Sciatica Treatment in Bedford
Osteopathy can be very beneficial in managing sciatic pain. In our Bedford clinic, we have many years of experience providing drug-free noninvasive sciatic therapy to many patients.
What is sciatica and how do I know if I have it?
Sciatic pain is caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve. It is often felt as excruciating pain down the back of the leg and can sometimes reach as far as the foot. Pins and needles and/or loss of the ability to feel touch on the surface of the skin on the calf or foot can also be a sign of sciatica. Sciatica often reoccurs and it’s a condition that seems to get worse on each occasion.
Sciatica Diagnosis
To diagnose sciatica, our osteopath will take a thorough medical history, physical and neurological assessment. They will also aim to understand why in particular YOUR sciatic nerve is irritated. Often it can be pressure from a bulging disc or from osteoarthritic changes within the spine.
Sciatica Treatment
The key aim of treatment in our Bedford clinic will be to relieve pressure on the nerve. Often this is around the area of pain but can also include areas like your upper back and neck.
Frequently Asked Questions
At our clinic we provide an initial consultation for £60 (around 45 minutes to an hour), with follow up sessions (30-40 minutes) for £50. We have prepared a blog post detailing our costs and what to expect from your treatment.
We have an online booking system which allows you to quickly and easily book either your initial consultation or a follow-up appointment. Click here to book an appointment.
As with any medical examination, you will probably be asked to undress to your underwear, so please wear something you are comfortable in.
Yes – if you wish, you can have someone present throughout your consultation and treatment.
Some soft tissue treatment may cause discomfort during treatment. During your appointment, we will tell you what to expect and will want you to let us know if you are in pain. You may feel stiff or sore after treatment. This is a normal, healthy response to the treatment.
No. Osteopaths tend to treat a wider range of conditions, whereas Chiropractors mainly focus on muscle and joint pain. Check out our blog post which discusses the similarities and differences between an Osteopath and a Chiropractor.
A first appointment generally lasts 45 minutes. In this time your osteopath will ask questions about your general health, listen to your concerns about your case, and ask about your medical history and background.
Your osteopath will examine you, you may be asked to remove some of your clothing. You will be asked to make simple movements and stretches to enable your osteopath to observe your mobility and assess your posture. Examination of the health of your joints, ligaments and tissues though touch/palpation will enable your osteopath to diagnose any issues.
Your osteopath will explain their findings to you and will discuss a personalized treatment plan that is tailored to you. They will explain the benefits and risks of the treatment that they recommend, and the number of sessions required to help improve how you feel.
You will most likely receive some treatment at your initial session. This will involve manipulation of your spine and joints, and also massage of soft tissues. You will have the opportunity to ask questions at any time and feedback on your treatmen
