What is the best treatment for sciatica in Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire?

What is the best treatment for sciatica in Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire?

Are you wondering what the best type of treatment is for sciatica and you live in the Hertfordshire or Bedfordshire area? You’re in the right place. I've been a specialist in sciatica pain for over a decade and  I know its a minefield of advice out there and a lot is not helpful. .So, I've put together a sciatica guide to simplify it for you so you know your next right step.

First: what is sciatica (and how it feels)

Sciatica is that sharp, shooting pain from your buttock down the leg. Because the sciatic nerve is involved, you may also feel:

• Burning, tingling, pins and needles

• Altered sensation or numbness

• Loss of strength/power in the leg

A common cause is a disc problem (slipped/herniated/prolapsed), though there are other reasons too.

Two phases to think about: acute vs. chronic

1) Acute phase (roughly the first 4 weeks)

Your body is in a rapid healing phase. Support it by:

• Keep gently active (no bed rest). Change positions regularly: short spells of lying, sitting, and little walks—within your pain tolerance.

• Don’t overdo it: skip gym workouts, heavy stretches, or intense yoga/Pilates right now.

• Medication can help you sleep and settle pain early on—speak to your GP or pharmacist, especially if pain is 8–9/10.

• Consider a lumbar support belt when you’re out and about (not for resting).

• Gentle hands-on care (physio/osteopathy/chiropractic/massage/acupuncture) from someone who understands sciatica can support tissues and guide you.

  Find out more how Osteopathy can help your sciatica pain

• Rest matters: tell family/work you’ll need extra rest while your body heals.

Some people improve within this phase just with the above support.

2) Chronic/persistent phase (beyond ~4 weeks)

If pain persists past four weeks (or power is reducing), it’s time to get a diagnosis:

Find out more about solutions if you have a Herniated disc

• MRI gives a clear picture so you can have a precise plan. 

• A spinal consultant (orthopaedic or neurosurgeon) will likely want an MRI and may suggest a pathway of conservative care, injections, or surgery—depending on your case.

  

Understanding the options (so you can choose well)

Conservative care (move well, calm the nerve, strengthen)

If you’ve already tried standard physiotherapy/chiropractic and you’re still stuck, consider the next steps below. (Keep gentle activity and pacing going either way.)

Spinal injections

• Aim to reduce inflammation around the nerve so you can get on with rehab.

• Helpful for some; results vary (often around “half of people” feel significant relief).

• Good for calming things down quickly, but not a long-term fix on its own.

Surgery (last resort for most)

• Your consultant will explain the procedure (e.g., discectomy or decompression) and your individual chances of success.

• Often quoted success rates can be high in selected cases, but surgery is not the first step for most people.

Specialist Treatment for your disc issue:

Once we have a clear diagnosis specialist treatments including IDD therapy for a disc injury and Shockwave therapy for inflamed tissue (or sometimes both!) can be highly effective a healing your injury. 

IDD Therapy (non-surgical spinal decompression)  Find out how IDD Therapy can help with sciatica and disc injuries

If you want to stay non-invasive (avoid injections/surgery), IDD Therapy (Intervertebral Disc Decompression) is a specialist option we use in clinic:

• You lie comfortably supported while the computer-controlled table gently stretches the specific spinal level shown on your MRI.

• It adds a precise oscillation (“wiggle”) that helps bring fluid and nutrients back into the disc—think of it like pumping up a tyre.

• The aim is to lower pressure on the disc/nerve, calm irritation, and help the body re-absorb the bulge over a course of treatments.

• In our clinic we typically see strong effectiveness for the right cases, comparable to more invasive routes—without needles or surgery.

Bottom line: Acute phase—support and settle. Persistent phase—get an MRI and a plan. From there, choose the least invasive option likely to help your specific diagnosis.

IDD Therapy treatment for Sciatica and Spinal Disc injuries

 

 

Shockwave Therapy 

Your MRI and our examination will indicate if your tissues are inflamed and if Shockwave therapy will help with pain reduction and symptom relief. It is particularly effective on chronic, stiff backs to create a healing response. Often a short course 4-6 sessions can make a significant difference to you. Many of our patients have benefitted from a combination approach of IDD therapy and Shockwave therapy and we can guide you what would work best for you. Find out more about Shockwave therapy

A simple action plan for your sciatica:

1. Early weeks: keep gently active, pace yourself, and get sleep on track.

2. If it persists: arrange an MRI and speak with a spine-aware clinician. You can use our rapid MRI referral (£295 in Vista currently) - I'll do the referral and explain your results fully. It normally takes days to 1 week. 

3. Pick your path: conservative care ± injection, consider IDD Therapy and Shockwave specialist treatments, or surgical opinion if indicated.

4. Get a plan you trust—it’s the fastest way out of frustration.

If you’re living in Hertfordshire or Bedfordshire and struggling with the pain of a herniated, slipped, or bulging disc, IDD Therapy could be the solution that helps you avoid surgery and get back to living

👉 Click on the link before to find a solution to your pain - either a friendly expect call for more information or if you're ready to book, here's our diary: