How sciatica differs from ordinary back pain
Ordinary back pain stays in the back. Sciatica follows a nerve path, often below the knee, and may come with tingling, numbness or weakness. The pattern matters: it tells the clinician which nerve root is involved and how urgent the case is.
- Sharp, burning or electric pain in the buttock, thigh, calf or foot
- Pins and needles or numbness in a specific part of the leg
- Weakness when lifting the foot, standing on toes, or straightening the knee
- Pain made worse by sitting, coughing, sneezing or bending forward
What physiotherapy does for a disc or nerve problem
The first goal is to reduce nerve irritation. That usually means changing positions and loads that compress the nerve, not forcing stretches that provoke it. As symptoms settle, the program adds movement control, strength and a graded return to sitting, driving and training.
- 1Assess the nerve: symptom pattern, reflexes, sensation, strength and specific tests.
- 2Settle the irritation: positioning, activity changes and hands-on treatment.
- 3Restore movement: nerve glides and mobility work once they stop provoking symptoms.
- 4Rebuild capacity: trunk, hip and leg strength that tolerates real life.
- 5Return to normal: sitting, driving, gym and sport, progressed on measurable milestones.
When surgery is the conversation
Most people with sciatica improve without surgery. Surgery becomes a reasonable discussion when there is progressive weakness, cauda equina symptoms, or pain that stays severe despite a proper course of conservative care. That decision belongs to you and a spine surgeon, and physiotherapy can help you prepare for it or recover from it.
About this guidance
This page is general information about physiotherapy for this problem, not a diagnosis. An assessment is the only way to know what is driving your symptoms and what treatment suits you.
Reviewed by Dr. Sneha Ramchandani, PT, BPTh, MIAP, Founder and physiotherapist at Muscle Lab, Andheri East.
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Questions people ask
How long does sciatica take to settle?
Many cases improve substantially within six to twelve weeks with conservative care. Some take longer. Progress is judged by how far you can walk, sit and sleep, not only by pain scores.
Is walking good or bad for sciatica?
Short, regular walks are usually helpful. If walking reliably increases leg pain, the distance and pace need adjusting until the nerve settles. That is a clinical decision, not a rule that applies to everyone.
Can a slipped disc go back on its own?
Disc material can be resorbed over time, and many people recover without surgery. The scan does not always match the symptoms, which is why the examination matters as much as the MRI report.