Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the patients’ perceptions and experiences of a physical therapy treatment at Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan for managing the symptoms of sciatica.
Methodology: This qualitative study was part of a pilot randomized controlled trial of physical therapy in treating the symptoms of sciatica prior to Lumbar Micro-discectomy surgery. The patients from the intervention arm of the trial were invited to participate in In-depth Open Ended Semi-Structured Interviews. A total of 19 in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted and recorded in order to transcribe them fully and analyze thematically.
Results: Seven out of 19 patients who had interview did not go for surgery. They appreciated the sole nature of the approach as well as the manual therapy and the effect of different lumbopelvic stability exercises and cardiovascular exercises in reducing pain or discomfort and improving their trunk movements, walking patterns and dynamic postures. However, a few patients failed to find the physical therapy effective. Overall, 12 patients in the study went with surgery although they had found physical therapy valuable as pre-op rehabilitation.
Conclusion: Most of the patients with sciatica had appreciated the effect of physical therapy before surgery.

Key words: Sciatica, micro-discectomy, backache, perceptions.