That electric, shooting pain from your lower back down the leg has a name every doctor knows: sciatica. It can be frightening — but here is what matters: the vast majority of sciatica cases improve within weeks with active, guided rehabilitation. No surgery, no endless bed rest.
What is sciatica?
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body, running from the lumbar spine through the buttock and down the back of each leg. Sciatica means this pathway is irritated or compressed — most often by a bulging or herniated disc in the lower back pressing on a nerve root.
Typical symptoms
- pain starting in the lower back or buttock and travelling down one leg;
- tingling or numbness in the calf, heel or toes;
- pain that worsens when sitting, bending, coughing or sneezing;
- occasionally weakness — the foot “gives way” or you can’t rise onto your toes.
Do you need surgery for sciatica?
Almost always: no. International clinical guidelines recommend active sciatica treatment — guided movement, manual therapy and progressive exercise — as the first line. Surgery is reserved for severe or progressive nerve deficits, or pain that fails months of well-conducted conservative care.
Sciatica treatment at Medicine Park, Bucharest
We are an English-speaking physiotherapy and rehabilitation clinic in Sector 1, Bucharest, working with expats and international patients every week. Your plan starts with a free first assessment — we identify the irritated level, rule out red flags, and explain everything in plain English. Treatment may combine:
- manual therapy, chiropractic and osteopathic techniques — restoring spinal mobility and easing pressure on the nerve;
- targeted exercise therapy — directional-preference (McKenzie) work, then core and hip strengthening;
- dry needling — releasing the piriformis and tight lumbar muscles;
- practical coaching — how to sit, sleep and lift while you recover.
How long does recovery take?
Most patients feel meaningful relief within 4–6 weeks; cases with persistent numbness may need 2–3 months. We track strength and sensation objectively — not just pain — and adjust your plan as you progress.
When to seek help
Book an assessment if leg pain persists beyond a few days or keeps returning. Seek urgent medical care if you develop marked leg weakness, numbness in the saddle area, or loss of bladder or bowel control — rare, but emergencies.
No referral needed. Call 0727 464 464 or book your free first assessment online — we confirm your appointment the same day.
