2nd Trimester

Sciatica

Anyone else experiencing sciatic nerve pain? I've been in pain since about 8 weeks and it has gotten progressively worse. I can barely walk by the time I get to the end of the day. I am miserable. I've only gained 5lbs so I am so scared what it will be like when the weight gain picks up. Doc prescribed IcyHot. Doesn't help. Anyone else have anything that works? My back thanks you in advance!

Re: Sciatica

  • I have sciactic pain too. Have for years, I've found massage helps a ton. I get professional ones and foam roll or roll on a medicine ball to loosen it. You tube how to do it. It really helps me stretch it out. Also spinal twists are great too!

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  • Omg! It's running my life. I've had it since about 8 weeks as well. I'm 27 weeks now.

    A few techniques/tips to try:
    -Keep a chart of your water in-take and make sure you're getting enough. This helps with muscle spasms and tightness.
    -check your shoe supports, I was a 3 inch heels daily kinda girl, and now I sport my sketchers go walks and comfy work flats everywhere.
    -yoga helps especially in the morning and right before bed. Make sure you are doing hip release moves, you can YouTube suggestions.
    -I sat on a tennis ball on each cheek to hit pressure points as well as a yoga roller, you get them at target, to help with muscle release in the butt. Super hard muscle to get to. You'll know the pressure points when you hit em. Yowza! And you can YouTube the yoga roller if you aren't familiar.
    -alternating between ice packs for 20 minutes and hot compresses. I usually do hot first then ice but that's really up to you.
    -if you are into essential oils try valor on your back, wasn't especially helpful for me but I've had some friends say it works wonders.
    -if your comfortable with it, Tylenol and Tylenol pm.
    -I did physical therapy for a little while and they recommended some basic back strengthening moves (all I was already doing, I love to golf so I do a lot of back strengthening and stretching) but if you haven't been you can research lower back strengthening/stretch moves like hip thrusts and twists. Ultimately that sent me to an aquatic therapist. I love the pool, you can do a lot of core strengthening and back strengthening moves in the pool without a lot of stress and sometimes it's just nice to relieve pressure.
    -my chiropractor is now my bff from this, I would be miserable without her, but that's a personal decision on comfort with chiros. I've been going for years for alignments. Also, if you do, ask around for somebody who is familiar with pregnancy adjustments.
    -massages are also wonderful, I do suggest asking if they have the maternity pillows. If not, they will do a side massage. This is more of a Swedish massage and is very relaxing, but hard to get into the hip area. I prefer the maternity pillows because I can lay on my belly and they can get more pressure to problem areas, closer to a deep tissue. Totally up to you on preference but worth asking the question.
    - I also have a belly support called Blanqi, I purchased it on amazon, but it doesn't sound like baby support is your issue but keep in mind if you do need it. It's like spanx and goes under clothes unlike some of the other belly bands I've seen.


    Those all helped in the beginning but I have gained 25 lbs. I gained 20 of them by week 10, popped super early (even though it's my first) and I was a small frame to begin with and I gained every ounce in my belly and nowhere else.

    Ultimately I had to do an oral steroid, that lasted for about a week. I go in Friday for an epidural injection.

    Make sure that you are talking to your doctor, because normally to get into a physical therapist or pain specialist, should it escalate that far, you have to have a referral from your ob which can be a time consuming process...

    Hope this helps!
  • Same here! I tend bar so I'm on my feet for 10+ hours at a time, by the end of my shift I feel like I'm 100 and limp out of work. My doctor yelled at me, saying I was killing myself only because I wasn't wearing any shoes with support and for being lazy and not doing my daily stretches. Once I invested in a good pair of shoes (a brand of asics) and did my morning stretches, the pains after work were almost nonexistent.
  • Just went to the chiropractor for this yesterday. My left butt cheek hurts today but the pain is no longer shooting down my leg.

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  • I've had this off and on since about 10weeks. Fortunately my husband is. Massage therapist, and has been a great help in dealing with these pains!
    So I would say massages for sure help, as well as drinking enough water and stretching really well in the morning!
    The foam roller is a great idea! Hadn't thought of that.

    hope you get some relief!
  • Thanks! This is such great information! I'm going to try to problem solve on my own for a bit and see what I can do before heading to the chiropractor. I used to get adjusted and love it but my husband doesn't like the idea. And our insurance doesn't cover it. So thank you, I'm going to try out some of your tips this weekend.
  • I had this as well.  Stretching and massage really helped when I was bad, but I found a great cold wrap that worked for when it wasn't as bad and helped prevent the pain from getting worse.  Really didn’t do anything when I was in a lot of pain.  Worth a look into.  At work, I sit at a desk all day so wearing the cold compression wrap really helped me.  They are FDA registered so may be covered by your insurance plan.
    https://www.kingbrand.com/Back-Ice-Packs-and-wraps.php?REF=34PV4.280
  • The only thing that works for me is tylenol 3 with codeine.
  • I've had that issue. Really good shoe inserts, a heating pad, body pillow and/or icy hot works pretty well for me! Usually though, I go to my heating pad, or body pillow. Or the hubby for a back rub. :)
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