What is sciatica, and what are the symptoms?
Sciatica refers to pain caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back through your buttocks and down the legs. Symptoms may include:
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Sharp, shooting pain down the leg
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Numbness or tingling in the leg or foot
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Pain worsened by sitting, coughing, or bending
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Weakness in the leg or foot
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One-sided lower back pain with radiating symptoms
What are the usual causes of sciatica?
Common causes include:
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Slipped or bulging discs (herniated disc)
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Degenerative disc disease
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Spinal stenosis
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Piriformis syndrome
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Prolonged sitting or poor posture
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Lifting injuries
What are standard treatments for sciatica?
Conventional treatment options often include:
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Painkillers, anti-inflammatories, or nerve medications
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Rest and stretching exercises
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Physiotherapy for strengthening and posture
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Epidural steroid injections
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Surgery (in severe cases)
What are the limitations of common treatments?
Patients often report:
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Medications provide short-term relief but don’t fix the root problem
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Stretching or exercise may worsen pain in acute stages
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Injections may wear off or carry risks
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Surgery is invasive and not always necessary
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Delays in identifying the cause can lead to prolonged suffering
How does The Pain Relief Practice treat sciatica differently?
We focus on non-invasive, root-cause-focused care, especially for patients who want to avoid surgery or long-term meds.
Our approach includes:
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Computerized spinal decompression: Gently relieves nerve pressure from herniated or degenerative discs.
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Shockwave therapy (from $180/session): Reduces muscle tightness and inflammation along the sciatic path.
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Pioneered HotHeal Therapy Protocol: Combines manual release techniques and non-invasive radiofrequency to relieve nerve irritation and muscular compression.
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Pioneered Home Therapy Protocol: Exclusive to our clinic, this protocol uses FDA-approved PEMF therapy, Regenerix Gold, and Korean transdermal technology to support recovery at home — ideal for chronic or recurrent sciatica.
Is this suitable for severe or chronic sciatica?
Yes. Our therapies are suitable for:
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Acute sciatica due to disc bulge
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Chronic sciatic nerve irritation
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Post-surgical flare-ups
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Recurrent nerve pain from prolonged sitting or activity
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Patients with degenerative spine changes
Treatments are safe, customizable, and well tolerated by most patients.
When is surgery necessary for sciatica?
Surgery may be considered if:
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There’s progressive muscle weakness
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Symptoms don’t improve after months of therapy
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There’s loss of bladder or bowel control (emergency)
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Imaging shows severe compression not responding to conservative care
We regularly provide second opinions for patients unsure about surgery or those who didn’t improve after standard treatments.
Why do patients with sciatica choose The Pain Relief Practice?
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Practice since 2007 at Shaw House, Orchard
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Pioneers of the HotHeal and Home Therapy Protocols
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Seen patients from over 20 countries
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Trusted by Singapore’s national athletes
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Affordable shockwave from $180 (often $300+ elsewhere)
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Techniques exported to Indonesia and taught internationally
