Sciatica Treatment in Finchley
★ 5.0 rated from 115+ Google reviews | No referral needed | From £80
Are You Dealing with Sciatica?
Sciatica can be frightening. The shooting pain down your leg, the numbness, the tingling — it is natural to worry that something serious is happening. The reassuring truth is that the vast majority of sciatica cases resolve with the right treatment and do not require surgery.
At Compass Health Clinic in North Finchley, we treat sciatica regularly and can usually see you within 24–48 hours — because we know that when you are in severe pain, waiting weeks for an appointment is not an option.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back through your buttock and down the back of your leg. It is usually caused by irritation or compression of a nerve root in the lower spine, most commonly from a disc bulge, spinal stenosis or muscle tightness. Symptoms can include sharp or burning pain, numbness, tingling, and in some cases weakness in the leg or foot.
How We Treat Sciatica
Our osteopaths and physiotherapists use a combination of approaches tailored to the cause and severity of your sciatica:
- Thorough assessment and diagnosis — including neurological testing to assess nerve function. We need to understand exactly what is causing the nerve irritation before we treat it.
- Gentle hands-on treatment — manual therapy to reduce pain, improve spinal mobility and address the muscle guarding that often accompanies sciatica.
- Specific exercises — tailored to your presentation. Some sciatica responds to extension exercises, others to flexion. We assess what works for you and build a progressive programme with video demonstrations.
- Dry needling — for the deep muscle tension and guarding in the buttock and lower back that often makes sciatica worse.
- Education and reassurance — understanding what is happening and knowing that it will improve is a powerful part of recovery.
Do I Need a Scan for My Sciatica?
Most sciatica can be accurately diagnosed through a clinical examination. However, if we suspect a significant disc injury, if your symptoms are severe or worsening, or if you are not improving as expected, our team can request MRI scans for your GP.
How Long Does Sciatica Take to Get Better?
Most episodes improve significantly within 6–12 weeks with appropriate treatment. Patients who seek treatment early and stay active within comfortable limits tend to recover faster. If your sciatica has been present for more than three months, our chronic pain clinic can help with a broader approach.
Frequently Asked Questions About sciatica at our finchley clinic:
Q: What is sciatica and what causes it?
A: Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back through your hip and buttock and down the back of your leg. It is usually caused by irritation or compression of the nerve root in the lower spine, often from a disc bulge, spinal stenosis or muscle tightness. Despite how frightening the symptoms can feel, the vast majority of sciatica cases resolve with the right treatment and do not require surgery. |
Q: Should I rest if I have sciatica?
A: Prolonged bed rest is not recommended for sciatica. While it is natural to want to stop moving when you are in severe pain, staying as active as you comfortably can is one of the most important things you can do for your recovery. Gentle walking to increase your heart rate, even short distances, helps reduce inflammation and prevent the muscles from becoming stiff and weak. At Compass Health Clinic, we will guide you on what activities are safe and beneficial during your recovery. |
Q: How long does sciatica take to get better?
A: Most episodes of sciatica improve significantly within 6–12 weeks with appropriate treatment and self-management. However, the timeline depends on what is causing the nerve irritation, how severe the symptoms are, and how early you begin treatment. In our experience, patients who seek treatment early and stay active within comfortable limits tend to recover faster. If your symptoms are severe or not improving, we can arrange onward referral for further investigation. |
Q: Can an osteopath or physiotherapist treat sciatica?
A: Yes. Both osteopaths and physiotherapists are trained to diagnose and treat sciatica effectively. Treatment typically includes gentle hands-on techniques to reduce pain and improve mobility, specific exercises to address the underlying cause, and education about activity and posture. In some cases, some people find dry needling can also help relieve the muscle tightness that often accompanies sciatica. We treat sciatica regularly at our North Finchley clinic. |
“Cannot recommend Andy at Compass Health Clinic enough. Extremely thorough and professional. His knowledge and care really shine through. He used a variety of approaches and techniques during the session and I’m significantly better after my first treatment. I feel his assessment and diagnosis was spot on and I have exercises and resources to support me until our next session. Excellent care.”
James, Google Review
Don't live with pain
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Sciatica Treatment in Finchley
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us, and our experts will be happy to help and advise.