Book now

Sciatica

Book an appointment
Conditions

Treatment for sciatica in South Bristol

At the Bristol Back Pain Clinic, our chiropractors and osteopaths are experts in assessing, diagnosing and treating sciatic nerve pain. Harry Kauntze, chiropractor at the clinic explains: “Sciatica is a common condition that causes pain along the path of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back through the hips and down each leg. When the nerve becomes irritated or compressed, it can lead to symptoms such as lower back pain, hip pain, shooting leg pain (down the leg), numbness, tingling, or weakness. At our South Bristol clinic, we provide chiropractic and osteopathic treatment for sciatica, focusing on improving spinal movement, reducing nerve irritation, and supporting the body’s natural recovery process.”

Sciatica

What is sciatica?

Sciatica refers to pain caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. Starting at the back of your pelvis, running through your buttocks, all the way down both legs and ending at the feet, the sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body. And as sciatic nerve pain can radiate along the entire nerve pathway, this means that sciatica can be felt in the lower back, down along the legs and calves and even into the feet and toes. Sciatica may affect one side of the body and can range from mild discomfort to more persistent nerve pain.

Common causes of sciatica

Sciatica is usually a symptom of an underlying problem in the lower back or pelvis. For some of the most common causes of sciatica, see below. Other risk factors include age, obesity, certain occupations, and a history of lower back pain.

One of the most common causes of sciatica is a herniated disc or ‘bulging disc’ / ‘slipped disc’ in the lumbar spine. When the soft inner part of a spinal disc pushes out, it may press on nearby nerves, leading to sciatic nerve pain.

Restricted movement or irritation of the facet joints in the lower back can sometimes contribute to nerve irritation and sciatica symptoms.

The piriformis muscle (located deep within the buttock region, specifically beneath the gluteus maximus), sits close to the sciatic nerve. If this muscle becomes tight or inflamed, it can irritate or compress the sciatic nerve.

Age-related changes in the spine, such as disc degeneration (due to wear and tear on the spinal discs) and spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal canal), may also increase pressure on spinal nerves.

actionshot Marionbanner

Symptoms of sciatica

When the sciatic nerve becomes irritated or compressed, it can cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms, with some of the most common sciatica symptoms including:

  • Pain in the lower back that travels into the buttock or leg
  • A sharp, shooting or burning pain down the leg
  • Tingling or numbness in the leg or foot
  • Weakness in the leg muscles
  • Pain that worsens with sitting, sneezing, or coughing

 

Symptoms can vary from person to person. The pain is usually worse on one side of the body and can range from mild to severe and if left untreated, sciatica can interfere with your daily activities, making it difficult to sit, walk, sleep, or even work.

Effective sciatica treatment in South Bristol

NICE guidelines (GP guidelines) recommend manual therapy for sciatica (spinal manipulation, mobilisation or soft tissue techniques such as massage) alongside exercise as part of a treatment package for managing lower back pain and sciatica. As musculoskeletal specialists, chiropractors and osteopaths are well positioned to assess, diagnose and treat and help alleviate sciatica, or sciatic nerve pain, with every treatment plan tailored to individual needs, whether you’re in the middle of a flare-up or looking for long-term prevention.

 

If you are looking for sciatica pain relief in Bristol, chiropractic and osteopathic care can help address the mechanical causes contributing to your symptoms. Harry Kauntze, chiropractor at The Bristol Back Pain Clinic explains: “Investigating and understanding the cause of your sciatica helps guide the most appropriate treatment approach. Our goal with sciatica treatment is to help you move more comfortably, improve spinal function, and support your long-term recovery.”

 

actionshot10
actionshot3

Chiropractic and osteopathic treatment for sciatica

During your initial appointment, your chiropractor or osteopath will carry out a detailed assessment of your spine, movement patterns, and symptoms before recommending an individualised treatment approach. This may include manual techniques such as spinal adjustment or mobilisation to help improve movement in restricted joints of the lower back and reduce pressure on irritated nerves; soft tissue therapy to reduce muscle tension around the lower back, hips, and buttocks which can contribute to sciatic symptoms; targeted rehabilitation exercises and lifestyle and posture advice to help support recovery.

 

For tips on how to manage sciatic nerve compression at home, see our focus on sciatica blog. However, if you are experiencing sciatica, lower back pain, or sciatic nerve pain in the leg and your symptoms are severe, persist for more than a few weeks, or worsen over time, it’s important to see a sciatica specialist.

Testimonials

What patients say about their sciatica treatment

“I’ve been having treatment with George over the course of roughly 5 months, with 8 sessions so far. I have suffered with sciatica for the last 5 years and after having had 6 months of useless physiotherapy, I felt I had nothing to lose by going to Bristol Back Pain Clinic. I was able to get an appointment the day after I enquired online and then subsequently seen 3 times in the next week, more than my physio over the 6 months. George was very attentive and listened to my problems and gave me an explanation I had been waiting to hear for the last 5 years. The treatment has been nothing short of life changing. Since I started going, I haven’t experienced any major sciatic pain even when undertaking activities that would have previously caused flare ups. I was concerned about the cost at first but it’s genuinely been worth every penny and I would urge anyone who is on the fence about the cost to really consider it. George was also understanding when I spoke about the cost and I never felt like I was being forced into booking more sessions.”

“I highly recommend the team at Bristol Back Pain Clinic to anyone who finds themselves in pain or discomfort. I had suffered with sciatica and lower back pain for years and was in severe pain when I first had a session with Harry. He was kind and sympathetic and helped me understand the causes of the pain, my treatment and how I could help minimise pain in the future. I suffer from poor posture due to intense periods of computer work , and my back pain was something I wanted to understand more and get better control of. From my sessions I feel much more mobile, flexible and aware of how I can make improvements to maintain back health. Over the past 5 or 6 years I have revisited when I can feel the symptoms returning and each time I have been amazed at the results. The whole team are extremely professional and caring.”

“Amazing service. George was very professional and he found my problem from the first appointment. I strongly recommend if you have sciatica problem and other back pain. I felt better after 3 appointments. Many thanks George!”

“After suffering for 7 years with terrible back/sciatic issues and seeing other chiropractors, physios and even a surgeon, Harry was able to immediately identify and eventually cure 99% of the pain I had been experiencing. Not only is he a highly professional and very thorough chiropractor he is also one of the most interesting guys you’re ever likely to meet. I would happily recommend his services to anyone suffering back pain!”

View More Testimonials
Book an appointment