Condition library
Sciatica: why does pain travel down my leg?
Sciatica is pain, tingling or numbness that travels from the lower back or buttock down the back or side of the leg, often below the knee, because a nerve root in the lower back is irritated or compressed. The most common cause is a disc bulge or herniation. Leg pain is often worse than the back pain. Most people with sciatica improve over a period of weeks to a few months without surgery. At Glasgow Sport & Spine Clinic, sciatica is assessed to confirm the source and treated with hands-on treatment and graded exercise.
Common causes
- Disc herniation — the most common cause in adults under about 50; often worse with sitting, bending and coughing or sneezing.
- Narrowing of the spaces around the nerves (stenosis) — more common over 60; leg symptoms often worse when walking or standing and eased by sitting or bending forward.
- Pain that looks like sciatica but isn't nerve-related — buttock and hip structures, including the piriformis and gluteal tendons, can refer pain into the leg. Telling these apart is a key part of the assessment.
Seek urgent help — call 999 or go to A&E — if you have:
- numbness around the genitals, buttocks or inner thighs
- new problems with bladder or bowel control
- sciatica in both legs at once
- rapidly worsening weakness in the leg or foot, such as a foot that slaps or catches when walking (foot drop)
See your GP or call NHS 111 promptly if:
- the pain is severe and not controlled with medication your pharmacist or GP has advised
- you feel unwell, have a fever, or have unexplained weight loss
- symptoms are steadily getting worse rather than better over several weeks
How it's assessed
Assessment includes testing reflexes, sensation and muscle strength, and nerve tension tests, to find out whether a nerve is involved, which level of the spine it comes from, and whether anything needs onward referral (for example for an MRI or a specialist opinion).
How it's treated at Glasgow Sport & Spine Clinic
The first step is always to check for red flags and make sure the symptoms aren't coming from a more serious medical cause, such as infection, a growth or another condition that needs medical care. The next is to identify the cause and the spinal level involved, for example L5/S1.
Acute sciatica is then treated conservatively. Spinal manipulation (HVT) is not used on acute sciatica. Treatment may include:
- gentle hands-on techniques aimed at offloading the irritated spinal level and settling inflammation
- soft tissue treatment (ART, IASTM) to the back, buttock and leg
- dry needling (acupuncture)
- finding positions and movements that ease the leg pain, then building from there
- a home self-care plan, which may include ELDOA exercises for the affected level, icing and nerve gliding (“nerve flossing”) exercises
- a graded exercise and activity plan to restore sitting tolerance, walking and lifting
Frequently asked questions
- How long does sciatica last?
- Many cases improve substantially within 6–12 weeks, though some take longer. Nerve symptoms such as tingling often settle after the pain.
- Will I need surgery?
- Most people don't. Surgery is generally considered for severe, persistent cases or where there is significant or worsening nerve weakness.
- Is sciatica the same as a trapped nerve?
- “Trapped nerve” is a common way of describing it. The nerve is usually irritated and inflamed rather than permanently trapped.
- Should I stretch my hamstrings?
- Not necessarily — stretching an irritated nerve can aggravate it. Which movements help depends on the cause, which is why assessment comes first.
About the practitioner
Guy Murray, BA, BOst (Hons), HDip NMT, is the sole practitioner at Glasgow Sport & Spine Clinic, Suite 1.4, Redtree Business Suites, 33 Dalmarnock Rd, Glasgow G40 4LA. He has treated musculoskeletal pain and sports injuries in Glasgow since 2008, for patients ranging from office workers and older adults to professional athletes. He was the first practitioner in Scotland to be certified in full-body Active Release Technique (2011) and the first in the UK to complete the Postural Restoration Institute core courses, and trained directly under Leon Chaitow. Treatment sessions combine assessment, hands-on treatment and a home rehab plan.
Appointments: 07584 284854 · guy@glasgowsportandspine.co.uk · Monday–Friday, 10:00–18:30 · Book an appointment · Treatments and prices
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you are worried about your symptoms, see your GP or call NHS 111.