The cause behind the leg pain
Sciatica describes pain, numbness or tingling along the sciatic nerve, from the buttock down the leg. It is a symptom rather than a diagnosis, so insurers want to know what caused it. A bulging or slipped disc is the most common reason. Narrowing of the spinal canal or a muscle in the buttock pressing on the nerve can also be responsible.
If you had an MRI scan, mention what it showed. If your GP diagnosed sciatica from your symptoms and it settled with time and physiotherapy, say that. Many people never need a scan, and an underwriter will not expect one for a short episode that cleared up on its own.
Treatment and recovery
Most sciatica improves within weeks or months with painkillers, exercise and physiotherapy. Some people need a steroid injection around the nerve, and a smaller number have surgery to relieve pressure from a disc. Insurers see all of these routinely, and a good recovery after surgery is often viewed well.
The insurer asks what you had, how well you recovered and whether you still get symptoms. Weakness in the leg, problems with bladder or bowel control, or repeated surgery would lead to more questions.
- Cause, such as a disc prolapse
- Scans and what they showed
- Physiotherapy, injections or surgery
- Whether symptoms have fully settled
- Time off work
Income protection is the key concern
For life cover and critical illness cover, sciatica that has settled almost never changes the terms. Even ongoing mild symptoms rarely matter for life cover, so you can usually apply for it at any point without waiting for a flare to pass.
Income protection is different. A bad episode can stop you working, especially in a physical job. If you have had sciatica recently, or more than once, an insurer may exclude back and spine conditions, often including related nerve pain. If symptoms are current, the insurer may postpone until you recover. An old, single episode with full recovery may lead to standard terms, but each insurer decides for itself.
Disclose each episode
Sciatica can come and go over years. If the question asks about back, spine or nerve problems, include every episode in the period it covers. An income protection claim for a later episode could be refused if earlier ones were missing from the form.
Private physiotherapy or osteopathy counts as treatment if the question asks about it. So does a course of nerve pain tablets your GP prescribed, even if you stopped them once the pain eased. A short note on how long each episode lasted and when you went back to work gives the underwriter exactly what they need.
How Hi Tomorrow helps with sciatica
We look closely at income protection exclusion wording for sciatica. One insurer might exclude only lumbar disc problems, while another excludes all back and nerve conditions. We compare the insurers on our panel to find the narrowest wording for your history.
If you are mid-episode, we can advise whether to apply now or wait until you have recovered, so you get the best terms available. Sometimes the answer is to take life cover straight away and come back to income protection once your back has settled.