A true story from my practice, shared anonymously, about a corporate professional and a pain that travelled down his leg.
Author :- Dr Shikha Chadha (PT)
Mr. Kabir (name changed) was a 39-year-old corporate employee. He did not come to a clinic. He booked a physiotherapy session at home, which is how many busy professionals prefer to get help. By the time I reached his door, he was already tired of the pain, and tired of finding time to deal with it.
What Is Sciatica?
I started the way I always do, with a conversation. I asked about his pain: where it began, where it travelled, what made it worse and what eased it.
Sciatica is the name people often give to pain that starts in the lower back or buttock and runs down the leg. But the same kind of pain can come from more than one condition, so a name alone does not tell me what is going on. I asked him about his work, his sleep and his daily habits, and I made notes on his lifestyle.
What Stood Out: Sitting, Weight and Lifestyle
Two things stood out. He was carrying extra weight, and he spent long hours sitting. Long days at a desk, followed by a commute and an evening on the sofa, are the normal routine of many corporate employees. Sitting for hours can leave the lower back and hips stiff and loaded, and extra body weight adds to that load. I was careful to raise this kindly. It was not a criticism. It was part of the picture, and part of what he could change.
That is why I counselled him about his lifestyle and weight management, not only about his pain. When people look for sciatica pain treatment, they often hope for one quick fix, a tablet, a machine or a single magic exercise. In my experience, lasting relief usually comes from treating the pain and from changing the habits that keep feeding it. I explained this to him in simple terms, without promising a particular result or a deadline.
How Physiotherapy Helped
His physiotherapy session itself was built around the findings. It included:
• nerve gliding exercises, which are gentle movements designed to help the irritated nerve slide more freely
• TENS, a modality that delivers mild electrical stimulation and can help ease pain
• an exercise protocol
• lifestyle modifications for his workday, such as changing position regularly instead of sitting for long stretches
This is the general idea behind good physiotherapy for back pain: a careful assessment, then graded activity that starts at a level the body can handle, mobility work, and strengthening chosen for the individual, all adjusted as the person responds.
Are Sciatica Exercises at Home Suitable for Everyone?
Like most people, Mr. Kabir asked whether he could simply do sciatica exercises from the internet at home. It is a fair question, and my honest answer is: not blindly. Home exercises are not suitable for everyone in the same way. A movement that eases one person's leg pain can aggravate another person's, and even a gentle exercise like a nerve glide needs to be matched to the person and the stage of the problem.
So the rule I gave him is the one I give everyone:
• Do the exercises you have been shown for your condition.
• Keep them within a comfortable range.
• Stop if they significantly worsen your symptoms, especially if the pain spreads further down the leg or your tingling gets stronger. Then tell your physiotherapist so the plan can be changed.
When to See a Doctor
I also made sure he knew when this is no longer a physiotherapy question.
SEEK URGENT HELP If you ever have new or worsening weakness in a leg, numbness around the groin or saddle area, or any change in your bladder or bowel control, seek urgent medical care immediately. Those are not signs to watch at home.
And if your symptoms are persistent, severe or getting worse, even without those warning signs, have a doctor review them rather than waiting it out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is sciatica?
Sciatica is the name people often give to pain that starts in the lower back or buttock and runs down the leg. The same kind of pain can come from more than one condition, so a name alone does not explain what is going on. An assessment is needed to find out.
Q: Can I do sciatica exercises at home?
Not blindly. A movement that eases one person's leg pain can aggravate another person's, and even a gentle exercise like a nerve glide needs to be matched to the person and the stage of the problem. Do the exercises you have been shown, keep them within a comfortable range, and stop if they significantly worsen your symptoms.
Q: What does physiotherapy include for sciatica pain treatment?
It starts with a careful assessment, then graded activity that begins at a level the body can handle, mobility work, and strengthening chosen for the individual. For Mr. Kabir it also included nerve gliding exercises, TENS, an exercise protocol and changes to his workday habits.
Q: Can long hours of sitting affect sciatica?
Sitting for hours can leave the lower back and hips stiff and loaded, and extra body weight adds to that load. For Mr. Kabir, long hours of sitting were part of the picture, and part of what he could change.
Q: When should I seek urgent care?
Seek urgent medical care for new or worsening weakness in a leg, numbness around the groin or saddle area, or any change in bladder or bowel control. Persistent, severe or worsening symptoms also need a doctor's review.
Conclusion
The lesson I take from Mr. Kabir's story is simple. Pain that runs down the leg is not just a back problem, and it is not only a medical problem. It is also a lifestyle problem, a movement problem and an attention problem.
If you are sitting for most of your day and your back and leg have started complaining, do not wait for it to become unbearable. Get assessed, learn what is driving your pain, and let a plan be built around you.
If you would like help, book an assessment, in the clinic or at home, and we will work out the right next step for you. HealDoor offers physiotherapy at home and at its Rohini West clinic.
