Sciatic Nerve Pain

millican11

My wife is 14 weeks pregnant and has recently started experiencing moderate to severe nerve pain in her back, legs, and feet. Research has lead us to believe that the pain is due to pressure being put on the sciatic nerve by the developing baby. My wife is a type 1 diabetic and is very limited on what she can take for pain relief during pregnancy. Even Tylenol causes crazy spikes on her continuous glucose monitor. With that said, do any of you have recommendations for pain relief in this situation? The only relief we've found so far is from a heating pad. However, she can't take this everywhere she goes ... and we've even read that ice may be better than heat. This is a new symptom for her and I'm looking for guidance/advice from people who have been there and done that. Please help...

KingLED

I got a couple reusable ice packs, the cloth-like ones with a screw top, and took them everywhere with me.  I've always just filled them at gas stations when I'm out.  It's a bit annoying to have to do when I'm busy, but without them I'm not doing anything anyways because of the pain, so it's worth it.  And definitely do ice not heat.  Good luck!

vlagrl29

I was told to alternate between a heating pad and ice packs.  apparently the combination helps the pain.  But what really helped mine was taking tylenol. and it never went away until the baby moved off of it.  I took my heating pad wherever I went that had an outlet.  A chiropractor might really help too

anne.azano

Get a foam roller at a sporting goods store.  That thing got me through my sciatica.  She should also do yoga and stretch regularly.

lsonger

I get a lot of false sciatica from spinning and running - hamstrings are too tight and pull everything out of whack. Agree with trying the prenatal yoga and making sure she is stretching. That said the best thing I have found to work for me is an amazing neuromuscular massage therapist - this is not your fancy spa type massage, but more like going to the drs. Typically painful but she works everything out. That combined with the stretching has been my lifesaver. I have been able to stop seeing a chiropractor because of the massage and stretching.

 Now that she is out of the 1st trimester, she can do massage, but make sure you find a good knowledgeable neuromuscular massage therapist who is  comfortable working with preganacies and the diabetes. Do your homework and talk to the the therapist. (Massage is also good for circulation with the diabetes.)  Good luck, I know how horrible it can be!