How long does sciatica last?

The NHS says sciatica usually gets better in a few weeks to a few months, although it can last longer and can come back. Cleveland Clinic notes it often doesn't last longer than six weeks. Staying active and doing regular exercises help recovery. See a doctor or physiotherapist if it hasn't improved after a few weeks, is getting worse or is stopping you doing normal activities.

Should I rest in bed with sciatica?

No. The NHS advises carrying on with normal activities as much as possible and not sitting or lying down for long periods. Moving may hurt, but it isn't harmful and can help you recover faster. Gentle walking and the exercises a physiotherapist gives you are better than bed rest. Short breaks to ease the pain are fine; long stretches in bed are not.

When is sciatica an emergency?

Call 911 or go to the ER if you have sciatica in both legs, numbness or weakness in both legs that's severe or getting worse, numbness around your genitals or anus, new difficulty peeing or controlling your bladder or bowels, or new sexual problems. These can be signs of cauda equina syndrome, which needs urgent hospital treatment. Don't drive yourself.

Can physiotherapy help sciatica?

NICE guidance recommends exercise programmes for low back pain with or without sciatica, and says manual therapy such as mobilisation or massage can be considered as part of a package that includes exercise. A physiotherapist assesses your back and nerves, gives you a graded exercise plan and advises on sitting, work and driving. Results vary from person to person, and no treatment can promise a set recovery time.

What painkillers help sciatica?

Ask a pharmacist or doctor. The NHS says paracetamol on its own is unlikely to help sciatica, and it isn't clear how much anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen help; ibuprofen isn't suitable for everyone, for example people with stomach ulcers or some kidney or heart conditions. Heat packs can ease the pain. If pain is severe, a doctor may discuss other medicines or options with you.

Do I need a referral for physiotherapy at Emergency Plus?

No. The physiotherapy clinic at Emergency Plus in Dabouq is open 9:00 to 20:00 every day and you can book without a referral. The clinic is not open 24 hours. If you have red-flag symptoms such as numbness around the genitals, bladder or bowel changes or weakness in both legs, don't wait for a physiotherapy appointment: the emergency department is open 24/7.

Sciatica: Leg Pain From Your Back — Physiotherapy or the ER?

Long hours at a desk, a longer drive home in Amman traffic, then more sitting on the sofa: plenty of people know that day, and some know what follows — a burning pain running from the buttock down the leg that makes sitting in the car miserable. That is often sciatica. It's painful and frustrating, but in most cases it isn't dangerous and improves with time and the right kind of movement. This guide explains what sciatica is, how to ease it, what physiotherapy offers, and the few warning signs that mean you need the ER now.

What is sciatica and what are the symptoms?

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body, running from the lower back through the buttock down to the feet. Sciatica happens when this nerve is irritated or compressed. According to the NHS, the most common cause is a slipped disc — when the soft cushion between the bones of the spine bulges out — with others including spinal stenosis, a vertebra slipping out of position and back injuries. Symptoms include:

Sharp or burning pain in the buttock and the back of one leg, often below the knee into the foot and toes.
Tingling like pins and needles, or numbness in the leg or foot.
Weakness in the leg or foot.
Pain that's worse when moving, coughing or sneezing.
You may have back pain too, but it's usually not as bad as the leg pain.

If the pain stays in your back and doesn't travel down the leg, it probably isn't sciatica; see our guide to lower back pain: physiotherapy, rest or the ER. If pain runs from your neck down your arm, our guide to neck pain covers the equivalent problem in the upper body.

Back pain, sciatica or an emergency?

Feature	Ordinary back pain	Sciatica	Emergency
Where it hurts	Lower back, sometimes the buttock; usually worst in the back	Buttock and down the back of one leg, often below the knee into the foot; the leg often hurts more than the back	Back or leg pain, often both legs
Other feelings	Stiffness, muscle spasm	Burning or shooting pain, pins and needles, numbness or mild weakness in one leg; worse with coughing or sneezing	Numbness around the genitals or anus, new bladder or bowel problems, sexual problems, or weakness that keeps getting worse
Usual course	Often better within a few weeks	Usually improves over a few weeks to a few months	Needs hospital assessment as soon as possible
Where to go	Self-care; physiotherapy if it isn't settling	Self-care and physiotherapy; a doctor if it's severe, worsening or not improving	Call 911 or go to the ER now

When should you go to the ER for sciatica?

