Spine
Low Back Pain & Sciatica — North Vancouver
From the desk-job ache that won't quit to acute disc flare-ups and shooting sciatic pain — practical care that gets you moving instead of stuck on rest.
What it is
Understanding your low back pain / sciatica.
Most low back pain isn't structural — even when it feels like something terrible happened. The disc, the joint, the muscle, and the nerve all share the same neighbourhood, and irritation in any of them can produce a similar story: it hurts to bend, it hurts to sit, and the morning feels worse than the night.
Sciatica is the version of this where pain or numbness travels down the leg. It's usually a nerve root being squeezed, often by a disc that's bulging slightly under load. The good news: the vast majority resolve without surgery.
The bad news is that rest alone usually makes it worse after the first few days. The job is to figure out which movements settle the system and which provoke it — then do more of the first and less of the second, in the right amounts.
What to expect
Acute flare-ups usually settle 60–80% inside 3 sessions. True sciatica with leg pain takes 6–12 weeks for the nerve to fully calm down — but day-to-day function improves much sooner.
Get a plan
Not sure if we're the right fit?
Send us a quick note about what's going on. A physiotherapist — not a receptionist — will read it and reply with what they'd recommend. No commitment to book.
Common questions
About low back pain / sciatica.
Should I get an MRI before starting physio?+
Almost never. MRIs of low backs show "abnormalities" in roughly half of pain-free adults — meaning the scan often finds findings that aren't the cause of your pain. We start with a thorough physical assessment. If we see red flags or you're not responding to treatment, we'll send you to your GP for imaging.
I've heard "bend with your knees, not your back." Is that real?+
Partially. The back is built to bend — telling people to avoid it forever often makes things worse because the tissue de-conditions. The real skill is loading the right amount for what the back is currently ready for, then progressing.
Is sciatica permanent?+
No, in the overwhelming majority of cases. Even disc bulges that show on MRI tend to shrink over time, and the nerve calms down with the right combination of movement and load management. Conservative care — physiotherapy, graded exercise, load management — is the recommended first-line approach for most radicular presentations before surgery is considered.
I sit at a desk all day. Will physio actually help, or do I need to quit my job?+
Help, not quit. Position changes every 20–30 minutes, a few targeted breaks, and 10 minutes of the right loading work usually offset 8 hours at the desk.
Should I use heat or ice?+
Whichever feels better. Heat for muscle tension and chronic stiffness, ice for fresh injuries or after a hard day. There is no "right answer" — your symptoms vote.
This page is for general information only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual presentations vary — assessment findings and treatment plans differ from person to person. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, neurological changes (numbness, weakness, bowel or bladder changes), or a significant trauma, contact your physician or emergency services. Physiotherapy at Medstar Sport Physio & Health is provided by physiotherapists registered with the College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia (CPTBC).
Related reading
- IMS dry needling — release the deep lumbar muscle guarding that stretching does not reach →
- Class IV laser therapy — adjunct for acute disc-irritation flares →
- Low back pain after a rear-end crash — ICBC rehab guide →
- Disc bulge & herniation — how we treat nerve-root pain →
- ICBC physiotherapy — North Vancouver hub →