Not all back pain is created equal. While a “stiff back” might be a simple muscle strain, sciatica is a different beast entirely. It occurs when the sciatic nerve—the longest nerve in your body—becomes compressed or irritated.
5 Signs Your Pain is Sciatica:
- The “Travel” Factor: The pain radiates from your lower back, through your glutes, and down one leg.
- Electrical Sensations: You feel sharp, “shooting” pains or a sensation like an electric shock.
- Numbness or Tingling: The classic “pins and needles” in your calf or foot.
- Weakness: Feeling like your leg might “give way” when you stand up.
- Postural Triggers: The pain worsens when you sneeze, cough, or sit for long periods.
At Four Oaks Physio, we use a combination of Manual Therapy to offload the spine and Medical Acupuncture to desensitize the irritated nerve. Our goal is to find the root cause—whether it’s a disc issue or muscular entrapment—to get you back to pain-free movement.
Struggling with sciatic pain? Call Four Oaks Physio today on 07894 988812.