What to do for sciatic nerve pain?

mollyskywalker

This is new to me and I don't go to the OB until Monday. Just curious what other people have heard...does walking help? Ice or heat?

mecmed2009

Both!  I got two things that helped for me - a heating pad for at night and during the day I would use those huge IcyHot patches and put it where I could localize the most pain (usually on my hip or right under).  The IcyHot helped during the day when I had to walk around at work and I would even sometimes forget about it!  If you can get over thinking that everyone smells the medicine (the smell didn't seep through my clothes but I could smell it)...HTH!

needanustart

I think everyone deals with sciatic nerve pain differently, but for me walking makes it worse if I'm having a flare up. I've had piriformis syndrome (which causes my sciatica) for years and if I want to work out and it's hurting, I do the elliptical on a higher resitance backwards. I know, weird, but something about using the butt muscle backwards seems to try and pull everything back in place. But like I said, everyone is different when it comes to activities that can bother it. Like PP said, ice and heat both help. There is also one stretch that is very helpful, but harder with a bump. Sit in a chair with your legs bent and both feet on the floor. Then put the ankle of the leg with the pain on your other leg's knee (like a '4' shape kind of) and lean forward slightly. That give me some relief during the day at work. Good luck, I know how painful it can be!

CandKmomma

See a good chiropractor.  A few snaps and pops later you'll feel good as new! 

hhhmmm

I get this really bad every few weeks or so when LO pushes my nerve. It hurts bad. I just eat and drink something warm and sit up on the couch on a pillow and after about 20 min my baby girl will move and then i feel better. Also, standing up and rocking your hips gently side to side can help take the pressure off as well.

drpayne

For me, heat makes it feel better but only temporarily. I'm seeing a chiropractor and I got a massage last night but I'm still pretty miserable. I was feeling a little better the other day so I decided to go on a walk - bad idea (but I do think it helps some people). The chiropractor recommended pigeon pose if you're familiar with yoga but said I might need to modify it a little if my belly gets in the way. The massage therapist recommended massaging it with a tennis ball by either laying on it or putting it between me and a wall. HTH.

teshy1

I find that heat helps a lot.  I use adhesive heat wraps (ThermaCare or similar) during the day so I can get around without being tethered to a heating blanket or having to hold a Magic Bag to my back.  At night, warm baths have been good for reducing the pain.

Also, I did go for massages a few times during 2nd and 3rd trimester -- they were great for helping to relax my muscles.  Physiotherapy also helped a lot.  The physiotherapist I saw gave me a couple of exercises I could do at home to help with the sciatic pain.

jules999

I was taking prenatal yoga once a week and we always did several poses to concentrate on sciatica since so many of us were suffering.  Now my class is on holiday break, so I went for a massage today.  So far that has helped too, but I doubt it will last the whole week.  I'll be trying to do some of the yoga by myself, I think!

jules999

I was taking prenatal yoga once a week and we always did several poses to concentrate on sciatica since so many of us were suffering.  Now my class is on holiday break, so I went for a massage today.  So far that has helped too, but I doubt it will last the whole week.  I'll be trying to do some of the yoga by myself, I think!

Molluskwrangler

Ice works best for me, this is a chronic issue for me even pre pregnancy.  My surgeon and physical therapist both suggest stretching and then ice.

Heat works sometimes but can also agitate it more.  

The best stretches I've found it are  downward facing dog, and a cat stretch.  You can google either for an img.

jessyjess6

Moist heat.

SittinUnderAPalmTree

I have pretty much tried everything that the other posters have suggested and I can't find anything that helps.  I am in agony.  When I went to the doctor this past week, I mentioned it, and she pretty much said it's part of being in the last month of pregnancy.  However, I can't walk (which is rough being that I'm a teacher!)  Something has to be done to relive this pain!!  I go back to the doc on Tuesday, so I'm going to talk to her again.  

 

Hope you ladies have better luck with relieving your pain!