jersey warehouses. And, directly or indirectly, the giant buildings support over 1.3 million jobs in the state.
Firefighters were called to Millstone Township Middle School after the person suffered a medical emergency on the catwalk, officials said.MILLSTONE, NJ — A person was rescued on Saturday evening after getting stuck on a 40-foot-high catwalk in Millstone Township Middle School.At 5:03 p.m. on Saturday, the Millstone Township Fire Department responded to the middle school after being dispatched there for a medical emergency on the catwalk in the performing arts center.Once Chief Mike Maloney and responding units ar...
MILLSTONE, NJ — A person was rescued on Saturday evening after getting stuck on a 40-foot-high catwalk in Millstone Township Middle School.
At 5:03 p.m. on Saturday, the Millstone Township Fire Department responded to the middle school after being dispatched there for a medical emergency on the catwalk in the performing arts center.
Once Chief Mike Maloney and responding units arrived at the scene, they confirmed that one person was stuck on the catwalk, which is approximately 40 feet above the ground.
From there, authorities said access was evaluated, and based off the rescue requiring "removal down through two separate levels via a rope system," additional assistance was then requested from the Englishtown Fire Department and Monroe Township Fire District #2.
"Millstone Firefighter/EMT's accessed the catwalk, provided patient care and began setting up anchor points for haul systems," the fire department said in an online post.
"Englishtown Engine 12 arrived and the two agencies worked together to build out the rope systems and package the patient in a removal device called a SKED. Personnel from Monroe Tower 57 provided manpower."
From there, authorities said the patient was lowered about 15 feet from the catwalk in a limited-access area to the mezzanine, then a haul system was used to lower the patient down a steep staircase to the ground.
Once the patient was on the ground, they were turned over to the fire department ambulance crew and Atlantic Healthcare paramedics.
Authorities did not release the name or age of the person who was rescued.
"Members worked efficiently and demonstrated great inner agency operability to complete this incident safely," the fire department said. "Incidents like this are high risk/low frequency, and require vast training to carryout. All personnel operating should be commended for their actions."
In an online post, the Englishtown Fire Department expressed its gratitude for those who helped with the rescue as well, adding that the department was proud to be requested for assistance.
"Incidents like this require specialized equipment, coordination, and extensive training," the department said. "While these calls are relatively rare, our members regularly train for technical rescue situations to ensure we are prepared to assist when they occur."
"We appreciate the strong cooperation between Millstone Township Fire Department and Monroe Township Fire District #2 who all worked together to bring this incident to a safe conclusion."
FREEHOLD, NJ — Guests can look forward to games, giveaways and more when Jack & Jones and JJXX open at Freehold Raceway Mall in March.On Saturday, March 14, through Sunday, March 15, the global fashion brand and its women’s line will celebrate their grand opening at the mall, marking one of the brand’s first U.S. locations.The two days of grand opening festivities will include snacks, refreshments, games, giveaways, and a Wheel of Fortune spinning freebies throughout the day.For one hour each day fr...
FREEHOLD, NJ — Guests can look forward to games, giveaways and more when Jack & Jones and JJXX open at Freehold Raceway Mall in March.
On Saturday, March 14, through Sunday, March 15, the global fashion brand and its women’s line will celebrate their grand opening at the mall, marking one of the brand’s first U.S. locations.
The two days of grand opening festivities will include snacks, refreshments, games, giveaways, and a Wheel of Fortune spinning freebies throughout the day.
For one hour each day from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., shoppers will also have the chance to score select hoodies for just $5, mall officials said.
“Jack & Jones and JJXX bring a fresh, exciting energy to our malls,” Eric Bunyan, Senior Vice President of Leasing, Macerich, previously said. “Their focus on quality, style, and versatile fashion perfectly complements the shopping experience our guests expect, and we’re thrilled to introduce these brands to our communities.”
“These openings reflect our commitment to bringing world-class retailers to our properties, offering shoppers the latest in fashion trends and a vibrant, engaging experience every time they visit,” Bunyan continued.
Founded in Denmark, Jack & Jones has grown from a denim-focused menswear label into a global fashion retailer operating over 4,000 stores worldwide.
JJXX, the brand’s women’s line, offers high-quality denim and versatile wardrobe essentials.
With the opening of Jack & Jones and JJXX, the new store is just the latest in a series of additions at Freehold Raceway Mall.
Alongside the global fashion brand, the mall has also recently welcomed stores such as Dry Goods, J. Crew Factory and Warby Parker.
On the dining side, new restaurants such as Mango Thai and Kura Revolving Sushi Bar have brought new food options to the customers, alongside a variety of renovations and relocations of existing stores.
The grand opening for Jack & Jones and JJXX will take place March 14 through March 15 on the mall’s lower level by the House of Sport / JCPenney wings.
To learn more, you can visit the Freehold Raceway Mall website.
Freehold Raceway Mall is located at 3710 U.S. 9, Freehold.

