Question
I have been stricken with sciatic since the end of March, and it's still going strong.  It seems to have gotten slightly better, but I don't know if it has, or I am just used to the pain now.  It's almost constant.  It's worst when I sit or some positions in lying down.  It's in my left leg, and begins at the top of my buttock, and goes down to about above the knee, on the back side of the leg.  It moves, is not always at the same spot.  After about four weeks, At first the pain was so bad, I thought I had broken something, wound up in the emergency room and they took xrays and determined it was sciatica.  

I went to a chiropracter starting about 6 weeks ago, and while it seems somewhat better, it's still quite bad.  After 3 or 4 weeks he recommended I get an MRI, and I did, and here was the results:

Findings: Alignment is preserved. Vertebral body height is preserved. The conus is normal
in size and signal. Incidental note is made of Schmorl's nodes at the L1-2 level.
At L5-S1, there is left central/subarticular disc extrusion compressing the left S1 nerve root
in the lateral recess. There is mild neural foraminal narrowing due to diffuse disc bulge.
At L4-5, there is no significant spinal canal or neural foraminal stenosis.
At L3-4, there is no significant spinal canal or neural foraminal stenosis.
At L2-3, there is no significant spinal canal or neural foraminal stenosis.
At L1-2, there is no significant spinal canal or neural foraminal stenosis.
Impression:
Disc herniation at L5-S1 compressing the left S1 nerve root in the lateral recess.

My question basically is, is it normal for it to take so long to get relief from this?  I don't know whether to continue with the chiropractor or try some other method?  I am going on four months with this and while perhaps somewhat better than at the beginning, it's still a horror, and constant pain.  What are the treatment options, and is there hope that I will get relief from this?  Do these disks heal?
Thank you for your time.

Answer
These things heal at different rates. There is no set time frame , every disc herniation heals on its own time. Usually takes about 6-12 weeks (can take longer too)to feel better. If you have only seen him for 6 weeks and it has improved , why wouldn't you continue? I realize your pain has been for 4 months , but you haven't been seeing your chiropractor for 4 months.
Disc herniations are permanent injuries and do not completely heal. You must take care of your spine by stretching, building your core and periodic chiropractic check ups (similar to periodic dental check ups). Your other treatment option is cold laser with chiropractic treatment. This will help you heal faster. You also need to google or YouTube "piriformis stretch"  good luck!