Sciatica is a health condition characterized by shooting pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Typically, sciatica affects only one side of your body. Onset is often sudden following activities like heavy lifting, though gradual onset may also occur.
Common symptoms of sciatica include:
Sciatica may be caused due to:
At Vivacare Advanced Physiotherapy and Pain Clinic, our physiotherapists will assess the cause of your condition and advise you with an individualized treatment plan. The clinic provides the following therapies to bring you quick and long term relief:
Our therapists will give you advice regarding correct posture while sitting, standing, lying and driving to prevent recurrence of the problem, along with guidance on proper lifting techniques and a detailed exercise regime to strengthen the core muscles.
If leg pain, numbness or weakness is severe, worsening, or affects your ability to walk, get assessed promptly rather than waiting — the sooner the underlying cause is addressed, the faster nerve-related symptoms tend to settle.
Gentle, regular walking is usually beneficial and helps keep the nerve mobile, unless a specific movement clearly worsens your symptoms — in which case your physiotherapist will help adjust your activity.
Many episodes settle within 4–6 weeks with appropriate treatment, though this varies depending on the underlying cause and how early treatment begins.
It’s uncommon — sciatica typically affects one side, since it usually results from a single nerve root being irritated; bilateral symptoms warrant a more thorough assessment.
Yes, generally — sitting increases pressure on the lower spinal discs and can compress the sciatic nerve pathway; frequent position changes and short walks help.
Sciatica specifically involves nerve irritation causing pain, numbness or tingling that radiates down the leg, whereas general back pain typically stays localized to the back itself.
