Sciatica Isn’t a Diagnosis: What It Really Means and How to Fix It

“Sciatica” is a word that gets thrown around a lot. Maybe your GP mentioned it in passing. Maybe a physio scribbled it on a form. Or maybe you typed your symptoms into Google and that’s the term that came up.

But here’s the problem:

Sciatica isn’t a diagnosis—it’s just a label.

It describes a symptom, not a cause. And unless you understand why you’re in pain, that label won’t get you any closer to fixing it.

If you’ve been dealing with back pain, nerve pain down the leg, or vague talk of “nerve impingement,” this blog will help cut through the confusion—and explain what you actually need to do to recover.

What Is Sciatica, Really?

“Sciatica” refers to irritation of the sciatic nerve—the longest nerve in your body, running from your lower back down the back of your leg.

But that irritation can come from a range of causes:

• A herniated disc pressing on the nerve root

• Spinal stenosis narrowing the space around the nerve

• Piriformis syndrome, where a deep glute muscle compresses the nerve

• Referred pain from irritated tissues near the lumbar spine

• Or even just deconditioning and inflammation from prolonged sitting or previous injury

Lumping all of that under one vague term does nothing to guide effective treatment.

Why the “Sciatica” Label Falls Short

Imagine going to a mechanic with a flashing warning light and being told:

“You have… flashing warning light syndrome.”

That’s what getting labelled with “sciatica” often feels like. It describes something but doesn’t explain why it’s happening, what’s driving it, or how to fix it.

Worse still, many patients are told:

• “It’s just wear and tear.”

• “You need to stretch your hamstrings.”

• “Here’s some pain relief and see how it goes.”

None of which address the underlying cause—or provide a structured plan back to full function.

So What Should You Do Instead?

At Poseidon Performance, we take a different approach:

1. Understand the Root Cause

We perform a detailed movement assessment, history review, and if needed, liaise with your imaging reports (MRI, X-ray) to understand:

• Is it a disc issue?

• Is it neural irritation from movement restrictions?

• Is it a lack of glute and trunk strength?

• Or is it a combination of all the above?

2. Address Contributing Factors

Rather than blanket advice, we use:

• McGill-based spinal rehab principles

• Active decompression movements and loading strategies

• Strength-based rehab to improve tolerance and stability

• Education, so you understand what your pain is—and isn’t

3. Build a Long-Term Solution

Our goal isn’t short-term relief—it’s long-term resilience.

We help you:

• Return to walking, lifting, training, or sport

• Prevent flare-ups by correcting mechanics and load management

• Rebuild confidence in your body

Stop Chasing Passive Treatments

Massage, needling, manipulations, or endless stretching might give you short-term relief—but they rarely fix anything.

If you’ve been told to “just keep moving” or stretch your sciatic nerve without a proper assessment—you’re not getting rehab, you’re getting stall tactics.

Need Help with Sciatica? Get an Actual Plan.

We offer:

• 1:1 rehab and spinal coaching sessions

• Movement screening and load-based rehab for back and nerve issues

• Private, distraction-free appointments in Dartmouth (or online)

You don’t need a vague label. You need a plan.

Explore Our Back Rehab Service

Book a consultation or message us directly to find out how we can help.