Everything you need to know about living well with sciatica
Introduction
Symptoms
Treatments
Daily Living
Support
GlossaryThis guide is ideal if you have sciatica symptoms or have been given a sciatica diagnosis and would like more information on the condition and how it may affect your daily life.
If you are looking for sciatica help, read on to find out more about sciatica treatments, sciatica exercises, and other sources of advice and support. We also recommend sciatica products that may help ease pain and discomfort. If you are concerned about any of the sciatica symptoms you read here, please consult your GP.
Sciatica is a term that describes pain in the buttocks or legs that is caused by the sciatic nerve becoming compressed or irritated. This nerve runs from the feet, through the legs, buttocks and to the back of the pelvis. Sciatica symptoms may last for just a few weeks or many years. Everyone will experience sciatica symptoms differently according to what causes sciatica for them.
Sciatica occurs due to damaged discs in the spine, found in the lumbar region of the body.
The human spine consists of 33 bones or ‘vertebrae’ that are stacked one on top of the other to form the spinal column. Nerve fibres run through the whole of the spine, connecting the brain to each part of the body so that it can send and receive messages.
Vertebrae are held together with discs, which allow the spine to be flexible. Discs are made up of a hard outer casing with a substance inside that has a gel-like texture. Sometimes, a person can experience damage to these discs, where the soft, internal section of the disc bulges out of the external casing. This is known as a herniated disc, or a slipped disc.
A slipped disc may then press on or touch a nerve, which can result in pain around the area of the damaged disc. Sciatica causes pain in the lower back, buttocks and legs, due to a slipped disc and pressure to the nerves in that area of the body.
So, what triggers sciatica and damage to the spine? Here are the most common factors:
• Ageing, when discs often become naturally less flexible
• Smoking
• Poor posture when sitting
• Incorrect manual handling (lifting) techniques (i.e. lifting objects that are too heavy or bending the body awkwardly)
• Being overweight
• Accidents, i.e. in the car or having a fall
• Wear and tear from sports and hobbies
• Pregnancy and childbirth
There are other, much less common and more serious health conditions that may cause sciatica, including:
• Spinal injury/infection
• Tumour in the spine
For more information on what causes sciatica, see the NHS Choices website.
You may also find the Spine Health website useful, which features an overview of sciatica, explained with an animated video.
Read on to find out more about sciatica symptoms and sciatica treatments available to you that can help manage the pain, including sciatica exercises and physiotherapy.
Each person with sciatica will experience symptoms differently, and to different degrees. Sciatica symptoms may come and go or remain for longer periods of time.
Sciatica symptoms most often include:
• Pain, tingling and/or numbness around the lower back and buttocks
• Pain, tingling and/or numbness down the lower legs and feet
• Muscle weakness
• Difficulty walking
• Difficulty standing up from a sitting position
• Difficulty bending your leg or raising one leg
• Muscle spasms
Symptoms may be exacerbated if you make sudden movements, such as sneezing or coughing, or when sitting or lying in certain positions for long periods of time.
For further information on symptoms of sciatica, see the NHS website.
Some physicians and professionals distinguish between two types of sciatica and the type you are diagnosed with determines the root causes of sciatica and your treatment plan. The first sciatica type is neurogenic, and is caused by disc damage and nerve agitation, as described in the section ‘what causes sciatica?’.
It is important to visit your GP to determine if you have sciatica. They will be able to rule out other conditions. Your GP will likely be able to diagnose sciatica by asking you to explain the symptoms you’re experiencing, so it’s important to inform them accurately of how you are feeling. You GP may physically examine you, or you may be asked to lie on your back and lift your legs individually, to ascertain if this causes pain. Your GP will then be able to suggest an appropriate treatment.
It is important to see your GP if you think you are experiencing sciatica as there are other, more serious but rare conditions that can lead to similar symptoms. If you feel numb around your legs and bottom or have unexplained, sudden incontinence, or shooting pains in both legs, you should call 999. These could be symptoms of a condition called cauda equina syndrome.
If you have been given a diagnosis of sciatica, you will likely want to find treatments for sciatica pain. Your GP will be able to recommend a sciatica treatment plan to suit your particular needs.
Most people will only experience symptoms of sciatica for a short period, perhaps six weeks or so. Initially, a doctor may recommend simple help for sciatica pain, such as anti-inflammatory painkillers (topical or oral) and using hot and cold packs to reduce pain and inflammation.
A doctor may also recommend that you try to stay active to keep muscles moving. You may be referred to a physiotherapist, who can devise a programme of low impact exercise and special back exercises to strengthen your muscles. You may choose to seek treatment from an alternative therapist such as a chiropractor, acupuncturist or osteopath. In the next section we further explore exercises for sciatica relief and prevention.
You will be able to monitor how your sciatica symptoms are progressing. If you are still experiencing pain and discomfort after an agreed timescale, your GP may offer you further medications such as:
• Stronger painkillers
• Antidepressants (usually amitriptyline and duloxetine) or anticonvulsants (e.g. pregabalin and gabapentin) which can both be used to ease nerve pain
• Diazepam to reduce muscle spasms
• Corticosteroids administered by epidural injection
Very rarely, some people require surgery to mend the damage to their spine, which may include procedures such as an open discectomy or microdiscectomy. These are only considered if your sciatica symptoms are prolonged, non-responsive to other treatments, or very severe.
If you have been given a sciatica diagnosis from your GP, you may be experiencing pain that is affecting your everyday life.
Your personal experience of living with sciatica will depend upon how severe your sciatica symptoms are, and each person with sciatica will be affected differently.
Read on to learn more about sciatica exercises you can do to relieve pain, sciatica products that may help you stay comfortable, and other sciatica support you can find online.
