Condition we treatGT Physical Therapy, Pascagoula
Sciatica treatment in Pascagoula, MS
Pain running down your leg. Numbness, tingling, a burning line from your back to your foot. Most sciatica improves without surgery, and guideline-based PT is a first-line treatment. That's what we do.
- Insurance
- Medicare and most major plans. We check your benefits before your first visit.
- Referral
- Not needed to start in most cases. See how it works
- Google reviews
- 5.0 from 49 reviews.
What sciatica actually is — and why it won't just go away
"Sciatica" isn't a diagnosis — it's a symptom. Something is irritating the sciatic nerve or the nerve roots that form it, and until that source is identified, treatment is guesswork.
The first visit answers one question: What's driving your sciatica?
A herniated or bulging disc. Spinal stenosis. Facet joint irritation. Piriformis and deep hip muscle involvement. Each has a different best treatment — and treating the wrong one is why so many people say "I tried PT and it didn't work." Dr. Baskin's exam identifies your specific driver before treatment starts.
Here's what current orthopedic evidence is clear about: bed rest makes sciatica worse, passive treatment alone (heat, TENS, massage) doesn't fix it, and the large majority of cases resolve without surgery when treated with specific movement, manual therapy, and progressive loading. The window matters — sciatica treated early typically resolves faster than sciatica that's been "waited out" for months.
When sciatica is an emergency
Loss of bowel or bladder control, numbness in the groin/saddle area, or rapidly progressing leg weakness are medical emergencies — go to the ER. For everything else, conservative care is the evidence-supported first step.
How we treat sciatica at GT PT
Every plan is built from your exam — but these are the tools that get results.
Movement-Based Diagnosis
We identify your directional preference — the specific movements that reduce your leg symptoms — and build your program around them.
Manual therapy & ASTYM
Hands-on treatment to reduce nerve sensitivity, restore spinal and hip mobility, and prepare your body to move well.
Dry Needling
Cert DN trigger point needling for the deep hip and low back muscles that compress and irritate the sciatic nerve.
Nerve Glides
Specific sciatic nerve mobilizations that calm nerve sensitivity and restore pain-free leg movement.
Progressive Loading
Graded strengthening for your back, hips, and legs — the evidence-backed way to prevent sciatica from coming back.
A home plan that works
Video-guided home exercises matched to your case — most patients do the heavy lifting in 15 minutes a day at home.
Why sciatica patients choose GT PT
Because the model of care matters more with nerve pain than almost anything else.
Same DPT, every visit
Sciatica treatment requires constant adjustment based on how your symptoms respond. Dr. Baskin sees you every visit, tracks your response session to session, and modifies your plan in real time.
Centralization Tracking
We track whether your leg pain is retreating toward your back — the single best sign your sciatica is resolving. You'll know your plan is working, with evidence, not hope.
Tools we use
Advanced dry needling with e-stim and ASTYM manual therapy — treatment options for stubborn cases that haven't responded to standard exercise-only PT.
Start this week — no referral
Mississippi direct access means you can call today and be treated this week. With sciatica, earlier treatment means faster resolution.
What patients say
5.0 stars from 49 Google reviews. Read them on Google
“I had an amazing experience. Austin was welcoming, professional, and genuinely invested in my recovery. He took the time to assess my condition, explain the treatment plan clearly, and answer all my questions. I started noticing improvement much sooner than expected.”
“Austin has been patient and kind with all the explaining behind each step of my treatment. He listens when I ask crazy questions. He even sends me home with tutorial videos for exercises. GT Physical Therapy is changing my life for the good!”
“Best physical therapist I've ever been to. Austin is very knowledgeable and very gentle and he knows exactly what your body needs. He can help all types of physical problems.”
Your physical therapist
Dr. Austin Baskin, PT, DPT
Austin owns GT Physical Therapy. He does your evaluation, builds your plan, and treats you at every visit. Most of that time is one-on-one.
- Doctor of Physical Therapy, Mississippi license #PT 7623
- Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
- Post-graduate certification in dry needling (Cert DN)
- Guest lecturer, William Carey University Doctor of Physical Therapy program
Insurance and payment
We check your benefits before your first visit, so you know your costs up front.
- Medicare
- BlueCross BlueShield
- UnitedHealthcare
- Cigna
- Aetna
- Workers' comp
Self-pay rates are available. Don't see your plan? Call and we'll check it for you.
Sciatica questions
Can sciatica go away without surgery?
Yes — the large majority of sciatica cases resolve without surgery. Current orthopedic evidence supports active, guideline-based care: specific exercise matched to your presentation, manual therapy, and progressive loading. Surgery is reserved for the small minority of cases with progressive neurological deficits or symptoms that fail months of well-executed conservative care.
Do I need an MRI first?
Usually not. Most sciatica can be accurately evaluated with a clinical exam — and here's the uncomfortable truth about imaging: disc bulges show up on MRIs of people with zero pain, so an MRI often can't tell you what's causing your symptoms. Imaging is reserved for red-flag cases or symptoms that don't respond to care. Starting treatment early beats waiting weeks for a scan.
Do I need a referral?
No. Mississippi is a direct access state. Call 228-471-5047 and we'll schedule you directly — usually within the same week.
How long until I feel better?
Many patients notice meaningful change within 2–4 weeks of starting targeted treatment. Timelines vary with severity, how long you've had symptoms, and consistency with your home program. At your first visit you'll get a clear plan with progress checkpoints — and if you're not responding on schedule, the plan changes.
Should I rest or stay active?
Stay active — within tolerance. Bed rest is one of the most consistently harmful things you can do for sciatica. The right movement, matched to your specific presentation, is treatment. That's exactly what your program is built around.
Call, visit, or ask a question
We schedule by phone. If you're not sure physical therapy is right for your problem, call and ask.
Hours
| Mon–Thu | 8:00 am – 5:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Friday | 8:00 am – 12:00 pm |
| Sat–Sun | Closed |
Patients come to us from Pascagoula, Moss Point, Gautier, Ocean Springs, Escatawpa, and across Jackson County.