Sciatic Pain

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica refers to leg pain and possible tingling or numbness originating from the lower back and travelling down the leg to the foot.  Sciatica is a symptom of underlying medical conditions ranging from tight muscles in the lower back and glutes, to degeneration to the lumber discs or herniated discs in the lower back.

Common Symptoms

For some people Sciatica can be severe and debilitating, for others it can be quite mild or it can come and go for no apparent reason.  Sciatica usually only affects one side and one leg although in some cases the pain can switch from one leg to the other.

Some combination of the following symptoms is most common :

• Lower back pain.  Often quite mild and not as severe as the leg pain.
• Constant pain in one side of the buttock or leg, rarely in both legs.
• Pain that starts in the lower back or buttock, and radiates down the leg following the course of the sciatic  nerve, down the back of one thigh and into the calf and foot.
• Pain that is worse when standing or sitting than laying down or walking.
• Pain that is often felt as sharp or searing rather than a dull ache.
• A sensation of tingling or pins and needles, often coupled with numbness in the leg or foot.
• Weakness or numbness when trying to move the foot or leg.
• Severe shooting pains in one legs making it difficult to stand on one spot.
• Occasional pain in the foot or toes.

Treatment for Sciatica

Of course the first port of call should be your GP.  After an initial examination an X-Ray or MRI scan should show if there are any disc problems or ligament damage.  The GP is likely to prescribe pain killers or anti-inflamatories depending on severity and the finding of scans.  Surgery is likely to replace discs or realign spinal problems but if this is not considered necessary there are alternatives to long term pain killers.

Sometimes sciatic pain is caused not from disc problems but from tight muscles trapping nerves in the lower back.  Sports massage can be a great help, and facilitated stretching can help to ease discomfort and free up stiff joints.

Accupuncture and accupressure have been known to work well to alleviate the sciatic pain.


At Alchemy we offer sports massage from a qualified therapist to help with sciatic pain when your GP cannot help or when surgery is not considered necessary.

Call us on 01908 567766 or check out our website to discuss your requirements and see if we can help.