Sciatica causes difficulty undertaking daily tasks for some people, and can cause discomfort when sitting, walking, or lying down. Sciatica symptoms can last for varying amounts of time, and each person experiences it differently, so the extent to how daily life is affected is hard to say. For some people, sciatica treatments will be very effective, and they will find ways to manage their pain. For others, it may take longer to recover.
At NRS Healthcare, we are experts in ‘daily living aids’. These are products designed to help people who are finding everyday activities difficult due to mobility problems or healthcare conditions. We have a range of products that may provide help for sciatica symptoms, encourage a better sitting or lying posture and ensure you can carry out tasks in greater comfort. Here are a selection of sciatica aids you may find useful:
• Seat Wedge - to keep your spine in its natural position
• Car Seat Wedge - to provide lower back support when driving
• Back Support - to aid posture in a car or chair
• Knee Pillow - to sleep more comfortably
• Bed Wedge - to aid rest and sleep
• High Back Chair - with lumbar support can help you sit more comfortably
• Rise and Recline Chair - may help if you have difficulty getting in and out of a standard armchair
• Wobble Cushion - to help improve posture and reduce stress on the lower back
• Exercise Bands - can help with stretching and resistive exercises
• Coccyx Cushion - reduces pressure on the base of the spine
• Shopping Trolley - can help avoid lifting and carrying heavy shopping bags
• Gardening Trolley - to help avoid lifting equipment in the garden
• Long Handled Gardening Tools - to help if you have difficulty bending down
If you are unsure which sciatica aids may provide relief for you, contact our product advice helpline, managed by our team of Occupational Therapists. They can help advise you what sciatica products may be useful for your specific needs.
Tel: 0345 121 8111 Email: productadvice@nrshealthcare.co.ukRegular exercise is essential to maintain our health and wellbeing. Exercise increases blood flow to all parts of the body, strengthens muscles to take the pressure off bones and keeps tendons and ligaments flexible to reduce stiffness. A regular exercise routine can help to prevent aches and pains.
If you have sciatica and visit a physiotherapist, they will be able to show you exercises that strengthen specific muscles which have become inflamed and are causing nerve pain.
The NHS website provides a useful video demonstrating gentle exercises for sciatica.
Maintaining a healthy diet is important to keep the body functioning at its best. Being overweight is one of several sciatica triggers, due to increased pressure on the spine and muscles.
There is no specific diet for sciatica but some nutritional experts recommend eating foods that help combat inflammation, such as cheese and lamb that contain vitamin B12, and magnesium-rich foods such as seafood, brown rice and fish. Some people try taking these in tablet form as sciatica supplements. Other suggested sciatica supplements are bromelain, curcumin or St. John’s Wort, which are suggested as being anti-inflammatory remedies. We recommend consulting your GP before embarking on any new dietary regime or taking supplements for sciatica.
Most people with sciatica are able to work, but some people may find it difficult whilst they are experiencing pain. They may need to discuss this with their employers and take time off to recover. Some people may find that their job is having an adverse effect or even causing their sciatica, for example, if it involves manual handling or sitting down for long periods.
Remember - you are not alone!
We hope this guide to sciatica has been helpful to you. If you are finding living with sciatica challenging, you may find it useful to talk to other people in a similar situation and there is a selection of sciatica support groups listed below that you may wish to join.
Our resources section provides other sources of information and sciatica help.
If you have sciatica and would like to contact other people experiencing similar symptoms, here are some options for online communities and groups where you can find support:
Backcare – provides advice if you have back or neck pain
Focus on Disability – provides information about various conditions affecting older people and people with disabilities, and their carers.
NHS – helps to explain health conditions in more detail
NICE – advice about the care you should expect to receive from a healthcare professional about sciatica
Unsure what something means? Checkout our Glossary section below.
Although we always try to explain things as simply and as clearly as possible, sometimes it’s necessary to use the correct medical terminology. Medical terms are often known for being tricky to pronounce and if you’re not an expert in the subject, they can also be a little difficult to understand. Below, we’ve put together a list of terms used on this page along with a brief explanation of what they mean to help make your understanding of sciatica as straightforward as possible.
Amitriptyline
– medication that is part of a group of tricyclic antidepressants, which is also used to treat chronic pain
Cauda equina syndrome
– a serious medical condition where the ‘cauda equina’ area of the body, found at the bottom of the spinal cord, suffers pressure or swelling, causing sciatica symptoms. This condition requires immediate medical care, unlike sciatica caused by a slipped disc
Corticosteroids
– a medication which reduces swelling, inflammation, redness, and overactive immune system
Diazepam
– a type of benzodiazepine medication used for anxiety treatment as well as muscle spasmsDuloxetine
– an anti-depressant medication that is also used to treat pain
Epidural injection
– a method for administering drugs into the lower back to block pain signals
Gabapentin
– a drug that is used to treat nerve pain
Lumbar region
– the lowest section of the spine, consisting of 5 bones
Microdiscectomy
– similar to an open discectomy, but carried out with a smaller incision
Neurogenic
– related to the nervous system, which carries messages between the brain and spinal cord and out to all parts of the body
Open discectomy
– a surgical procedure to remove part of a disc that is prolapsed or slipped, to reduce nerve pressure
Pelvis
– the bones that form the bottom of the spine
Pregabalin
– a drug used to block nerve pain
Sciatic nerve
– the largest nerve in the body which runs down each leg from the lower back
Spinal stenosis
– a condition where the bones of the spinal column become narrowed
Spondylolisthesis
– a condition where one of the vertebrae (bones) in the back slips out of its usual position
Vertebrae
– the 33 bones in the spine
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