Pain Shooting Down Your Leg? It Might Be Sciatica—Here’s What to Do
Do you feel a sharp, shooting pain that starts in your lower back or hip and travels down the back of your leg? You could be dealing with sciatica, a condition that’s often misunderstood and misdiagnosed.
While it can feel alarming, the good news is that sciatica is treatable, and physiotherapy is one of the most effective ways to manage it without relying on medication or invasive procedures.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica refers to irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in your body, which runs from your lower back through your hips and down each leg.
When something puts pressure on this nerve, it can cause symptoms such as:
- Shooting or burning pain down the leg
- Numbness or tingling in the buttock, thigh, or foot
- Muscle weakness or difficulty walking
- Pain that worsens when sitting, coughing, or bending
It’s common for people to mistake sciatica for a pulled muscle or hip issue, especially when the pain doesn’t start in the lower back.
What Causes Sciatica?
Sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis. The most common causes include:
- Disc bulges or herniations pressing on the nerve
- Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
- Piriformis syndrome (a tight muscle compressing the nerve)
- Pelvic or postural imbalances
- Pregnancy-related changes
Sometimes, there’s no clear injury, just a gradual build-up of pressure due to poor posture, prolonged sitting, or muscle weakness.
How Can Physiotherapy Help?
At Head2Toe Solutions, our goal isn’t just to mask the pain, it’s to identify the source of the nerve irritation and help you fix it.
Here’s how we treat sciatica with physiotherapy:
🧠 Accurate assessment – We find out what’s really causing the pressure on your sciatic nerve
🙌 Hands-on therapy – To reduce muscle tension and improve spinal mobility
💪 Targeted strengthening – Especially of your core and glutes, to support your spine
📏 Posture and movement coaching – To reduce pressure and prevent flare-ups
🔄 Education – So you understand your body and how to manage symptoms safely
With the right plan, many people start to feel relief within just a few sessions.
What If I Don’t Treat It?
Mild sciatica can settle on its own, but if left untreated, it can become chronic and start to impact your mobility, sleep, and quality of life. It may also lead to ongoing weakness or nerve sensitivity that’s harder to reverse later on.
If you’re unsure whether your pain is sciatica or something else, a physio assessment is the best place to start. We’ll guide you through what’s happening and what you can do about it.
Ready to Move Without Pain?
Sciatica can feel scary, but it doesn’t have to last forever. With expert care, you can get back to sitting, standing, walking, and sleeping comfortably again.
👉 Book a Physiotherapy HERE and let’s find the real source of your pain, so we can help you fix it.
