Sciatica Treatment London: Same-Day Help From An Online GP
Pain that starts in the lower back or buttock and shoots down the back of the leg has a particular way of taking over your week. Sitting at a desk hurts, the commute hurts, and sleeping through the night becomes a negotiation. Sciatica, pain along the sciatic nerve, is usually caused by something in the lower back irritating a nerve root, most often a disc bulge. The encouraging truth is that most sciatica settles with the right advice and treatment, and an online GP can assess your symptoms, start pain relief and arrange follow-up the same day. At The Online GP by The Wellness, consultations are with UK-registered doctors, with prescriptions sent straight to your local pharmacy.
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is pain that travels from the lower back or buttock down the leg, sometimes as far as the foot, along the path of the sciatic nerve. It is usually caused by irritation of a nerve root in the lower spine, most commonly from a bulging or herniated disc, and sometimes from age-related narrowing of the spinal canal. People describe it as shooting, burning, electric or like a deep ache that will not settle, often with pins and needles or numbness in part of the leg or foot.
Most episodes improve over four to six weeks. Good treatment in the first days, keeping gently active and using the right pain relief, makes that period much more manageable and helps prevent it becoming a longer-term problem.
Symptoms that fit sciatica
The typical picture is one-sided leg pain that goes below the knee, often worse than the back pain itself, with possible tingling, numbness or weakness in the leg or foot. Coughing, sneezing, sitting for long periods and bending forward often make it worse. These symptoms, in an otherwise well adult, can be assessed safely by phone or video, because the key decisions are about pain relief, activity and watching for the warning signs below.
Symptoms that need urgent assessment
A small number of sciatica cases need immediate in-person care. Seek same-day urgent help if you develop numbness around the genitals or back passage, loss of bladder or bowel control, or severe or worsening weakness in both legs: these can signal cauda equina compression, which is a surgical emergency. Also seek prompt assessment after significant trauma, if you have a fever with back pain, or if you have a history of cancer. If any of these apply, your online doctor will direct you to the right urgent service rather than simply prescribing.
How an online GP can help today
With The Online GP by The Wellness, you can speak to a doctor the same day. Your doctor will confirm the pattern of your symptoms, screen carefully for the warning signs above, review what you have already tried and prescribe appropriate pain relief where suitable, sent electronically to a pharmacy you choose. You will also get clear guidance on staying active, what to avoid, and when and how to follow up, including physiotherapy and imaging if your recovery is not following the expected course. A phone consultation is £59 for 15 minutes, a video consultation is £150, and an in-person appointment at our Marylebone clinic is £220. Not sure whether your symptoms fit? Message us on WhatsApp for a free triage and we will point you to the right next step.
Treatment your doctor may prescribe
Pain relief. Depending on your history, your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory tablets, or medicines that target nerve pain such as amitriptyline, gabapentin or pregabalin, chosen around your other medicines and health conditions. NICE guidance advises that simple paracetamol alone is usually not enough for sciatica, which is why a proper review matters.
Staying gently active. Bed rest delays recovery. Your doctor will explain how to keep moving within comfort, which positions usually ease nerve pressure, and how to build back to normal activity over the following weeks.
Physiotherapy and next steps. Most people benefit from physiotherapy, and your doctor can advise on this directly. If pain is severe, persistent beyond six to eight weeks, or affecting strength in the leg, your doctor will discuss referral for an MRI scan or specialist opinion, and be honest about when those steps genuinely add value.
What does online sciatica treatment cost?
With The Online GP by The Wellness, a phone consultation is £59 for 15 minutes, a video consultation is £150, and an in-person consultation is £220. Private walk-in clinics in London commonly charge £100 to £250 for the same short appointment before any prescription costs. Your prescription is sent to a normal pharmacy, where you pay the pharmacy's own price for the medicine.
Why choose The Online GP by The Wellness
Every consultation is with a UK-registered, GMC-registered doctor, not an automated questionnaire. Same-day appointments are available seven days a week, prescriptions go straight to your chosen pharmacy, and if your symptoms need an examination, a scan or a specialist, we say so plainly and arrange the right next step. You can also read about what an online GP can prescribe.
To get help today, call 020 3951 3429, email team@thewellnesslondon.com or book an appointment online.
Frequently asked questions
Can an online GP treat sciatica?
Yes, in most cases. A doctor can assess the pattern of your symptoms by phone or video, screen for the rare warning signs, prescribe appropriate pain relief and advise on activity and physiotherapy. Prescriptions are sent electronically to a pharmacy you choose.
How long does sciatica usually last?
Most episodes improve over four to six weeks. Keeping gently active and using the right pain relief early makes recovery more comfortable. Pain that is severe, worsening, or persistent beyond six to eight weeks deserves a review and sometimes a scan.
What is the best pain relief for sciatica?
It depends on your symptoms and medical history. Options include anti-inflammatory tablets and nerve-pain medicines such as amitriptyline, gabapentin or pregabalin. NICE guidance advises that paracetamol alone is usually not effective for sciatica, which is why a proper assessment helps.
Should I rest until the pain goes?
No. Bed rest tends to delay recovery. Gentle movement within comfort, short walks and avoiding long periods of sitting usually work better, alongside prescribed pain relief.
When is sciatica an emergency?
Seek same-day urgent care for numbness around the genitals or back passage, loss of bladder or bowel control, or severe or worsening weakness in both legs. These can signal cauda equina compression, which needs emergency assessment.
How much does an online sciatica consultation cost in London?
At The Online GP by The Wellness, a phone consultation is £59 for 15 minutes, a video consultation is £150 and an in-person appointment is £220. The prescription is sent to a local pharmacy, where you pay the pharmacy price for the medicine.
This article is for information and does not replace personal medical advice. Written by The Wellness Team and medically reviewed by The Wellness Clinical Team. Last updated October 2026.