How are you dealing with sciatica pain?

bride711 · March 2012

Hi Ladies,

Lately, my sciatica pain has been increasingly worse. I reverted to mainly wearing sneakers instead of "cute shoes" to avoid aggravating it even more. I know it's all on where the baby is positioned since there are many times throughout the day that it will let up when she changes positions.

However, what are you ladies doing for relief? I rest when I can but it's when I have down time since our LO is a very busy little toddler.

Besides wearing proper shoes and resting when you can, what are you doing?

hopefulmom81 · March 2012

I actually had it worse in 2nd trimester than I do now, but at the time, having DH rub a tennis ball on my butt and legs helped immensely. My OB said to NEVER use heat, just as an FYI, it makes it worse in the long run even if it feels good in the immediate.

ChicagoChick14 · March 2012

I went to an Ortho Dr for my pain. He sent me to physical therapy twice a week and they suggested in the evenings doing my exercises and applying heat when done.

LCLaw3 · March 2012

I just went to the doctors today with this exact question and he told me that I can do a few things to help relieve the pain as much as possible. He told me to stand up against the wall and stretch downward to touch my toes, then come back up and do it a few more times. He also said I can take up to 2 tylenol every 6 hours for pain, use a "warm pack" for no more than 15 minutes at a time, and have my husband rub his thumbs on the two lower back nerves/bones that have the pain. I also was able to take a warm bath too. I did all of these when I got home tonight and hopefully it will relieve my pain. My doctor told me that this has worked for women who couldn't even walk due to the pain (and apparently its similar to the stretching they do in psysiotherapy). Hope this helps!

Torani · March 2012

hopefulmom81:

I actually had it worse in 2nd trimester than I do now, but at the time, having DH rub a tennis ball on my butt and legs helped immensely. My OB said to NEVER use heat, just as an FYI, it makes it worse in the long run even if it feels good in the immediate.

Gotta love doctors disagreeing. My OB just told me Monday to use heat!

hecallsmecat · March 2012

My friend's OB told her to wear 2 inch heels because it relieves the pressure on that nerve a bit. I don't know if it works or not, but it's worth a try.

LoveBug39 · March 2012

I'm seeing a chiropractor when I can..The office also has an in-house massage therapist and she works wonders! Prenatal yoga helps too..

ccthatsme21 · March 2012

Mine is so bad that i am temporarily disabled. I cannot walk without a walking aide. I go to physical therapy to help with stretching and there is a lot of stretching i do throughout the day. I have a heating pad that i use in small doses throughout the day, and i take tylenol once a day. I wish this baby would do something so that i could walk normal!!! lol

jessandandy09 · March 2012

go see a physical therapist. I cannot stress this enough!!!! It saved my life I swear. my sciatica pain was so bad that I couldn't walk or sit or stand and I thought I would have to wear diapers becuase I couldnt get to the toilet or wipe well without excruciating pain. I thought I was going to be stuck in bed for the next 2 months. My doc sent me to physical therapy and they gave me exercises to do 3x's a day and I go to pt 2x's a week. I am still sore in the mornings and occasionally achey, but as long as I am dedicated to doing my exercises the pain is minimal and I can function! no joke. good luck to you.

traci_79 · March 2012

I had this problem pretty early on in first trimester and it got much worse in second trimester. Could not get up from a sitting position or walk. I had a melt down at work from the pain and was bawling. I was so afraid I would end up on FMLA. I had tried better shoes, bought a pair of dansko's my OB recomended, and did the few exercises she gave me and that still didn't help much. I ended up in physical therapy. BEST THING EVER! They gave me more exercises to do. Apply cold packs no more that 10 minutes per location to relieve some of the pain. Sit on a exercise ball to release some of the pelvic muscles. And best of all was the therapy. They had me lay face down on a pregnancy table and actually pulled my legs. This was a sort of "traction" and released the offending nerve from wherever it was being pinched or irritated. After about 4 weeks I am virtually pain free in my hips! I still have occaional spasms but nothing that I can't handle. FYI, I was told my my OB, 3PT's, and my husband (who is also a Dr.) to use cold packs when the you can pinpoint a spot of pain (like in your hip) but if you have general ackyness or soreness (like your back pain from the extra weight) use the warm heat.

Good Luck!

vagirl1 · March 2012

I feel your pain! Mine is much worse when I'm home with DS on weekends (I work full time) mostly from having to pick him up and straining my back. How you can wear heals or cute shoes and deal with a toddler is beyond me...props to you! I wear sneakers or comfy slippers most of the time and still have sciatica pain. I have been putting a pillow or blanket between my knees when I lay down and that's been helping, but it's always slightly present.

Johlise · March 2012

Mine was horrible until I started wearing a pregnancy support belt and started seeing a chiropractor, now it hardly even bugs me anymore.

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