Disc-related sciatica
A bulging disc can irritate a nerve root, causing sharp or burning pain down the leg, often worse with sitting, bending or coughing.
Sciatica
Sciatica is pain that travels from your lower back or buttock down your leg. We find out what’s irritating the nerve and help you ease the pain and keep moving.
Understanding sciatica
Sciatica isn’t a diagnosis in itself. It describes pain, tingling or numbness along the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back, through your buttock and down the back of your leg.
Common causes
The most common cause is a disc in the lower back irritating a nerve root. Stiff joints, tight buttock muscles and narrowing of the spaces around the nerves (spinal stenosis), which is more common as we get older, can cause similar pain.
A personal approach
We check how your back, hips and nerves are working, including your reflexes, feeling and strength, so we understand what’s going on before we start treatment.
Osteopathy for sciatica
Osteopaths can help relieve sciatica. We use gentle hands-on treatment to ease muscle tension and help your lower back and hips move better, with advice on positions and simple exercises that take pressure off the nerve. Many people find sciatica eases within 4 to 6 weeks, though it can take longer.
Types of sciatica we see
Leg pain from the back can come from a few different places.
Buttock and hip pain
Tight or irritated muscles deep in the buttock can cause pain that feels like sciatica. Careful testing helps tell the two apart.
Spinal stenosis
Narrowing around the nerves can cause aching or heavy legs when you walk or stand, which eases when you sit or bend forward.
Sciatica in pregnancy
Back and leg pain are common as your body changes. See our pregnancy care page.
Our whole-person approach
Thorough diagnosis
A detailed consultation and examination, including nerve checks, to find the source of your pain and rule out anything that needs a doctor.
Hands-on treatment
Gentle soft tissue work and joint mobilisation to ease tension and help your back and hips move more comfortably.
Keeping you moving
Simple exercises and advice on sitting, sleeping and work so you can stay as active as possible while the nerve settles.
Your first appointment includes a full assessment and your first treatment. Book now to start your recovery.
Questions about sciatica
What happens at my first appointment for sciatica?
Your first appointment lasts 60 minutes. We ask how the pain started and what makes it better or worse, then check how your back and hips move and test your reflexes, feeling and strength. We explain what we find, agree a plan and usually start treatment the same day.
Should I rest until it gets better?
Usually not. Staying as active as you comfortably can tends to help sciatica settle faster than bed rest. We’ll show you positions and movements that ease the pain and tell you what to avoid for now.
Do I need a scan?
Most people with sciatica don’t need a scan, because it rarely changes the treatment. If your symptoms suggest a scan or a specialist opinion would help, we’ll write to your GP.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on the cause of your pain and how long you’ve had it. We’ll give you an honest idea at your first appointment and review your progress at each visit. We won’t ask you to sign up to a long course of treatment.
Where are you, and do I need a GP referral?
We’re at 90 Fore Street in Chudleigh, just off the A38 and a short drive from Newton Abbot, Bovey Tracey, Kingsteignton and Exeter, with convenient parking close by. You don’t need a GP referral, but if you’re claiming on health insurance, check with your insurer first.
When to get urgent help
Get medical help first if you have:
- Numbness around your bottom or genitals
- Problems controlling your bladder or bowels, or not being able to pass urine
- Sciatica in both legs, or leg weakness that is getting worse
- Back pain with a high temperature, unexplained weight loss or a history of cancer
The first three can be signs of cauda equina syndrome, which needs A&E straight away. For the last, see your GP urgently.
Other conditions we treat
Lower back pain
Acute and chronic backache, lumbago and sciatica.
Neck pain & headaches
Neck pain, headaches arising from the neck, migraine prevention and nerve pain.
Shoulder pain
Rotator cuff problems, frozen shoulder and more.
Upper back & rib pain
Pain between the shoulder blades and around the ribs.
Ankle & foot pain
Sprains, Achilles pain and heel pain.
Arthritis & joint stiffness
Arthritic pain and stiff, aching joints.