Sciatica

kwilson7613

I've had problems with sciatica off and on for a couple of years. I knew it would probably flare up really bad once the baby got big enough to hit it or sit on it, but it started bothering me a couple of days before I got my BFP and hasn't stopped since. That's been two weeks! It's not terrible, and not even really hurting my back, it's just a dull ache, occasionally a sharp pain, in my hip and the tingling down my leg. Has anyone else had problems with sciatica early in pregnancy? Did it get any better? I'm just so nervous to take anything on the days it's bad and hate to think about it being like this for another 34 weeks!

finnybooboo

I didn't have Sciatica until I reached my 3rd tri (almost to the day) with my daughter. By the time I was 40 weeks pregnant, I was literally in so much pain I could barely move. My daughter ended up being 10lbs 1oz 22 in, so it makes sense why I was in so much pain, but it went away almost immediately after she was born. I've been having sharp pains on and off so far, and I'm terrified how it's going to be as the baby gets bigger. I'll definitely be asking my doctor if there is anything he recommends to relieve the pain as we go on.

eredee

So, mine isn't sciatica. I have posterior pelvic pain and it hurts like a b****! I had it with my son, and never really said anything to my doctors because I figured, "You're pregnant and this is just what happens, suck it up!" Well, with this one its actually how I knew I was pregnant because I woke up on a Thursday morning and felt this sharp pain in my lower back (left butt cheek area) and was like.."uh oh..I only ever felt this pain before when I was pregnant." and then I took a test. So it started at 5 weeks AND I haven't gained an ounce of weight, so I was like, "What the hell?" I did some research and because of a hormone in our body that is released during pregnancy to relax all of our joints so we can give birth, it's causing our pelvic bones to shift a bit and that causes A LOT of pain. I called my doctor this time and I was like, " I can't take this!!!" So she referred me to physical therapy. I'm going to try it, but a lot of women have suggested a chiropractor. So, I may be switching my method of treatment shortly. I would suggest you look into either of those things too because yea, 34 weeks..is WAY too long to go with this kind of pain. It will only get worse.

alijeff2313

I have had sciatica for years and was told by my chiro that pregnancy would be rough on me. It started bothering me around the halfway mark when I started really showing. The only thing I was able to take was Tylenol which as I'm sure you know, barely touches it. I did a ton of stretching and I sat on an exercise ball when I was at home folding laundry, watching TV, etc. Def helped!! DD was 9lb 5oz, so as PP mentioned, that added to the pain. With this pregnancy, my sciatica started almost immediately. The stretching is the only thing helping me. If you google sciatica stretches while pregnant, it will give you some great examples. I've also started prenatal yoga and it seems to help too. Good luck!!

helleebellee

YouTube has some helpful videos. I always have this issue and used to go to the chiropractor. Stretches are cheaper and work better than the chiro.

JessicaB0627

I had awful back pain during my pg with DD but it never turned into sciatica until after I had her. Turns out I slipped a disc during labor and I also have a "crooked" pelvis. The physical therapist thinks that the way my labor progressed my pelvic bones didn't have the opportunity to expand together and they are now uneven because of it. I noticed my sciatica the day before I got my BFP and I'm blaming all the hormones.

I talked to my doctor and I basically will just have to put up with it. He said I can use a heating pad on low heat for 15-20 minutes which helps my pelvic pain but not necessarily my sciatica. I can also do some stretches that I learned in physical therapy to alleviate some of the pain.

The biggest help I've found though is sitting on an exercise ball. It really helps to take the pressure off your lower back and help with the pain more than anything else I've found. Every day when I get home from work I sit on the ball!

ShannonSeth

OP I'm glad you posted this. My sciatica started flairing up before I took the test and last time it didn't start until about half way through. Last time I just suffered through the pain but it's nice to know there are some things you can do to help. Thank you ladies for all of the info.

kwilson7613

Thanks for replying guys! I'm going to talk to my midwife when I see here, but that's not until 10 weeks, so another 4 weeks. It seems like forever!

I'm going to see if my insurance will cover a chiropractor visit, but I'm guessing not. Looks like more stretches and prenatal yoga it is! And maybe an exercise ball. Thanks!

sjecc09

Regular chiro care throughout pregnancy, light stretching, and yoga are the way to go!

kristenterkelsen

I had this horribly as well but got in with a Physical Therapist who is trained in the MacKenzie method for lower backs. I was pain free after my first session. I highly recommend it. Working in the medical rehab field I knew I would get shunned for seeing a chiropractor because I've seen too many after maths of people not knowing what they are doing and it resulted in serious injury to the patient. Try and find a PT- seriously. It's been awesome being pain free for the past week.