Acupuncture for Sciatica in Wolverhampton and Bideford
Sciatica can make sitting, walking, driving and sleeping painful, and the sharp or burning pain down your leg can be exhausting. Acupuncture may help ease the pain and tension in your lower back, buttock and leg, and help you move more comfortably.
I treat patients with sciatica at Wednesfield Therapy Centre in Wolverhampton and Hive Health & Well-Being in Bideford, North Devon, including people with long-standing and severe pain.
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is pain caused by irritation or pressure on the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back through your buttock and down the back of each leg. It usually affects one side.
Common symptoms include:
Pain that travels from the lower back or buttock down the leg, sometimes into the foot
Sharp, shooting or burning pain
Tingling or pins and needles in the leg or foot
Numbness or weakness in the leg
Pain that gets worse when sitting, bending, coughing or sneezing
Sciatica is often caused by a bulging or slipped disc in the lower back, but it can also come from narrowing around the nerves or tight muscles in the buttock. Many cases improve within a few weeks, but for some people the pain lasts longer or keeps coming back.
When to see a doctor first
Some symptoms need medical care straight away. Go to A&E or call 999 if you have sciatica and:
Numbness around your genitals, buttocks or inner thighs
Loss of bladder or bowel control, or difficulty passing urine
Sciatica in both legs at the same time
Weakness in your legs that is getting worse, or difficulty lifting your foot
See your GP before booking if your sciatica follows a fall or injury, comes with a fever or unexplained weight loss, or keeps getting worse.
Sciatica and back pain
Sciatica usually starts in the lower back, even when most of the pain is in the leg. Many people have both back pain and sciatica, and treating the lower back is often an important part of easing the leg pain. You can read more on my back pain page.
How acupuncture may help sciatica
Acupuncture may help relax tight muscles in the lower back and buttock, improve circulation and reduce pain signals, which can ease the pressure and pain along the nerve and make moving easier.
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, the pathway of sciatica follows meridians that run from the lower back down the legs. Treatment aims to ease the flow along these pathways and restore movement.
How I treat sciatica
Consultation. Your first appointment starts with a conversation about your pain, when it started and what makes it better or worse. I will also look at how you move, such as bending, standing up from a chair and walking.
Distal acupuncture. I often place needles away from the painful area, for example on the hands or arms. While they are in place, I will ask you to gently move, bend, stand or walk, so we can check how your back and leg respond. Many people notice a change in pain or movement during the session itself.
Local treatment. Where it suits you, I may also place needles in the lower back, buttock or leg.
Laser acupuncture. If you would prefer to avoid needles, laser acupuncture is a gentle, needle-free option.
Advice. I will also give you practical advice on staying active, sitting and sleeping positions, and gentle movements to support your recovery between sessions.
You can read more about how a treatment works on my acupuncture page.
Working alongside your other care
Acupuncture can be used alongside care from your GP, physiotherapist, osteopath or chiropractor, and alongside pain medication. Please keep following their advice, and do not stop or change any medication without speaking to your doctor.
How many sessions will I need?
Every case is different. It depends on how long you have had sciatica and what is causing it. I will review your progress at each appointment and talk you through a suggested treatment plan, so you always know what to expect.
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Acupuncture is generally not painful. The needles are very fine, much thinner than injection needles.
You may feel a brief tingle, warmth or dull ache as a needle goes in, and most people find treatment relaxing.
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It varies. Some people notice a change in pain or movement during their first session, while others need a few sessions.
Sciatica you have had for a long time usually takes longer to improve.
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Not always. I often use points on the hands or arms, which lets you move your back and leg during treatment. Where it helps,
I may also use points on the lower back, buttock or leg.
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Acupuncture can’t repair a disc, but it may help ease the pain and muscle tension that come with it.
If you have numbness or weakness in your legs that is getting worse, please see your GP first.
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Sitting puts more pressure on the discs and nerves in your lower back, and tight muscles in the buttock can press on the nerve.
I can give you advice on how to sit more comfortably and how often to take breaks.
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Staying as active as you comfortably can usually helps recovery, while long periods of bed rest can make things worse.
I will give you advice on movements that suit your pain.
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Yes, sciatica can return, especially if the cause in the lower back hasn’t settled.
Treatment, together with advice on movement and posture, may help you manage future flare-ups.
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When performed by a trained practitioner using sterile, single-use needles, acupuncture is considered a safe treatment.
Minor effects such as slight bruising or tiredness are possible.
Please tell me about any medical conditions, medication or pregnancy before treatment.
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Most people feel relaxed afterwards. Some feel a little tired or have mild soreness for a day, and occasionally pain feels briefly worse before it improves.
This is normal and usually settles quickly.
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No. You can book directly.
If you have had scans or seen a specialist, please bring any reports to your first appointment.
Sciatica FAQs
Book sciatica treatment in Wolverhampton or Bideford
If sciatica is affecting your daily life, I’d be glad to help you find out whether acupuncture could make a difference. Book a free online consultation, or see my prices.