Sciatica Treatment
Expert diagnosis and hands-on treatment for sciatic nerve pain in Islington.
Sciatica Can Stop You in Your Tracks
If you’re dealing with sciatica, you already know how relentless it can be. That shooting pain down your leg, the numbness that makes you second-guess every step, the frustration of not being able to sit or stand comfortably for more than a few minutes.
It can make you dread the simplest things — getting in and out of the car, bending to pick something up, even coughing or sneezing. When the pain is at its worst, it’s hard to think about anything else. You don’t have to keep putting up with it.
Book an AppointmentDo Any of These Apply to You?
Sciatica affects people in different ways. You might recognise some of these:
Radiating pain from your lower back
Through your hip and down one leg?
Numbness or tingling in your leg or foot
That comes and goes or won’t let up?
Weakness in the affected leg
— it feels unreliable or hard to control?
Pain gets worse when you sit or stand
For any length of time?
Coughing, sneezing, or straining
Sends a sharp jolt down your leg?
The pain ranges from a dull ache to a sharp, burning sensation
That stops you in your tracks?
If any of these sound familiar, you’re in the right place. These are some of the most common things we hear from patients — and most of them wish they’d come to us sooner.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica isn’t a condition in itself — it’s a symptom. It describes pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. When something compresses or irritates that nerve, the result is the pain, numbness, or weakness you’re feeling.
The underlying cause can vary from person to person. That’s why accurate diagnosis matters — we need to find out what’s actually pressing on the nerve before we can treat it effectively. Diagnosis typically involves a thorough physical examination, a detailed medical history, and in some cases X-rays or MRI to build a complete picture.
Common underlying causes include:
- Herniated or bulging disc — the most frequent culprit, where disc material presses on the nerve root
- Spinal stenosis — narrowing of the spinal canal that compresses the nerve
- Piriformis syndrome — when the piriformis muscle in the buttock irritates the sciatic nerve
- Degenerative disc disease — age-related wear that reduces the space around the nerve
- Spondylolisthesis — when a vertebra slips forward and pinches the nerve
Prevention plays an important role too. Maintaining good posture, exercising regularly to strengthen your core muscles, using proper lifting technique, taking frequent breaks from sitting, and keeping to a healthy weight can all help reduce the risk of sciatica developing or returning.
Your Sciatica Treatment Plan
At the Canonbury Clinic, we’ve treated thousands of patients with sciatica over the past 30 years. The most important thing is to diagnose the underlying cause quickly and accurately, then build a treatment plan that’s specific to you.
Our unique multi-faceted approach combines hands-on treatment with the latest technology, giving you the best chance of a fast and lasting recovery:
- Osteopathy — gentle, hands-on manipulation to restore mobility and relieve pressure on the nerve
- Deep Tissue Massage — targeted pressure to release chronic tension and muscle spasm
- Assisted Stretching — practitioner-guided stretching to improve flexibility and reduce nerve compression
- G5 Massage — mechanical massage to increase blood flow and reduce stiffness
- Laser Therapy — deep tissue healing using our Class 4 MLS laser
- Ultrasound Treatment — therapeutic sound waves to promote tissue repair
- Kinesio Taping — supportive taping to aid recovery between sessions
- Bespoke Exercise Programme — tailored exercises to strengthen your core and prevent recurrence
Every treatment plan is tailored to your specific condition, your body, and your goals. We don’t do one-size-fits-all.