Sciatica: Understanding the Symptoms and What May Help

Sciatica is a term used to describe pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve — the longest nerve in your body, running from the lower back down through the hips, buttocks and legs. It's not a condition itself, but rather a symptom of something irritating or compressing the nerve. Many people experience sciatic-type discomfort at some point in their lives.

Sciatica refers to a set of symptoms rather than a single diagnosis. It usually occurs when part of your lower spine or surrounding tissues put pressure on, or irritate, the sciatic nerve or its roots. This can happen for various reasons — spinal discs bulging, age-related change in the joints, or temporary swelling around muscles and ligaments.

Common symptoms include pain radiating from the lower back to the buttock, thigh or foot (sharp, burning or aching); numbness or tingling in the leg or foot; weakness in the muscles of the leg or foot; pain that worsens when sitting or standing for long periods, or when sneezing or coughing; and difficulty moving or controlling the leg or foot in more severe cases.

Possible causes include herniated ('slipped') discs, spinal stenosis (narrowing within the spine), degenerative disc change, piriformis syndrome (a tight muscle deep in the buttock irritating the nerve), pregnancy (changes in posture and added load), and prolonged sitting.

When sciatica is an emergency

Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if you have sciatica with any of the following: new numbness or tingling around the groin, bottom or inner thighs (the 'saddle' area); new difficulty starting or controlling urination, or loss of bowel control; sciatica in both legs at once; or rapidly worsening weakness in a leg or foot. These can be signs of cauda equina syndrome, which needs same-day assessment. Please don't wait for an osteopathy appointment.

When to seek help

See your GP or book an assessment if your pain lasts more than a couple of weeks or keeps returning; if it interferes with daily activities like walking, sleeping or working; or if you notice gradually increasing numbness or weakness. See your GP promptly for sciatica with fever, unexplained weight loss, a history of cancer, or if you're on long-term steroids.

Self-care tips

Keep moving gently — current guidance advises against prolonged bed rest. Apply heat or cold and see which feels better. Mind your posture and avoid slouching. Avoid prolonged sitting and get up regularly. Try low-impact activity like gentle swimming or walking within your comfort.

How osteopathy may help

Osteopathic assessment and care may help some people with sciatica-type symptoms, depending on the individual presentation. An osteopath will take a careful history, examine your back, pelvis and leg (including a neurological screen where appropriate), and may use gentle manual techniques aimed at easing muscle tension and supporting movement in the spine and pelvis, alongside advice on posture and activity. Responses vary, and if osteopathic care doesn't look appropriate we'll refer you to your GP or another healthcare professional.

At Taylor Osteopathy we see many patients from Kettering, Corby and the wider Northamptonshire area dealing with sciatic-type symptoms. We understand how disruptive nerve pain can be and we're committed to providing a friendly, professional space where you can explore your options. You can read more on our dedicated sciatica treatment in Kettering page, linked below.