- 3 Blackberry Court, Walnut Tree, Milton Keynes, MK7 7PB
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Sciatica is pain that radiates from the lower back, through the buttocks and down the back of the leg – following the course of the sciatic nerve. It usually affects only one side of the body. Sciatica often occurs due to a herniated disc or narrowing of the spinal canal/foramen, causing compression on the nerve. It is commonly associated with a prolapsed disc, also known as a slipped disc.
Sciatica is caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve often but not always from a slipped (prolapsed) disc. The disc can be bulging or fully prolapsed, either way this causes pressure on the nerves and subsequent irritation.
Symptoms include pain, tingling, numbness in the buttock, back of the thigh, calf, foot and toes. The pain may not extend this far. It can become worse on coughing or sneezing and after prolonged sitting. You should seek urgent medical care if you have sudden, severe pain in your low back or leg and numbness or muscle weakness in your leg or if you have trouble controlling your bowels or bladder.
There will be a physical examination initially, where reflexes and muscle strength tests will be performed. If required, you may be sent for further diagnostic imaging like MRI scan, however this is not always required.
You can see any of our practitioners for most conditions but check out their profiles for more information and specific interests. If physical therapy does not improve the pain you can see one of our MSK or pain management doctors for a spinal injection which can reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
Our MSK or Pain Management doctors will examine you and decide on the best injection for the underlying cause of your sciatica. We offer a variety of injections at Blackberry Clinic including epidurals and nerve root block injections.
Check out our services pages to find out more about these therapies. Practitioners are trained to treat most conditions but do this in slightly different ways. They work together to find the best treatment most suited to your condition.
At Blackberry Clinic we pride ourselves on diagnosis and treatment of sciatica with a combined approach, all under one roof.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that Lorena has changed my life. Four months ago, having been diagnosed as having “severe, acute and chronic” disc degeneration I genuinely thought I was facing a life of disability (I am 49).
Lorena has re-taught me how to move my body and how to think about what muscles I engage to a point that I am now running, swimming and doing pilates again and have almost full flexibility in my spine. It almost feels like Lorena can see through your skin to your muscles, so profound is her understanding of how the body moves.
After a course of Prolotherapy my back pain has gone and I live a normal life. I can’t thank Dr Petrides enough for giving me back my quality of life
Just wanted to say please pass my thanks to my osteopath, I came yesterday with terrible back and shoulder pain and today I am pain free, am well delighted as had a day planned with friends was worried I wouldn’t enjoy, please pass my thanks onto her.
Following treatment at Blackberry Clinic, Milton Keynes my back pain improved and I could play for my country again
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