Sciatica can be extremely painful, often causing sharp, burning or shooting pain that travels from your lower back into your buttock and down your leg. It can make walking, sitting, driving and even sleeping uncomfortable, leaving many people worried they’ve seriously damaged their back.
The good news is that most cases of sciatica improve with the right combination of physiotherapy, movement and time. At Great Northern Physiotherapy, we’ll identify the source of your symptoms, reduce irritation around the affected nerve and create a personalised rehabilitation programme to help you recover safely and confidently.
Symptoms
Sciatica occurs when one of the nerves leaving the lower spine becomes irritated. Symptoms usually affect one leg, although they can occasionally occur on both sides.
Common symptoms include:
- Sharp, shooting or burning pain travelling from the lower back into the leg
- Pain in the buttock, thigh, calf or foot
- Tingling or pins and needles
- Numbness in parts of the leg or foot
- Muscle weakness in the leg
- Pain that worsens when sitting for prolonged periods
- Increased discomfort when coughing, sneezing or straining
- Difficulty walking comfortably
Not everyone experiences every symptom. Some people mainly have pain, while others notice weakness or altered sensation depending on which nerve is affected.
Causes
Sciatica develops when one or more of the spinal nerves in the lower back become irritated or compressed. The most common cause is a lumbar disc herniation, where part of the disc bulges and irritates a nearby nerve root.
Other possible causes include:
- Age-related changes within the spine
- Degenerative disc disease
- Spinal stenosis
- Inflammation around the nerve
- Reduced spinal mobility
- Heavy lifting or repetitive bending
- Prolonged sitting
- Previous back injuries
It’s worth remembering that disc bulges are common, particularly as we get older, and many people have them without experiencing any pain. Our assessment focuses on identifying whether the disc is actually responsible for your symptoms.
Diagnosis
A thorough physiotherapy assessment is usually all that’s needed to diagnose sciatica.
During your appointment we’ll discuss:
- How your symptoms began
- Where your pain travels
- Changes in sensation
- Any weakness you’ve noticed
- Activities that aggravate or ease your symptoms
- Your work, hobbies and daily activities
We’ll then carry out a detailed physical examination, including:
- Lumbar spine movement
- Neurological assessment
- Muscle strength testing
- Sensation testing
- Reflexes
- Nerve tension tests
- Walking pattern
- Functional movements
Most people don’t need an MRI scan straight away. However, if your symptoms suggest significant nerve compression, are not responding to treatment, or raise concerns about another condition, we’ll advise you on whether further investigations or specialist referral are appropriate.
Treatment Options
Comprehensive Physiotherapy Assessment
No two cases of sciatica are identical.
Our assessment helps determine exactly which movements irritate your symptoms and which movements help settle the nerve. This allows us to build an evidence-based treatment plan tailored specifically to your recovery.
Hands-on Physiotherapy
Manual therapy can reduce stiffness around the lower back and improve movement while helping calm irritated nerve tissues.
Treatment may include:
- Lumbar joint mobilisation
- Spinal manipulation where appropriate
- Soft tissue massage
- Neural mobilisation (“nerve gliding”)
- Hip mobility techniques
Hands-on treatment is always combined with active rehabilitation to provide the best long-term results.
Rehabilitation Exercises
Exercise is one of the most effective treatments for sciatica.
Your rehabilitation programme may include:
- Gentle nerve mobility exercises
- Lumbar mobility exercises
- Core strengthening
- Hip and glute strengthening
- Walking programmes
- Functional movement training
- Progressive strengthening
Exercises are carefully progressed as your symptoms improve, helping restore normal movement without unnecessarily aggravating the nerve.
Pain Management
If pain is limiting your recovery, we’ll advise on activity modification, pacing strategies and appropriate self-management techniques.
Where appropriate, we may also work alongside your GP regarding medication or to discuss whether x-ray guided injection or specialist referral is appropriate for persistent symptoms.
Self-management
Although it can be tempting to rest completely, gentle movement usually helps recovery.
Helpful strategies include:
- Keep walking regularly if comfortable
- Avoid prolonged sitting
- Change position frequently
- Complete your prescribed exercises daily
- Gradually return to normal activities
- Avoid lifting heavy loads during the early stages
- Build strength progressively as symptoms improve
Remaining active within comfortable limits often leads to faster recovery than prolonged rest.
Recovery Timelines
Most people improve without surgery.
Typical recovery times include:
- Mild sciatica: 2–6 weeks
- Moderate symptoms: 6–12 weeks
- Persistent nerve irritation: Several months depending on severity
Even if nerve symptoms take longer to settle, pain often improves much earlier with appropriate rehabilitation.
When to Seek Help
Arrange an assessment if:
- Leg pain is worsening
- You’re experiencing numbness or weakness
- Symptoms are preventing normal daily activities
- Pain isn’t improving after a couple of weeks
- You’re unsure whether your symptoms are sciatica
Seek urgent medical attention immediately if you develop:
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Numbness around the saddle (includes the inner thighs, buttocks, genitals and the area around the anus).
- Rapidly worsening leg weakness
- Difficulty lifting your foot (foot drop)
- Severe symptoms following significant trauma
These symptoms are uncommon but require urgent medical assessment.
Clinically Reviewed By
Phil Williams
Director and Consultant Physiotherapist
Get Back to Living Without sciatica pain
Sciatica can be painful and frustrating, but with the right diagnosis and treatment, most people make an excellent recovery.
Our experienced physiotherapists will help identify what’s causing your symptoms, guide your rehabilitation and support your recovery every step of the way, so you can get back to work, sport and everyday life with confidence.
Book your initial assessment and take the first step toward lasting relief.
SHOULDER PAIN FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Not exactly. Sciatica refers to irritation of a spinal nerve that causes symptoms travelling into the leg. Many people also have lower back pain, but some experience very little back pain at all.
Most people recover successfully without surgery. Surgery is generally reserved for severe or persistent cases that don’t improve with conservative treatment or where significant nerve compression is present.
For most people, yes. Walking helps maintain movement and circulation, although the amount should be guided by your symptoms and progressed gradually.
Yes. Physiotherapy helps reduce pain, restore movement, improve nerve mobility and strengthen the muscles supporting your spine, helping you return to normal activities sooner.
It can, particularly if the factors that contributed to the original episode aren’t addressed. Building strength, improving movement patterns and staying active can significantly reduce the risk of recurrence.
Related PHYSIO SERVICES
To support your recovery, your physiotherapist may recommend one or more of our related services:
Book your initial assessment and take the first step toward lasting relief from Sciatica.