Rarely, the bundle of nerves at the bottom of the spine (the cauda equina) is badly compressed. This needs hospital treatment as soon as possible to avoid lasting damage to the bladder, bowel and legs.

Call 911 for

Numbness or loss of feeling around the genitals, anus or inner thighs (the "saddle" area).
New difficulty starting to pee, being unable to pee, or losing control of your bladder or bowels.
New changes in sensation during sex, or being unable to get or keep an erection.
Pain, numbness or weakness in both legs that's severe or getting worse.
Back pain after a serious accident, such as a car crash or a fall from height.

The NHS advises: don't drive yourself to the emergency department; ask someone to take you or call an ambulance, and bring your medicines.

Go to the ER now

Weakness getting worse in one leg, such as a foot that drops and catches the ground when you walk.
Back or leg pain with a fever, chills or feeling generally unwell.
New back pain in someone with a history of cancer, or with unexplained weight loss.
Severe pain that started suddenly or is getting worse quickly and isn't eased by any position.

Urgent care or a doctor the same day

Severe pain that stops you sleeping or walking despite suitable painkillers.
Numbness or tingling in the leg that's spreading.
You're not sure whether the pain is coming from your back or something else.

Home care and physiotherapy are usually fine

Pain in one leg, with mild tingling or numbness, and none of the signs above.
Pain that lets you walk and is slowly improving over the days.
See a doctor or physiotherapist if it hasn't improved after a few weeks, is getting worse, or is stopping you working or doing normal activities.

Can you treat sciatica at home?

Most people start with self-care, which is what the NHS and the UK's NICE guideline (NG59) recommend:

Keep active. Carry on with normal activities as much as you can and start gentle exercise such as walking early. Moving may hurt, but it isn't harmful.
Don't sit or lie down for long periods. Bed rest doesn't speed up recovery.
Heat packs on the painful area may help.
Painkillers: ask a pharmacist. The NHS says paracetamol is unlikely to help sciatica and it isn't clear how much anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen help, and they aren't suitable for everyone. NICE asks doctors to weigh their limited benefit against their risks. If pain is severe, a doctor may discuss other medicines.

Desk work and driving in Amman

Long periods of sitting make sciatica worse for many people. Get up from your desk every 30 to 45 minutes and walk a little, set your chair so your knees are roughly level with your hips and your lower back is supported, and keep the screen at eye level. In the car, move the seat close enough that you aren't stretching your leg to reach the pedals, use a small cushion behind your lower back, and on long drives stop for a short walk when you can. If pain or weakness affects your ability to brake quickly, don't drive.

What happens when you come in for physiotherapy?

At the physiotherapy clinic at Emergency Plus, open 9:00–20:00 daily with no referral needed, the first session starts with an assessment: the physiotherapist asks about your pain, how it started and what makes it worse, checks for red flags, and examines how your back moves and the strength, sensation and reflexes in your legs. Then they agree a plan with you that includes:

An explanation of what is going on and what to expect — a core part of treatment according to NICE.
A graded exercise programme to continue at home, adjusted as you respond.
Manual therapy such as joint mobilisation or soft tissue techniques where helpful, as part of a plan that includes exercise rather than instead of it.
Practical advice on sitting, work, driving and getting back to your normal activities and job.

How quickly people improve varies, and if the physiotherapist finds anything that needs a medical review, they will refer you to a doctor. If you develop any of the red flags above, go straight to the emergency department, which is open 24/7. For when physiotherapy helps more generally, see signs you need physiotherapy.

Saddle numbness or bladder problems?

Don't wait for an appointment and don't drive yourself: call 911 or get someone to take you. The emergency department at Emergency Plus in Dabouq, Amman is open 24/7, and the physiotherapy clinic runs 9:00–20:00 daily with no referral, with an Arabic and English speaking team.

Call us 24/7: +962 79 247 1313

Sources

Medical disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you think you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately. Emergency Plus in Dabouq, Amman is open 24/7 — +962 79 247 1313.