Menu

Sciatica treatment Perth

Struggling with shooting leg pain? It could be sciatica

Call Pain Specialists Perth:

(08) 6478 7805

Request an appointment online
Sciatica treatment Perth
Table of Contents

Sciatica treatment Perth

What is causing sciatica and how can Pain Specialists WA help?

Sciatica treatment Perth

If you’ve ever felt a sharp, zapping pain shoot down your leg, you’re not alone. That classic ‘electric shock’ feeling often starts in the lower back or buttock and travels down one side. It can make sitting, standing, or even putting your socks on a real challenge.

In plain terms, sciatica means a nerve in your lower back, usually the sciatic nerve, is being irritated, often by a bulging disc. Most of the time, your body can settle the inflammation and the disc bulge on its own; it just needs a bit of time and the right conditions to do so.

“But in some cases, the nerve becomes too irritated or compressed for the pain to ease up naturally. That’s when we step in; to help manage the pain, reduce the inflammation, and support your body in healing without things spiralling into long-term trouble.” 

Dr Reza Feizerfan
Dr Reza Feizerfan
Sciatica Specialist Perth

So what actually causes sciatica?

The most common cause is a disc bulge in your lower back. Picture the discs in your spine like cushions between your bones. When one of those cushions bulges out, it can press on the nearby nerve and trigger that pain down your leg. Sometimes it’s a sharp jolt; sometimes it’s more of a dull ache or pins and needles.

Other things that can irritate the sciatic nerve include:

  • Spinal stenosis: This means the space around your nerves is getting narrower, often as we get older.
  • Spondylolisthesis:When one vertebra slips out of place and rubs the nerve.
  • Piriformis syndrome: A deep muscle in your buttock tightens up and squashes the nerve.
  • Injury or trauma: A fall or accident can inflame or press on the nerve, too.

No matter the cause, sciatica tends to follow the same annoying pattern: pain that shoots or travels from your lower back or bottom, down your leg, sometimes into your foot.

What does sciatica feel like?

It’s not always easy to explain, but most people describe:

  • A sharp or electric shock feeling down the leg
  • Numbness that can feel like your leg has ‘fallen asleep’
  • Tingling or a fizzing, prickly sensation, often described as pins and needles
  • A heavy, tired feeling in one leg
  • Pain that gets worse with sitting, bending, coughing or even just sneezing

Some people can walk through it. Others find it stops them in their tracks. And while some bouts last only a few weeks, others can drag on if the nerve stays irritated.

Sciatica treatment and management

Assessing and managing sciatica

Sciatica treatment Perth

We always start by listening to your story. Then we do a proper check-up and, if needed, a scan like an MRI. That helps us figure out if it’s really sciatica and what’s behind it.

In many cases, we manage sciatica without any invasive treatment. The goal is simple: give your body the best chance to heal while keeping your pain and function under control.

We might recommend:

  • Targeted physiotherapy to help with posture and strengthen the muscles that support your spine
  • Pain relief such as nerve pain medications
  • Ice packs, hydrotherapy
  • Gentle movement and strecthes instead of bed rest

But when the pain is severe, ongoing or starting to affect your function we may consider other options.

Sciatica and treatment

Injections to calm the nerve

Pain-relief injections can offer a break from the worst of the pain. They’re not magic, and they’re not a cure, but they create a window of relief. That window helps you get moving again and start rehab properly. At Pain Specialists Perth, the most common injections we use for sciatica are:

Nerve root sleeve injection

This targets the exact nerve that’s being pinched. A bit of local anaesthetic and a steroid are used to reduce inflammation right at the source.

Epidural injections

This goes into the space around the spinal nerves. It helps reduce swelling and inflammation and is often used when more than one nerve is affected or the narrowing is more inside the spinal canal.

Dorsal root ganglion pulsed rhizotomy

This is a more advanced option. It uses gentle electrical pulses to calm the nerve down. It can be a good option when treatments haven’t worked.
“Injections give us a chance to settle the nerve and help you move forward. They’re not the whole answer, but they often open the door to the next stage of recovery.”
Dr Reza Feizerfan
Dr Reza Feizerfan
Sciatica Specialist Perth

What about sciatica surgery?

Sciatica surgery is rarely the first option. But there are times when it’s necessary. If the nerve is badly compressed and causing muscle weakness, or if pain isn’t getting better despite trying everything else, then surgery might be an option.

The aim of surgery is to relieve pressure on the nerve, often by trimming the disc or widening the nerve space. It’s something we talk through carefully if and when it’s needed.

Sciatica specialist Perth

Get help

Living with sciatica can wear you down. It affects your sleep, your work, even how you tie your shoes. If you’ve had enough of pushing through the pain, it might be time to see someone who deals with this kind of thing every day.

At Pain Specialists Perth, we take a full look at what’s going on, and then guide you through the right treatment options based on your situation.

Get in touch
Book appointment