What the heck is this pain? Back/hip and down leg?

MrsMitty08 · June 2011

I woke up this morning in pain. My back was killing me and there was a shooting pain going from my back/left hip area down to my knee. The feeling in my knee is a throb.

It made me so uncomfortable that I had trouble getting back to sleep. It's now 5 hours later and I still have it, but just not quite as bad.

Back pain in general freaks me out because of m/c...but seriously...what is this? Is it pregnancy related?

The only thing I could find on Google was mention of sciatica but it's wayyy too early for anything like that, right?

If it's still bothering me Monday, I'll call my OB but just thought some of you might have some insight? TIA!

Jess084 · June 2011

Definitely sounds like sciatica to me. Hang in there, I know it can be painful but it is fairly common in pregnancy.

MrsMitty08 · June 2011

Jess084:
Definitely sounds like sciatica to me. Hang in there, I know it can be painful but it is fairly common in pregnancy.

Even this early? I'll be 10w tomorrow. I wonder if I start exercising (I haven't in over 3 weeks) if it will help?

Thanks for your reply

Mistym05 · June 2011

I started experiencing this last week. Worst thing I could do was baby it becuase it made it worse. I started walking at least a mile or 2 a day more then normal and it helped. Also sleeping with a heating pad on low on my hip, or alternating hot and cold during the day. I hope you feel better soon because I know it hurts and very uncomfortable to sleep.

Jess084 · June 2011

Hmmm. I guess I am not sure about this early. I can't find anything "scholarly" about it appearing this early but a quick Google search finds some women about as far as you asking about it, too.

ambs21 · June 2011

Definitely sounds like sciatica. I've had sciatic nerve pain before while not pg, so I don't see why you couldn't get it at any time during pregnancy. I know it's miserable, but try to walk it out. Sitting around will only make it worse, in my experience. Good luck!

cc1004 · June 2011

I have also had problems with my sciatica before pregnancy and my chiropractor told me to help get the nerve and muscle to loosen up use a tennis ball. So when I would start to feel it bothering me I would just put the tennis ball in the area and push until it hurt but at the same time felt good. Sometimes my husband would have to use the ball to help find the tender spot! GL

lindz7000 · June 2011

I've also had this pain the past few weeks and I think it is sciatica. My coworker says it could also be your joints loosening and things stretching out. Stretching seems to help me. Hope yours gets better soon!

theaterbahai · June 2011

I have this so badly I could not move. I was to the point of tears in pain from this, and it was indeed sciatic. I have been going to a chiropractor that specialized in prenatal patients, and though it wasn't immediately better after the first visit, we have been working on it and I can now walk around the block. Definitely try a chiropractor. Just make sure they have prenatal training. (I have also heard that the adjustments will help the labor go smoother.)

MrsLeanna · June 2011

Yep, sciatica. I had it early with both my pregnancies! It will go away but it's your uterus getting bigger and moving and pinching nerves back there. Sorry

I know it hurts!

ctgirlingermany · June 2011

Yup, sounds like sciatica. I've had it a few times, due to a prolapsed disk in my back. I went to the doctor, who perscribed me some physical therapy. I think the best you can do is to try to keep moving, like short walks. In my PT, I did these back streches- get on all fours, and hump your back like a cat, and slowly release it back down. Its all about stretching and strengthening, which should help to ease the pain of the sciatica.

Good luck!

MrsMitty08 · June 2011

Thanks, everyone! I appreciate all of the responses (and knowing I am not alone)

textbookcase · June 2011

Definitely sciatica. I'm having it already, too.

fightingravity · June 2011

Yup, I've had this in the past when I was not pg. It's common if you ride in the car too much -- truck drivers often get it.

Stretching my hamstrings frequently and pretty intensely helped. Also using 2 tennis balls taped together into a sort of figure 8 or bone type thing on my lower back seemed to help a bit.

Sciatic pain is incredibly uncomfortable, hope you get some relief soon!

twoBECAMEone · June 2011

I've had this going on for the last 2 days. I'm gimping around a bit too. It's mostly my lower back and right butt-cheek.

velveena · June 2011

Sciatica! I had it about 12 years ago in college and eventually it resolved itself. I started feeling dull throbs around 8w, I'm now almost 12w and still feel them. Basically I've read that as the uterus and stuff get bigger it may press on your sciatic nerve. I'm praying that as I grow, I don't have it as severe as I did back then. There were some days I couldn't walk!

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What the heck is this pain? Back/hip and down leg?

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