Sciatica Physical Therapy in Tomball, TX
Sciatica is pain that runs from the low back or buttock down the back of the leg, often with numbness, tingling or weakness in the calf or foot. Most of it comes from a lumbar disc or a narrowed nerve opening irritating one of the nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve, and most of it gets better with the right physical therapy, without injections or surgery. Here you see a residency- and fellowship-trained Doctor of Physical Therapy for a full 60 minutes every visit, starting with a free 20-minute screen that tells you straight whether we can help.
Sciatica and leg pain we treat
- Low back pain that shoots down one leg
- Herniated or bulging lumbar disc with leg symptoms
- Lumbar spinal stenosis with leg pain when walking
- Degenerative disc disease with sciatica flare-ups
- Piriformis syndrome and deep gluteal pain
- Numbness, tingling or weakness in the calf or foot
- Sciatica that flares with squats, deadlifts or long drives
- Sciatica that did not improve with stretches from a previous PT
How we treat sciatica
The first visit is a nerve-focused exam: we check the lumbar spine, hip and pelvis, test reflexes, strength and sensation in the leg, and find the positions and movements that calm the nerve and the ones that flare it. From that we build a plan with three parts.
Direction-specific movement and loading that takes pressure off the disc and nerve root, which you do several times a day at home. Hands-on manual therapy and dry needling to settle the muscle guarding in the glutes and hip that keeps the leg pain going. Then progressive strength work on the hinge, squat and carry patterns so your back can handle work, lifting and sport again.
Because we are inside a 37,000 sq ft gym, the last phase happens on real racks, platforms and sleds, not a hallway with a stationary bike.
What a visit looks like
Every appointment is 60 minutes, one-on-one, with Dr. Sean Harris (PT, DPT, PhD, OCS, FAAOMPT) or Dr. Ashley Gregg (PT, DPT, OCS). No aides, no double booking, no 15 minutes on a heat pack.
You get a written plan, the cost up front ($199.99 per visit, FSA/HSA eligible, superbill provided), and a realistic timeline. Most sciatica patients are seen weekly for 4 to 8 weeks and spend the rest of the time on a home program.
When sciatica is not a physical therapy problem
We will tell you in the screen if it is not. Progressive leg weakness, numbness in the saddle area, or any change in bladder or bowel control needs same-day medical care, not PT.
Dr. Harris spent years as Spine Research Manager at Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine and will point you to the right spine physician in the Tomball or Houston area if imaging or an injection is the better first step.
Who this page is for
People in Tomball, Magnolia, Cypress, Spring and The Woodlands with low back pain that shoots down one leg; lifters and runners whose sciatica flares with squats, deadlifts or long drives; anyone told they have a herniated disc, bulging disc, degenerative disc disease or lumbar stenosis; and people who tried physical therapy somewhere else and were handed a sheet of stretches.
Who you'll work with
Dr. Sean Harris
Board-certified orthopaedic specialist and fellowship-trained manual therapist. Former Spine Research Manager at Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine, adjunct faculty at Texas Woman's University, author of peer-reviewed research on spine, nerve pain and strength athletes. 2026 TPTA Clinical Excellence Award.
Dr. Ashley Gregg
Board-certified orthopaedic and sports physical therapist who builds a plan around your goals, whether that is getting back under the bar or through a workday without pain.
Questions people ask before booking
Do I need a referral to start physical therapy for sciatica in Texas?
No. Texas allows direct access, so you can book a screen or an evaluation at H.I.R.T. today without seeing a physician first.
How long does sciatica take to get better with physical therapy?
Most people notice their leg pain centralizing toward the back within two to three weeks, and are back to full activity in 6 to 12 weeks. The timeline depends on how long you have had it and how irritable the nerve is; we give you an honest estimate at the first visit.
Is it sciatica or piriformis syndrome?
True sciatica comes from the nerve root in the spine; piriformis syndrome is the nerve being squeezed by a deep hip muscle. They feel similar but are treated differently, and telling them apart is the point of the nerve exam in your first visit.
Should I stretch my hamstrings for sciatica?
Often not. Aggressive hamstring stretching pulls on an already irritated nerve. We teach nerve glides and direction-specific movements instead and show you which stretches to stop.
Do you accept insurance?
We are a cash-pay clinic, which is why every visit is a full hour with the doctor. You can use FSA and HSA cards, and we provide a superbill if your plan reimburses out-of-network care.
Where are you located?
Inside Rise Gym at 11703 Spring Cypress Rd, Tomball, TX 77377, five minutes from TX-249 and FM 2920. Appointments Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
Not sure if your leg pain is something we treat?
That is what the free 20-minute screen is for. Twenty minutes with the doctor, no cost, and a straight answer.