Sciatica
Sciatica is sharp, shooting or burning pain that runs from your lower back through your buttock and down the back of one leg. It can make sitting unbearable, standing painful, and sleep impossible. The pain comes from pressure or irritation on the sciatic nerve the largest nerve in your body. At RehabOne Plus in Thornhill, your practitioner can usually relieve sciatica without injections or surgery.
What Sciatica Feels Like
- Burning or tingling sensation down the leg
- Weakness, numbness or difficulty moving the leg or foot
- Severe or shooting pain in one leg that may make it difficult to stand up or walk
- Lower back pain that is often less severe than the leg pain
- Constant pain on only one side of the buttock or leg
- Pain that originates in the low back or buttock and continues along the path of the sciatic nerve
- Pain that feels better lying down or walking, worse when standing or sitting
- Foot pain or pain in the toes depending on where the nerve is affected
Common Causes of Sciatica
- Herniated or slipped disc pressing on the nerve roots
- Lumbar spinal stenosis narrowing of the spinal canal
- Degenerative disc disease
- Spondylolisthesis one vertebra slipping forward over another
- Piriformis syndrome a buttock muscle compressing the nerve
- Pelvic injury or fracture
- Poor posture, muscle strain or persistent spasm
- Pregnancy
- Sedentary lifestyle, prolonged sitting or carrying excess weight
How We Treat Sciatica at RehabOne Plus
There is no single fix for sciatica, recovery comes from combining the right treatments for your specific situation. Your practitioner will assess your case in detail and recommend a plan from these proven approaches:
Physiotherapy
Hands-on assessment and a custom exercise plan to relieve nerve compression and strengthen the supporting muscles
Chiropractic care
Spinal adjustments to restore proper joint mechanics in the lumbar spine
Ultrasound therapy
Deep heating around the affected tissue to accelerate healing
Lumbar brace
Short-term support during the acute phase
When to Come In
Book a consultation if your sciatica has lasted more than a few days, is getting worse or is interfering with sleep, work or daily activities. We offer same-week appointments and direct-bill most insurers. If you experience loss of bladder or bowel control along with the pain, seek emergency care immediately.
Risk Factors for Sciatica
Sciatica is most common in adults between 30 and 50, but it can affect almost anyone. Knowing the risk factors helps your practitioner build a treatment plan that addresses the underlying mechanics, not just the radiating leg pain.
Age-related disc changes
particularly between 30 and 50
Prolonged sitting
at a desk or behind the wheel, especially without breaks
Heavy lifting
combined with twisting at the waist
Previous low back injuries
that left the disc or facet joints vulnerable
Diabetes
which increases the risk of nerve damage and slows healing
Excess body weight
increasing compressive load on the lumbar discs
Tight or weak gluteal muscles
particularly tight piriformis
Smoking
linked to accelerated disc degeneration
Recovery Timeline for Sciatica
Most sciatica resolves with conservative care. Here is what we see at our Thornhill clinic across typical presentations.
Acute sciatica (under 6 weeks)
Most acute sciatica responds to 6 to 10 sessions over 4 to 8 weeks. Significant leg pain reduction is common within the first 2 to 4 sessions. The combination of manual therapy, nerve glides, and progressive exercise gets most patients back to full activity.
Persistent sciatica (6 to 12 weeks)
If your sciatica has stuck around for a month or more, expect 10 to 16 sessions. The plan layers in spinal decompression-style traction, glute and core strengthening, and modifications to your sitting and lifting habits.
Chronic sciatica (over 3 months)
Chronic sciatica often involves both mechanical compression and nervous system sensitization. We work on graded movement, desensitization, and load tolerance. Imaging review and, in some cases, referral for injection or surgical consult are part of the plan.
When to Seek Emergency Care
Sciatica is rarely a medical emergency but a few presentations need immediate attention. Go to the emergency department if you experience:
- Loss of bladder or bowel control or numbness in the saddle area (possible cauda equina syndrome)
- Sudden severe weakness in the leg or foot (foot drop)
- Fever with back and leg pain
- Severe pain after major trauma
Why Sciatica Often Resolves Without Surgery
Imaging often shows scary-looking disc bulges in people with sciatica, but the same imaging shows similar findings in people who feel fine. The leg pain is driven less by the size of the bulge and more by inflammation around the nerve root and how the surrounding muscles compensate.
Manual therapy, targeted exercise, and nerve mobilization reduce that inflammation and restore movement. Most patients see significant improvement in 4 to 6 weeks without ever needing injections or surgery. We refer the small fraction who do need imaging or specialist input.
Insurance Coverage for Sciatica Treatment
Most extended health plans in Ontario cover physiotherapy, chiropractic, for sciatica. We direct-bill your provider so you pay nothing at the point of care for covered services. See our insurance & billing page for the full list of insurers we work with.
If your sciatica started from a motor vehicle accident or a workplace injury treatment is fully covered through SABS or WSIB respectively.
Visit Our Clinic in Thornhill
Located on Yonge Street near Steeles Avenue. Free parking available. Bring your insurance card on your first visit, we handle the rest.