Is That Leg Pain Actually Sciatica? Here's What You Need to Know

You're sitting at your desk in Sydney CBD, and you feel it again — that nagging ache running from your lower back down into your leg. Maybe it's sharp. Maybe it's more of a burn. Maybe your foot keeps going numb for no obvious reason.

If this sounds familiar, there's a good chance you're dealing with sciatica. It's one of the most commonly misunderstood conditions we see at Complete City Health — and one of the most treatable.

What Exactly Is Sciatica? Sciatica isn't a diagnosis on its own — it's a symptom. It refers to pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness that travels along the sciatic nerve — the longest nerve in the body, running from your lower back through your buttock and down each leg. The most common culprit is a bulging or herniated disc pressing on a nerve root.

How Does a Disc End Up Pressing on the Nerve? Spinal discs act as shock absorbers between vertebrae. Over time — especially with long hours of sitting — the outer layer weakens, allowing the inner material to push outward and compress nearby nerves.

What Does Sciatica Feel Like? One-sided shooting or burning leg pain, tingling or numbness in the calf or foot, weakness in the leg, and pain that worsens after sitting. If this sounds familiar, it's worth getting assessed.

How Spinal Decompression Therapy Helps Spinal Decompression gently creates negative pressure within the disc, helping retract bulging material away from the nerve, drawing healing fluids back in, and reducing inflammation — comfortably, non-invasively, with no downtime.

When Should You Get It Checked? Sooner rather than later. Sciatica left untreated can become more persistent. If leg pain has been around for more than a week or two, book in for an assessment