Sciatica can be much more than back pain. It can cause sharp, burning or aching pain travelling from your lower back or buttock into your leg, sometimes accompanied by numbness, tingling or weakness.

At Leyton Osteopaths, we assess and treat people with persistent or recurrent sciatica in East London, including sciatica associated with disc problems and irritation of the spinal nerves.

Our aim is not simply to treat where you feel the pain. We want to understand why your sciatic nerve is being irritated and what may be contributing to your symptoms.

What does sciatica feel like?

Sciatica can affect people in different ways. You may experience:

• Pain travelling from the lower back or buttock into the leg
• Sharp, shooting or electric-like pain
• Burning or aching pain
• Numbness or altered sensation
• Pins and needles
• Weakness in the leg or foot
• Symptoms that become worse with sitting, bending, coughing or certain movements
• Back pain accompanied by leg pain

Some people experience severe leg pain with relatively little back pain.

The distribution and nature of your symptoms can provide important clues about which structures may be involved.

What causes sciatica?

Sciatica usually occurs when one or more of the nerves that contribute to the sciatic nerve are irritated or compressed.

One of the most common causes is a lumbar disc problem, such as a disc protrusion or herniation. However, sciatica-like symptoms can have other causes, which is why an appropriate assessment is important.

Possible causes include:

• Herniated or prolapsed discs
• Disc protrusions or extrusions
• Degenerative changes in the spine
• Narrowing around the spinal nerves
• Compression by deep muscles of the hip
• Spinal stenosis
• Irritation of the nerve roots
• Other less common spinal or neurological conditions

Having an abnormality on an MRI does not necessarily mean that it is responsible for your symptoms. Your imaging needs to be considered alongside your history and clinical examination.

How we assess sciatica?

A thorough assessment is particularly important when symptoms involve the leg, numbness or weakness.

We will discuss:

Your Symptoms

We'll establish where your pain is located, how it started, how it behaves and what makes it better or worse.

Neurological Symptoms

Where appropriate, we assess sensation, muscle strength and reflexes to look for signs of nerve involvement.

Your spine and movement

We'll assess your lumbar spine, pelvis and relevant movements to help understand what may be contributing to your symptoms.

Previous Investigations

If you have had an MRI or other imaging, we can discuss the findings alongside your symptoms and examination.

If we believe further medical investigation is necessary, we'll explain why and may recommend that you speak with your GP or another appropriate healthcare professional.

Sciatica Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause and nature of your symptoms.Depending on your presentation, treatment may include:

Osteopathic treatment

Manual treatment may be used to address relevant joints, muscles and other tissues and to help improve movement and function.

Exercise and rehabilitation

We may recommend specific exercises to help restore movement, strength, confidence and tolerance to activity.

IDD Spinal Decompression

For selected patients with disc-related sciatica, IDD Spinal Decompression may be considered as part of a wider treatment programme. IDD is not appropriate for every person with sciatica, so we assess your symptoms, clinical findings and relevant imaging before recommending it.

Learn more about IDD for sciatica

Advice and self management

Understanding what is aggravating your symptoms and how to gradually return to normal activity can be an important part of recovery.

Sciatica and slipped discs

A significant proportion of people who come to us with sciatica have been told that they have a disc problem. A disc herniation or protrusion can sometimes irritate a nearby nerve root, resulting in pain, altered sensation or weakness in the leg.

If you have been told that you have a slipped, herniated or bulging disc, you can find out more here:

Slipped & herniated discs

Bulging discs

Could IDD be suitable for my sciatica

IDD Spinal Decompression may be considered when symptoms are associated with certain disc-related conditions.

Before recommending treatment, we assess:

• Your symptoms
• Your clinical examination
• Your neurological findings where relevant
• Your MRI or other imaging
• Any medical conditions or other factors that may affect suitability

An MRI is required before beginning an IDD treatment programme.

If we don't think IDD is appropriate for you, we'll explain why and discuss other options.

Find out more about IDD for sciatica

When should sciatica be medically assessed?

Most cases of sciatica do not require emergency treatment, but certain symptoms require prompt medical assessment. Seek urgent medical attention if you develop significant or worsening weakness, numbness around the genitals or anus, or new problems controlling your bladder or bowel.

If you are concerned about your symptoms, we can advise whether an assessment with us is appropriate or whether you should seek medical assessment first.

How long does sciatica take to improve?

There is no single recovery time for sciatica. Some episodes improve relatively quickly, while symptoms associated with significant nerve irritation or disc problems can persist for considerably longer.

The factors involved include the underlying cause, severity of symptoms, neurological involvement and how the condition responds over time.

If your symptoms are persistent, recurrent or getting worse, an assessment can help establish whether further investigation or a different treatment approach is appropriate.

Why choose Leyton Osteopaths?

We understand that persistent sciatica can be frustrating, particularly if you have already tried treatment without getting the improvement you hoped for.

Our approach is based on:

• Thorough clinical assessment
• Understanding the likely cause of your symptoms
• Reviewing relevant MRI findings where appropriate
• Individualised treatment
• Rehabilitation and self-management
• Referral for further medical assessment when necessary

We don't believe that one treatment is appropriate for everyone. Our job is to determine what is most appropriate for you.

Frequently asked questions

Can osteopathy help sciatica?

Osteopathic treatment may be appropriate for some people with sciatica, depending on the cause and clinical presentation. Treatment is individualised and may include manual therapy, exercise and rehabilitation.

Can a slipped disc cause sciatica?

Yes. A disc herniation or protrusion can irritate a nearby nerve root and cause pain, numbness, tingling or weakness in the leg.

Do I need an MRI for sciatica?

Not necessarily. Many people with sciatica do not require imaging. However, an MRI may be appropriate in certain circumstances, particularly when symptoms are persistent, neurological symptoms are present, or specific treatment such as IDD is being considered.

Is IDD suitable for sciatica?

IDD may be appropriate for some people with disc-related sciatica, but not everyone. We assess your symptoms, examination and MRI before recommending treatment.

Can sciatica go away on its own?

Yes. Many episodes of sciatica improve with time and appropriate conservative management. Persistent or worsening symptoms should be assessed to determine whether further investigation or treatment is required.