Getting help for sciatica

I suffer from sciatica. What help is available for this condition? 

Sciatica – pain related to the sciatic nerve in the lower back, buttocks, and thighs – is generally related to the nerve becoming pinched due to issues such as poor posture, heavy lifting, or a shift in the spine, such as during pregnancy.

Official advice in France is to seek relief initially by lying on your back with legs elevated, and relaxing the contracted muscles using heat, such as warm baths or a heat pad, taking care not to scald yourself. Paracetamol can also help as you resume your normal activities.

If, however, the pain does not improve in a few days, you should consult your GP. GPs will generally recommend rest, and taking care not to carry out activities that will aggravate your sciatica. 

Prescribed treatments may include anti-inflammatories, painkillers, or muscle relaxants, and you might be prescribed physiotherapy (kiné) sessions. A physiotherapist can show you exercises to stretch affected muscles, targeting particular areas.

If necessary, your GP might refer you to a rheumatologist who can offer an infiltration, a local corticosteroid injection to relieve pain. Only a minority of cases require an operation. If this is your case, it is usually because your sciatica has been caused by a damaged spinal disc pressing down on the underlying nerve – known as a slipped disc. You might need lumbar decompression surgery to treat the damaged disc, which might even be possible as an outpatient.

You will need six weeks’ convalescence, and can normally resume physical activity after three months.