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Le Yantra, Spine & Sports Injury Clinic

Back & Spine

Sciatica

pain down the back of the leg

Pain travelling down the leg, what it means and what can be done.

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No referral needed · One-to-one throughout · Treated at both clinics

A man bending forward with his hands on his lower back, an illustration of the spine, pelvis and a nerve running down the back of his leg overlaid and highlighted in red.

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The copy on this page is written and is waiting on clinical sign-off. It carries noindex and stays out of the sitemap until a clinician reviews it and a review date is recorded, which is what makes the medical statements on it attributable.

Sciatica is pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve, through the buttock and down the back of the leg, sometimes to the foot. It is a description of a symptom rather than a diagnosis in itself: the underlying cause is usually irritation or compression of a nerve root in the lower back.

The most common cause is a disc bulge or herniation pressing on a nerve root. Narrowing of the spinal canal and other structural changes can produce the same pattern.

What it feels like

Usually a sharp, burning or shooting pain down one leg, often worse than the back pain accompanying it. Frequently worse with sitting, coughing or sneezing.

Numbness, pins and needles, or weakness in the leg or foot are common and mean a nerve is involved. Pain that stops at the buttock or thigh is less likely to be true sciatica.

Why it happens

A nerve root becomes irritated or compressed where it exits the spine, most often by disc material. Inflammation around the nerve contributes as much as mechanical pressure, which is part of why symptoms often settle before any structural change occurs.

When to seek medical care

Seek medical care immediately, rather than booking physiotherapy, if you have:

  • Loss of bladder or bowel control
  • Numbness around the groin, buttocks or inner thighs
  • Progressive or significant weakness in the leg or foot
  • Sciatica in both legs at once

These need urgent assessment.

How we treat it

Assessment establishes which nerve root is involved and how irritable things currently are, and that determines the pace of everything else. Early treatment settles the irritation; later work restores movement and builds the strength that reduces load on the segment.

What to expect

Early appointments may involve less hands-on treatment than you expect. When a nerve is irritable, doing less is often better.

You will be given positions and movements that ease your symptoms, and clear guidance on what to avoid for now, which is temporary.

How long it takes

Many cases settle over weeks to a few months. Some take longer. Recovery is often uneven, with better and worse days rather than steady improvement, which is normal and not a sign of failure.

Treatments we commonly use

Which of these applies to you is decided at your assessment, not before it.

Frequently asked questions

Will I need surgery?

Most people with sciatica do not. Surgery is considered where symptoms are severe and persistent despite treatment, or where there is significant weakness. That is a decision for a spinal surgeon and we will tell you when we think you should see one.

Is sciatica the same as a slipped disc?

No. Sciatica is the symptom; a disc problem is one of the causes. See our Slipped Disc page.

Why is sitting the worst position?

Sitting increases pressure on the lumbar discs and can increase nerve irritation. Many people with sciatica find standing or walking easier.

Can I exercise?

Usually yes, with the right exercises. What is helpful depends on your presentation, which is what the assessment establishes.

Related conditions

  • Slipped Disc

    The everyday name for a disc bulge or herniation. Discs do not slip, and a bulge on a scan is not automatically the cause of your pain.

  • Lower Back Pain

    Pain between the ribs and the legs. Common, rarely dangerous, and generally responsive to movement and strengthening.

  • Spondylosis

    Age-related change in the spine, very common on scans of people with no symptoms at all. The structure does not reverse; the symptoms often improve.

Find us

Treated at both clinics

Every service runs at both our clinics, Malleshwaram and MEI Layout, monday – saturday 9 am – 9 pm · sunday & public holidays 10 am – 5 pm.

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Every treatment plan at Le Yantra starts with a full assessment, not a standard protocol.

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Monday – Saturday 9 AM – 9 PM · Sunday & public holidays 10 AM – 5 PM

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