Health Blog

By Mike Balcombe, Registered Osteopath

Autumn is a busy time in the garden. Clearing leaves, pruning, digging and moving pots can involve more bending, lifting and twisting than we’re accustomed to. Sometimes, following these activities, we might experience back pain or discomfort extending into the buttock or leg.

But does that necessarily mean we have sciatica?

Back pain and sciatica aren’t quite the same thing.
Sciatica commonly describes pain travelling from the lower back or buttock into the leg, sometimes accompanied by tingling, numbness or weakness. It is often associated with irritation or compression of a nerve root in the lower spine, sometimes involving an intervertebral disc. However, the sciatic nerve can also become irritated further along its course, including in the deep buttock region around muscles such as the piriformis. Not all back pain, or pain extending into the buttock, is necessarily sciatica.

Why might gardening aggravate symptoms?
Our backs are designed to bend, lift and move. However, a sudden increase in activity, particularly after a quieter period, can sometimes aggravate symptoms.
Importantly, pain doesn’t always mean something has been damaged. Our experience of pain can also be influenced by sleep, stress, previous experiences, general health and how confident we feel about moving.

What can help?
Research-based guidance encourages people with back pain and sciatica to remain appropriately active rather than resorting to prolonged rest.
Gradually returning to normal activities, varying gardening tasks and taking regular breaks can be helpful (NICE, 2020; George et al., 2021).

How can osteopathy help?
An osteopath can assess your symptoms, examine how you move and consider the different factors that may be contributing to your pain. This includes recognising when further medical investigation or referral may be appropriate.

Depending on your individual presentation, treatment may involve gentle joint mobilisation, soft tissue techniques, advice about managing everyday activities and exercises to support recovery. Research-based guidance supports considering hands-on treatment alongside exercise and self-management advice, rather than relying on manual treatment or exercise alone (NICE, 2020).

Our approach is to understand not only someone’s symptoms but also how they’re affecting their everyday life. By working together, we can develop an individual plan aimed at improving movement, building confidence and helping people return to the activities they enjoy, including gardening.

If symptoms persist, worsen or are accompanied by numbness or weakness, seek professional assessment. New bladder or bowel dysfunction altered sensation around the saddle area or significant progressive leg weakness require urgent medical assessment.

Experiencing back pain or sciatica?

Don’t let back pain stop you doing the things you enjoy. At Springbank Clinic, our experienced osteopaths can assess your symptoms, help you understand what’s causing your discomfort and develop a personalised treatment plan to help you move more comfortably and confidently.

Book an appointment with Mike Balcombe at Springbank Clinic in Sevenoaks and take the first step towards getting back to the activities you enjoy.

References
1. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2020). Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s: assessment and management. NICE guideline NG59.
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng59
2. George, S.Z. et al. (2021). Interventions for the Management of Acute and Chronic Low Back Pain: Revision 2021.Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 51(11), CPG1–CPG60.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10508241/
3. Hopayian, K. and Heathcote, J. (2019). Deep gluteal syndrome: an overlooked cause of sciatica. British Journal of General Practice, 69(687), 485–486.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6774708/