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Sciatica is where the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back to your feet, is irritated or compressed. It usually gets better in 4 to 6 weeks but can last longer.
If you have sciatica, your:
may feel:
Your symptoms may be worse when moving, sneezing or coughing.
You may also have back pain, but it's not usually as bad as the pain in your bottom, leg or foot.
You probably do not have sciatica if you only have back pain.
Sciatica usually gets better in 4 to 6 weeks, but it can sometimes last longer.
To help relieve your pain and speed up recovery:
carry on with your normal activities as much as possible
regular exercises for sciatica
start gentle exercise as soon as you can – anything that gets you moving can help
hold heat packs to the painful areas – you can buy these from pharmacies
ask your pharmacist about painkillers (paracetamol is unlikely to help and it's not clear how much NSAIDs help with sciatica)
put a small, firm cushion between your knees when sleeping on your side, or several firm pillows underneath your knees when lying on your back
do not sit or lie down for long periods – even if moving hurts, it's not harmful and can help you get better faster
do not use hot water bottles to ease the pain – you could scald yourself if your skin is numb
These could be symptoms of a serious back problem that needs to be treated in hospital as soon as possible.
If you have sciatica, a GP may:
They might also refer you for:
Physiotherapy is free of charge on the NHS throughout the UK, but waiting times can be long. You can also get it privately.
If your pain is severe and treatments from a GP have not helped, they may refer you to a hospital specialist for:
If you have sciatica, you might be able to refer yourself directly to services for help with your condition without seeing a GP.
To find out if there are any services in your area:
To reduce the chances of getting sciatica again:
stay active – take regular exercise
use a safe technique when lifting heavy objects
make sure you have a good posture when sitting and standing
sit correctly when using a computer
lose weight if you're overweight
do not smoke – smoking can increase your risk of getting sciatica
Sciatica happens when something presses or rubs on the sciatic nerve.
Causes include:
