Sciatica: what the pain down your leg is telling you

Category: Conditions explained

Leg pain from an irritated nerve root usually improves within six weeks with the right movement.

Many common aches have more than one cause, and scans often show changes that are normal for your age. What matters is how the area moves, how much load it can take and how it behaves day to day.

Most people improve with a mix of education, hands-on treatment and a graded exercise plan. Surgery or injections are needed far less often than people expect.

A clear explanation takes the fear out of the pain, and fear is often the biggest barrier to getting moving again. Your physiotherapist will go through your own pattern step by step.