If you get sciatica, there's a chance that it could happen again at some point.

The symptoms of sciatica usually affect your bottom and the back of one leg, often including your foot and toes.

You may feel:

• a sharp, burning pain down the back of the leg
• tingling – like pins and needles
• numbness
• weakness

Your symptoms may come on suddenly but they can also start slowly. The pain may be worse when moving, sneezing or coughing.

You may also have back pain, but it's not usually as bad as the pain in your leg.

You probably do not have sciatica if you only have back pain.

Sciatica usually gets better in a few weeks to a few months, but it can sometimes last longer. It can also return if you've had it before.

To help relieve your pain and speed up recovery:

See a GP if:

Go to A&E or call 999 if you:

If you have sciatica, a GP may:

• suggest exercises and stretches
• prescribe painkillers

They might also refer you for:

• physiotherapy – including exercise advice and techniques like massage (manual therapy)
• psychological support – to help you cope with the pain

Physiotherapy is free of charge on the NHS throughout the UK, but waiting times can be long. You can also get it privately.

Other treatments for sciatica

If your pain is severe and treatments from a GP have not helped, they may refer you to a hospital specialist for:

• a procedure to seal off some of the nerves in your back so they stop sending pain signals (radiofrequency denervation)
• a painkilling injection such as an epidural to stop you feeling pain
• surgery – an operation called decompression surgery can sometimes help relieve sciatica

Self-refer for treatment

If you have sciatica, you might be able to refer yourself directly to services for help with your condition without seeing a GP.

To find out if there are any services in your area:

• ask the reception staff at your GP surgery
• check your GP surgery's website
• contact your local integrated care board (ICB)
• search online for NHS treatment for sciatica near you

If you have sciatica, or have had it in the past, there's a chance that you could get it again. But there are some things you can do to help the pain:

Sciatica happens when something presses or rubs on the sciatic nerve.

Causes include:

• a slipped disc, when a soft cushion of tissue between the bones in your spine pushes out – this is the most common cause of sciatica and is more likely to happen as you get older
• spinal stenosis – narrowing of the part of your spine where nerves pass through
• spondylolisthesis – when one of the bones in your spine slips out of position
• a back injury