Sciatica

Sciatica is sharp, shooting, or burning pain that runs from your lower back through your buttock and down the back of one leg. It can make sitting unbearable, standing painful, and sleep impossible. The pain comes from pressure or irritation on the sciatic nerve — the largest nerve in your body. Physiotherapy can usually relieve sciatica without injections or surgery.

What Sciatica feels like

• Burning or tingling sensation down the leg
• Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the leg or foot
• Severe or shooting pain in one leg that may make it difficult to stand up or walk
• Lower back pain that is not as severe as the leg pain
• Constant pain on only one side of the buttock or leg
• Pain that originates in the low back or buttock and continues along the path of the sciatic nerve
• Pain that feels better lying down or walking, worse when standing or sitting
• Foot pain or pain in the toes depending on where the nerve is affected

Common causes of Sciatica

• Herniated or slipped disc pressing on the nerve roots
• Lumbar spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
• Degenerative disc disease
• Spondylolisthesis (one vertebra slipping forward over another)
• Piriformis syndrome (a buttock muscle compressing the nerve)
• Pelvic injury or fracture
• Poor posture, muscle strain, or spasm
• Pregnancy
• Being overweight, lack of exercise, wearing high heels, soft mattress
• Tumours (rare)

How we treat Sciatica at Physio Wellness

There is no single fix for sciatica — recovery comes from combining the right treatments for your specific situation. Your physiotherapist will assess your case in detail and recommend a plan from these proven approaches:

• Physiotherapy — Hands-on assessment and a custom exercise plan to relieve the nerve and strengthen the supporting muscles. Learn more
• Spinal Decompression — Computer-controlled traction to take pressure off the disc and nerve root. Learn more
• Chiropractic care — Spinal manipulation to restore proper joint mechanics. Learn more
• Acupuncture — Targeted needling to reduce inflammation and pain. Learn more

When to come in

Book a consultation if your sciatica has lasted more than a few days, is getting worse, or is interfering with sleep, work, or daily activities. We offer same-week appointments and direct bill most insurers. If you experience loss of bladder or bowel control along with the pain, seek emergency care immediately.