i love to ride my bike, and had a trip planned to ride some of the great pyrenean mountains. six weeks of treatment and i was back on the bike.
richard townsendnewcastle great park
clinician · davephysiotherapy
back & spine · plain-english guide
sciatica
shooting pain down the back of the leg — most often caused by a bulging disc irritating the sciatic nerve.
evidence-basedhcpc registeredseen in 3 daysone-to-one
first session45 minutes
typical recovery3 – 6 sessions
from£72
seen within3 days
accredited & insurer-ready
what is sciatica?
the most common cause of sciatic pain is a bulging intervertebral disc, as described on our low back pain page. when a disc bulges near the sciatic nerve, inflammatory chemicals — or the pressure of the disc itself — can cause irritation or compression of the nerve.
joint degeneration from osteoarthritis, spondylosis and osteoporosis can also narrow spinal joint spaces, trapping the sciatic nerve as it exits.
what it feels like.
where the pain is
- often felt along the back of one leg
- can run from the lower back as far as the toes
- can be in the leg without also being in the back
- constant or intermittent
- worse at night
how it feels
- hot or burning sensation
- shooting
- aching
- tingling
- pins and needles
- hard to describe
triggers & relief.
makes it worse
- bending
- lifting
- prolonged sitting
- sitting with feet up
- driving
- running
- putting socks and shoes on
usually helps
- ice
- heat
- lumbar support
- medication
- changing posture
- sitting with knees bent
- exercise
can you treat it at home?
most cases of sciatica respond to a combination of self-management and targeted physiotherapy. here's how to tell which camp you're in.
try at home first
mild & new.
- less than 2 weeks old
- no radiating pain or numbness
- eases with gentle movement
- no sleep disruption
book an assessment
persistent or limiting.
- lasted 2+ weeks with no change
- shooting pain or pins & needles
- stopping you sleeping or working
- recurring flare-ups
how we treat it.
we start every journey with a thorough assessment — the right diagnosis is the foundation of successful treatment. depending on what we find, we typically combine several of the following:
- joint mobilisation and manipulation
- specific soft-tissue massage and mobilisation
- neural mobilisation
- progressive core stability and functional exercise rehabilitation
- postural and ergonomic advice
- muscle energy techniques
- acupuncture and dry needling
- sports and functional fascial taping
when to see a gp instead.
physiotherapy is safe and effective for the vast majority of cases — but these signs mean you should contact your gp, 111, or a&e first.
patients who had sciatica.
a few words from patients we've treated for sciatica.
the first treatment was five needles placed in my ears for forty minutes. a small miracle.
deborahgateshead
clinician · emmaacupuncture
faqs.
no — you can book directly with us. if you're using private medical insurance (bupa, aviva, vitality, wpa, axa) your insurer may require a referral; check your policy before booking.
most patients resolve acute issues in three to six sessions. chronic or complex cases can take longer. we'll give you an honest timeline at your first assessment.
something you can move in — shorts and a t-shirt for lower-limb work, a vest for shoulders. we have changing rooms if you're coming straight from work.
most patients are seen within three working days. evening and saturday-morning slots are available but book up quickly.
ready to sort it?
book a 45-minute assessment online, or call 0191 217 1929 and our reception team will match you to the right clinician.
treatments for sciatica
what we'll often recommend.
most sciatica plans combine one or more of the following evidence-based treatments.
most booked45 min
01
physiotherapy
hands-on assessment and treatment for pain, injury, and long-term conditions. 45-minute initial consultation.
from£72
book30 min
04
injection therapy
ostenil, monovisc, cingal and corticosteroid injections for persistent joint and soft-tissue pain.
from£400
book45–60 min
06
acupuncture
aacp-certified practitioners using acupuncture alongside physiotherapy for pain, tension, and recovery.
from£97
bookrelated guides
keep learning.
conditions we see most often alongside sciatica.