Think You’ve Had Sciatica for Months? It Probably Isn’t Actually Sciatica

Many people come into the clinic saying,

“I’ve had sciatica for months.”

But here’s something important:

If your pain has been constant for many months, it’s probably not true sciatica.

That’s not your fault. Sciatica is one of the most commonly misunderstood and misused terms when it comes to leg pain.

Let’s break it down.

What Is True Sciatica?

True sciatica refers to irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, most commonly from a lumbar disc bulge or disc herniation in the lower back.

Typical symptoms include:

• Pain radiating from the lower back into the buttock and down the leg

• Pain that often travels below the knee

• Possible numbness or tingling

• Sometimes weakness in the leg

This is called lumbar radiculopathy — meaning the nerve root itself is irritated.

How Long Does Sciatica Normally Last?

Research consistently shows:

• Most acute sciatica improves within 3–6 weeks

• Some cases can last up to 12 weeks (3 months)

• Recurring episodes can happen

• Persistent, constant symptoms beyond this are less common

That means if you’ve had ongoing “sciatica” for many months without meaningful improvement, it raises an important question:

Is it really sciatica?

Why Sciatica Is Commonly Misdiagnosed

“Sciatica” is often used as a catch-all term for:

• Buttock pain

• Leg pain

• Hamstring tightness

• Hip pain

• Glute pain

But not all leg pain is nerve pain.

In fact, many cases of long-standing “sciatica” are actually coming from:

1️⃣ The Hip Joint

Hip joint irritation can refer pain into the buttock and down the thigh, closely mimicking sciatica.

2️⃣ Gluteal Tendons or Deep Hip Muscles

These structures can create pain patterns that feel identical to nerve pain.

3️⃣ The Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ)

SIJ dysfunction can cause unilateral buttock and leg discomfort that’s often labelled as sciatica.

4️⃣ Persistent Mechanical Lower Back Pain

Sometimes the pain source is local to the spine — without true nerve compression.

Why This Matters

If you’ve been treating something as sciatica for months — stretching your hamstrings, nerve gliding, resting — but it hasn’t improved…

You may be treating the wrong problem.

And when the diagnosis is wrong, the treatment won’t fully work.

Getting clarity on the true source of your pain changes everything:

• The right exercises

• The right loading program

• The right manual therapy approach

• The right recovery timeline

When Should You Be Concerned?

While most sciatica improves naturally, you should seek assessment if you have:

• Progressive leg weakness

• Loss of bladder or bowel control (urgent medical attention required)

• Severe worsening neurological symptoms

For persistent but stable pain, a proper physiotherapy assessment can usually clarify the source.

The Takeaway

If you think you’ve had sciatica for many months…

It probably isn’t actually sciatica.

True sciatic nerve irritation usually improves within weeks to a few months. Persistent symptoms are often due to hip, gluteal, pelvic, or mechanical back issues that mimic nerve pain.

The good news?

Once we identify the real cause, treatment becomes far more effective.

Need Help With Ongoing Sciatica?

At Tom Varcoe Physiotherapy, we assess whether your pain is:

• True lumbar radiculopathy

• Hip-related pain

• Gluteal tendon overload

• SIJ dysfunction

• Or another cause entirely

If you’ve been told you have sciatica for months and it’s not improving, let’s properly assess it and get you on the right plan.

👉 Book an appointment today and get clarity on your pain.