Any sciatic pain suggestions?

MeredithElese · December 2013

I think I have reluctantly and unofficialy diagnosed myself with sciatic pain. I've had it for a while now, but it's been isolated in one spot on my left butt (think very back of hip bone) and is clearly worse after walking or a long day. *insert pain in the butt jokes here* At my last appt, my NP just said to watch it, but was unwilling to 'diagnose' as it wasn't radiating like normal sciatic pain. Well, it's progressively gotten more frequent and occasionally started reaching down towards my thigh as well. So my questions are: is this like your sciatic experience? I didn't have this with DD. And, any tips on making it 'better'? Either alleviating it when it's bad or helping prevent it. TIA!

AmandaFaith · December 2013

No experience with this (yet), but T&Ps that you find some relief soon!

blibby0713 · December 2013

I get it too! Going to the chiro and getting a massage has really kept it at bay these past few weeks.

kat8805 · December 2013

My left hip has been feeling weak, and I get the painful, sharp twinge I used to get all the time before DD1. Half the time I'm afraid to bend over, not because it's uncomfortable with baby in the way, but because I'm afraid I won't be able to stand back up on my own, and sometimes I can't! It causes my knees to buckle sometimes. I used to find that sitting Indian style in a recliner, and resting a bit laid back, would make this pack it's bags for a good long while. Hasn't gotten bad enough yet that I've tried, that and this is the first time I've had pregnancy on top of the pain. I'm a circus act to watch moving around in general.

Allibob · December 2013

It sounds like you're having sacroiliac joint pain. It's the joint between your tailbone & hip bone in your low back, but unlike other joints is not supposed to move much. When it gets tweaked out of alignment it can become inflamed, which then irritates the sciatic nerve than runs in front of it. This causes the symptoms of sciatica (pain radiating from your butt down your thigh), but the cause is irritation of the nerve instead of compression of the nerve in your low back.

I've been getting this a lot too. It tends to happen more as the pregnancy hormones start to relax your tissues to allow your hips & ribs to expand. Stretching and ice packs seem to work best, and a professional manipulation of the joint by a physical therapist can help if that's not working.

Two stretches I do are knee to chest stretch & pigeon pose. Laying on your back on the floor, pull the knee on the side that's hurting into your chest. Sometimes it feels good to rock side to side a bit, or push your knee into your hands to loosen the joint. Google pigeon pose to see it. It's a yoga pose that will really stretch your butt out.

mileswithmyles · December 2013

I had some sciatic problems pre-pregnancy from a running injury. Chiropractors, stretching and foam rolling have all worked wonders!

codik86 · December 2013

I feel your pain, literally. It was really bad yesterday but not bad today. I must have slept funny to aggravate it.

hatrats · December 2013

Yeah, that has really hit me the past week. I have almost busted it a couple times after I stood up and my leg was not with the program. I go to a chiropractor, which helps, but my next appt cannot come soon enough. Since I've been on vacation the past week and not been in the gym/working out except walking, it seems to have gotten much worse. I need to get my butt back in gear.

jsaffer01 · December 2013

I have my docs appt on the 2nd and I'm going to talk about my leg issue. If I'm standing/walking too long my left thigh mainly on the outer side goes numb and kind of cold. I'm not sure if it's a sciatic related or not. But I try to eat a banana a day and plenty of water. That sometimes helps. I hope your pain gets better soon

pistolpackinmomma · December 2013

Chiro. The chiro and heating pad is the only way I've found relief.

cchild101010 · December 2013

As a Pilates instructor I would strong recommend stretching and a foam roller. Chiropractor would be next option but stretching is free, foam rollers can be bought from target/wal mart. Try just lying on the floor with your knees bent & soles of your feet pressed into the floor, roll up one vertebrae at time lifting your hips to the ceiling and then roll down one vertebrae at a time (think of lifting a strand of pearls up one bead at a time). You can also zig zag up and zig zag down like your skiing across your spine (sometimes I can get a pop/crack this way which always feel great). Feel better.

MeredithElese · December 2013

Awesome! Thanks girls!

dwnslde · December 2013

Stretch your piriformis, search it on YouTube. Your sacroiliac joint may be locked on one side making the other side hurt. Foam rollers are good, a deep butt massage can help. Stretching your piriformis will help loosen up and help take pressure off the sciatic nerve and potentially prevent pain radiating down your leg. It's one of my favorite stretches. I work with athletes and they love it.

bumpuser10194737 · December 2013

Stretching has TOTALLY helped with mine!

coyadlik · December 2013

I am right there with you except it's my right side. Heating pad on my butt has helped (and was Dr recommended) as well as getting a massage. My massage therapist also recommended sitting on a tennis ball and rolling it around on that tender area on my hip. Hope you feel better soon.

bumpuser9353653 · December 2013

cchild101010 said:

As a Pilates instructor I would strong recommend stretching and a foam roller. Chiropractor would be next option but stretching is free, foam rollers can be bought from target/wal mart. Try just lying on the floor with your knees bent & soles of your feet pressed into the floor, roll up one vertebrae at time lifting your hips to the ceiling and then roll down one vertebrae at a time (think of lifting a strand of pearls up one bead at a time). You can also zig zag up and zig zag down like your skiing across your spine (sometimes I can get a pop/crack this way which always feel great). Feel better.

Do you roll up one vertebrae at a time with a roller under your back or without? Have thought about getting a roller, but not sure how to use it most effectively

LinaRCole · December 2013

I had the same thing. My doc said the shift in weight and changes in posture can be a big cause. I became more aware of standing and sitting straight, got an exercise ball to sit on at work, stretched, iced, and added a lot of core exercise. It is now gone and fingers crossed doesn't return with continued work in all of those areas.

Miles2Go · December 2013

Whole lotta butt hurt in this thread.

*ba dum bum*

MamaLlama14 · December 2013

Heat and vibration were the two best cures for me- hot baths and heat packs, and those back massagers (or lots of pedicures in the vibrating charis!).

deren1em · December 2013

Ugh I get this bad, I have hip/joint issues at baseline but pregnancy makes it worse (especially since tylenol is all I can take). Putting heat on it and using a lumbar massage pillow (but putting it over my hip and butt) has been the most helpful. Stretching helps a little, but seems to be a more short term solution. My dad has it and keeps telling me "Only one thing helps...they gave me a muscle relaxer"...Ummm thanks dad, I can't have that! Good luck!

cchild101010 · December 2013

RugbyMamma said:

cchild101010 said:

As a Pilates instructor I would strong recommend stretching and a foam roller. Chiropractor would be next option but stretching is free, foam rollers can be bought from target/wal mart. Try just lying on the floor with your knees bent & soles of your feet pressed into the floor, roll up one vertebrae at time lifting your hips to the ceiling and then roll down one vertebrae at a time (think of lifting a strand of pearls up one bead at a time). You can also zig zag up and zig zag down like your skiing across your spine (sometimes I can get a pop/crack this way which always feel great). Feel better.

Do you roll up one vertebrae at a time with a roller under your back or without? Have thought about getting a roller, but not sure how to use it most effectively

You can do it on a foam roller or just lying on the floor. If you do it on a foam roller I would just go straight up and down. If you do it on the floor, add the zig zag in for a good pop or two.

Also lying on the foam roller (with your head and neck supported at the top and tail bone on the other end) you can do big arm circles. It really helps open up the chest/shoulders and get the spot between the shoulder blades.

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