Sciatica Treatment in Somersham, Serving Huntingdon, St Ives & Cambridgeshire
Sciatica is one of the most debilitating forms of back-related pain, causing pain, numbness, tingling and weakness that travels from the lower back through the buttock and down the leg, sometimes reaching as far as the foot. At Harding Physiotherapy in Somersham, our HCPC-registered physiotherapists and SST-registered sports therapist provide evidence-based assessment and treatment for sciatica, guided by NICE CKS. We serve patients from Huntingdon, St Ives, Ramsey, Chatteris, Warboys, Willingham, Earith and Bluntisham.
What Is Sciatica? Causes & Symptoms
Sciatica refers to pain that originates in the lumbar spine and travels along the path of the sciatic nerve – the longest nerve in the body. It is most commonly caused by: lumbar disc herniation or disc bulge compressing a nerve root, lumbar spinal stenosis, piriformis syndrome (where the piriformis muscle irritates the sciatic nerve), degenerative disc or facet joint disease, and spondylolisthesis. Symptoms typically include: sharp, burning or shooting pain from the lower back into the buttock, thigh, calf or foot, pins and needles or numbness in the leg or foot, and muscle weakness in the affected leg. Bilateral sciatica or symptoms including bowel/bladder dysfunction require urgent medical review (cauda equina syndrome).
How We Treat Sciatica at Harding Physiotherapy
Treatment follows NICE CKS and is personalised to your clinical presentation. Following a thorough lumbar spine and neurological assessment, treatment may include:
Manual therapy using Maitland and McKenzie lumbar techniques to reduce disc pressure and decompress the affected nerve root
Neural mobilisation (nerve flossing) techniques to improve sciatic nerve mobility and reduce neural tension
Soft tissue techniques to reduce paraspinal and piriformis muscle spasm
Individualised lumbar stabilisation and core strengthening programme
Education and self-management strategies including positions of relief and activity modification
Referral guidance for cases requiring MRI, spinal injection or surgical opinion
If you are suffering from sciatica right now, don’t wait for it to get worse. Call us on 01487 843844 or book online at www.hardingphysiotherapy.co.uk to arrange your assessment.
When to Seek Urgent Medical Attention
Important: If you experience any of the following, seek emergency medical attention immediately as these may indicate cauda equina syndrome – a medical emergency: loss of bladder or bowel control, saddle anaesthesia (numbness in the groin or inner thigh area), progressive neurological weakness in both legs, or severe worsening of symptoms. Do not wait for a physiotherapy appointment if you have any of these symptoms.
Related Conditions
Sciatica is closely related to back pain and trapped nerve conditions — in many cases, these conditions overlap or occur together. If your sciatica has become chronic or recurrent, our Pilates classes can help you build the core strength and flexibility needed for long-term recovery.
Book Your Sciatica Appointment
Ready to get to the root of your sciatica? Our physiotherapy team in Somersham, Huntingdon will carry out a thorough assessment and create a personalised treatment plan to reduce your pain and get you moving again.
Physiotherapy sessions are priced at £60–£65 for 30 minutes, with a block of 10 sessions available from £510. We are recognised by AVIVA, BUPA, Vitality, WPA and Healix — please contact us before booking to confirm coverage with your specific insurer, as different clinicians are registered with different providers.
Call us on 01487 843844, email info@hardingphysiotherapy.co.uk. We are based at Harding Physiotherapy, 2 West Newlands, Somersham, Huntingdon, PE28 3EB — with free onsite parking and a bus stop a 10-minute walk away on Somersham High Street.