We treat sciatica by finding what is irritating the nerve and using hands-on, conservative care to ease your pain. Sciatica is the name for pain that runs along the sciatic nerve, usually from the lower back through the buttock and down one leg, often with tingling or numbness. Sitting, standing and sleeping can all become hard.
Many people feel better over a few weeks to a few months with the right combination of treatment, movement and a plan they can follow at home. Care with us starts with a careful assessment of your symptoms and how you move.
What Usually Causes Sciatica
The sciatic nerve can be irritated in a few common ways:
- A bulging or herniated disc in the lower back pressing on a nerve root
- A tight piriformis muscle in the buttock squeezing the nerve where it passes through
- Narrowing in the spine that leaves less room for the nerve
- Long hours sitting, heavy lifting, or a sudden strain that sets things off
Your assessment tells us which of these is most likely, and that shapes the treatment you receive.
Your Sciatica Assessment
We begin by reviewing your history and listening to your concerns, then check your movement, strength and nerve sensitivity to work out what is irritating the nerve. From there, we explain in plain language which of massage therapy, physiotherapy or acupuncture is likely to help, and why, so you understand the plan before treatment starts.
Hands-On Massage Therapy
Our registered massage therapists work on the tight glutes, piriformis, hamstrings and lower-back muscles that often irritate the sciatic nerve and send pain down the leg. Easing that tension can take pressure off the nerve and help you move more freely between visits.
Sports & Active Recovery Acupuncture
Active adults, student athletes and weekend players deal with strains, overuse and stiffness that keep coming back. Acupuncture may help ease muscle tightness and support recovery between training and games, and it works well alongside massage or corrective exercise when your plan calls for more than one approach.
Sciatica & Frozen Shoulder Acupuncture
Sciatica and frozen shoulder are two of the most common reasons patients come to see us. Acupuncture may help calm the pain and support your range of motion, and treatment is built from a full assessment rather than a set protocol, with cupping added where it suits your plan.
Headache, Stress & Tension Acupuncture
Headaches, jaw tension and tight shoulders often trace back to stress, posture or long hours at a desk. Acupuncture may help release that tension and support better sleep through busy stretches. Sessions stay calm and unhurried, and ear seeding can carry that support between visits.
Senior Mobility & Wellness Acupuncture
Older adults managing arthritis, joint stiffness or ongoing aches can use acupuncture as gentle support for everyday comfort and movement. Sessions are paced around what feels manageable, with plenty of time to settle in, and we explain each step so nothing about your treatment comes as a surprise.
ICBC & WorkSafeBC Acupuncture
If you are recovering from a motor vehicle accident or workplace injury, we treat under ICBC’s Enhanced Care coverage and WorkSafeBC claims, with direct billing so you are not paying upfront. Your acupuncture plan is coordinated with any massage or physiotherapy you receive here, so care stays connected from your first visit through discharge.
No matter what brings you in, we will ensure your treatment plan is reflective of your goals and comfort level.
Physiotherapy and Exercise
Our physiotherapist pairs hands-on treatment with exercises suited to your condition and goals: restoring mobility, building lower-back and glute strength, and settling nerve irritation. As you improve, the plan changes with you, so you always know what to do at home and why it helps. This is the part that keeps sciatica from coming back.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture can help ease pain and muscle tension along the sciatic pathway. Points are chosen based on your assessment, and sessions sit alongside your massage or physiotherapy, so the whole plan works together.
One Clinic, One Plan
Sciatica rarely responds to a single technique, which is why our therapists share notes on your progress and adjust your care as a team. You do not need to cross town or repeat your story to each practitioner. Some patients also choose to see our homeopathy practitioner alongside their treatment.
Between Appointments
A few things help most people while they recover:
- Keep moving. Gentle walking usually helps more than bed rest.
- Break up long periods of sitting, and adjust your chair or desk if you sit for work.
- Do the exercises we give you, even on good days.
- Use heat or ice, whichever eases your symptoms.
If you notice new weakness in the leg, numbness around the groin or inner thighs, or any change in bladder or bowel control, seek urgent medical care. These are rare, but they need a doctor straight away.
A Calm Place to Recover
Our clinic in the Latimer Business Hub in Willoughby is quiet, clean and welcoming. Pain is tiring, and we keep the space unhurried so you can settle and focus on getting better.
Additional techniques may also be incorporated, depending on your unique needs, including:
Cupping to draw tension out of tight muscle and fascia using gentle suction, which may help ease stubborn shoulder and back tightness that has not responded to other approaches.
Ear Seeding to place small seeds on specific points of the ear, held in place with tape, so your treatment carries a little further between visits without any needles involved.
Patient Education to explain what we are seeing in your body and why each part of your plan matters, so you understand your treatment rather than just sitting through it.
Coordinated Care Planning to line your acupuncture up with any massage or physiotherapy you receive here, so the three work together instead of pulling your recovery in different directions.
Acupressure to work the same points by hand rather than with needles, which gives us a gentler option for sensitive areas or for patients who would rather ease into treatment.
Our goal is to not only relieve pain, but to restore balance, improve function, and help you move with confidence in your everyday life.
Serving Langley and Nearby Communities
We see patients from Willoughby, Walnut Grove, Murrayville, Brookswood, Fort Langley, Port Kells and Cloverdale. Wherever you are coming from, your care includes a thorough assessment, coordinated treatment and a plan based on your symptoms, goals and activity level.
Now Accepting New Patients
Call 778-366-3477 or book online at sonichealthclinic.janeapp.com. No referral is needed to get started.
Questions Often Asked
Do I Need a Doctor's Referral Before Booking?
No. You can book with us directly for massage therapy, acupuncture, physiotherapy and homeopathy. Some extended health plans ask for a referral before they reimburse, so it is worth checking your policy.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
It depends on what is driving your symptoms and how you respond. Some people feel a difference after the first few visits; longer-standing sciatica can take more time. We review progress at every appointment and adjust the plan as you go.
What Should I Wear or Bring?
Loose shorts or athletic clothing so we can check your glutes and lower back easily. Bring your insurance details, a list of any medications, and any imaging reports or referral letters you have.
What is Your Cancellation Policy?
We have a cancellation policy of 24 hours’ notice in advance if someone needs to cancel; otherwise, a no-show fee will be charged. You can change your booking online at sonichealthclinic.janeapp.com or call 778-366-3477.