Sciatica · Epping
Sciatica treatment in Epping.
Leg pain that starts in the back. Calm the nerve first, then rebuild the capacity that protects it. Assessed and managed by Accredited Exercise Physiologists, no referral needed.
30 minute assessment, $79 (normally $165). Unit 11, 58 Willandra Drive, Epping. Free parking. Mon to Fri 9am to 7pm.
Sound familiar?
How sciatica usually shows up.
If a few of these ring true, you are in the right place. None of them mean something is badly wrong, and all of them respond to the right plan.
- Pain, pins and needles or numbness running down the back of one leg
- Sitting, driving and coughing make it worse
- Standing and walking feel better than sitting still
- Your foot or calf feels weaker or heavier on one side
- It started after a lift, a long trip or for no obvious reason
- You have been told 'disc bulge' and are worried about what that means
Why it happens
What is usually going on.
Sciatica describes irritation of the sciatic nerve or the nerve roots that form it, usually where they leave the lower spine. A disc bulge is the common cause, and the good news is that most bulges shrink and most people improve substantially within six to twelve weeks without surgery.
Nerves are sensitive to compression, inflammation and lack of movement. The early job is to find positions and movements that ease the leg symptoms and keep you moving without provoking it. The longer job is to build the hip and trunk strength and the confidence that stop it recurring.
What we do
Assess, plan, retest. Numbers, not guesswork.
Every plan at Integral Movement starts with measurement on our force plates and strength testing, ends with a written program, and is retested at six weeks. One clinician, start to finish.
01
Assess
Where the pain travels, what eases and provokes it, a neurological check of strength, sensation and reflexes, and screening for the rare cases that need urgent referral.
02
Settle
Direction specific movements, walking, positions for sitting and sleeping, and a plan for work and driving. The aim is to move the pain up and out of the leg.
03
Rebuild
Once the leg settles, progressive strength for hips, trunk and legs, and a return to lifting and activity with retesting at six weeks.
What the research says
Evidence, in plain English.
We read the research so you do not have to. These are the findings that shape how we treat sciatica. Ask us for the papers at your visit.
01
Most people with sciatica from a disc herniation improve within weeks to a few months with conservative care; long term outcomes for surgery and non surgical care are similar for most patients.
02
Guidelines recommend staying active and using exercise and education first, with imaging only when symptoms are severe, progressive or surgery is being considered.
03
Supervised exercise reduces leg pain and disability in sciatica compared with advice alone in trial data.
Who you will see
Accredited Exercise Physiologists, not a rotating roster.
You see the same clinician start to finish. Brad Buisson and Dennis Belios lead the musculoskeletal and chronic condition work, with our dietitian and occupational therapist in the same clinic when the plan needs them. Meet the team →
Funding
Medicare care plans, NDIS, DVA, WorkCover, TAC.
Private clients pay on the day and claim private health extras where they have cover. With a GP Chronic Disease Management plan Medicare rebates up to five allied health visits a year. We are a registered NDIS provider and bill DVA, WorkCover and TAC directly for accepted claims. Not sure what applies? Call and we will work it out.
Epping and Melbourne's north
Sciatica help close to home.
Integral Movement is at Unit 11, 58 Willandra Drive, Epping, between Cooper Street and Edgars Road near the Northern Hospital, with free parking at the door. We see people with sciatica from Epping, South Morang, Mill Park, Wollert, Mernda, Lalor, Thomastown and across the City of Whittlesea. Home visits are available for NDIS, My Aged Care and DVA clients.
FAQ
Questions about sciatica
When is sciatica an emergency?
New difficulty controlling your bladder or bowel, numbness around the saddle area or rapidly worsening leg weakness need same day medical care. We screen for these at every visit.
Do I need an MRI?
Not routinely. Imaging is useful if symptoms are severe or not improving after six to eight weeks, or if surgery is being considered. We coordinate that with your GP.
Should I rest until the leg pain goes?
Short periods of relative rest can help in a bad flare, but walking and gentle movement generally speed recovery. We show you what to do and what to avoid for now.
Will it come back?
Recurrence is common when people go back to old habits without building strength. The rebuild phase is designed to change that.
Is the assessment $79?
Yes. The 30 minute Sciatica Assessment is $79 and includes the neurological screen, an explanation and a plan.
Related
Often goes with it.
Lower back pain
Most backs need load, not bed rest.
Hip pain
Groin, front of hip, deep ache, or stiffness getting out of the car.
Chronic and persistent pain
Pain that has lasted months or years, moved around, or never matched the scans.
Hip bursitis
Outer hip pain, sore lying on your side, worse on stairs and hills.
Ready to get it sorted?
Unit 11, 58 Willandra Drive
Epping VIC 3076
ABN 73 674 529 241
Epping VIC 3076
ABN 73 674 529 241