How long does physiotherapy take to work for sciatica?

Sciatica involves pain or altered sensation along the path of the sciatic nerve, often from the lower back into the buttock or leg. A therapist may tailor positions, mobility work, trunk and hip strengthening, and activity pacing. Tingling may settle more slowly than back pain, and progress can fluctuate when sitting, lifting, coughing, or walking loads change.

Use the positions and exercises that reduce or centralise symptoms according to your treatment plan. Keep gently active rather than staying in bed, take movement breaks during sitting, and return to lifting gradually. Stop and contact the clinician if an exercise causes spreading symptoms, increasing weakness, or a clear decline in walking.

Get urgent medical help for new difficulty controlling urine or stool, numbness around the saddle area, rapidly increasing leg weakness, or symptoms in both legs. Arrange review for persistent worsening pain, fever, unexplained weight loss, or pain after significant trauma.

Ask which symptoms should improve first, how much walking or sitting is appropriate, when to resume lifting, and what changes require urgent assessment.