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December 2015 Moms
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Dealing with sciatica?

kallarinakallarina member
in December 2015 Moms
I have been dealing with this for the past month now, and it's interfering with my work. I know I should just try to take it easy, but I hate not being able to work, and I feel guilty for not being able to help SO bring money in because I know he's so stressed about it.
I'm a server, so my job is literally nothing but walking around. By the end of a shift, I'm usually in so much pain I can hardly get into my car, and I've had to give shifts away just to have some time to rest.
At night, I can't roll over or move around without the pain waking me up. I have a lot of weakness in my right leg.
I've tried ice packs and heating pads, I've been going to the chiropractor, I've been doing stretches recommended by my doctor, I've tried essential oils. I don't know what else to do, and we really can't afford for me to be off work for the next ten weeks, plus another six after baby is here.
Anyone have any advice, or just want to commiserate together?
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Re: Dealing with sciatica?

  • Mizuiro007Mizuiro007 member
    I haven't had sciatica with pregnancy but I had it a few years ago with piriformis syndrome. I remember it was awful. It's been long enough ago I can't remember much of what I did for it to be able to help you but I did get the best relief after seeing a pain management specialist. Otherwise I did physical therapy to keep up strength until it went away.

    I really hope you can get some relief. At least there's the knowledge that, while miserable now, it's temporary.
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  • redfallonredfallon member
    I don't have any solutions, but I can commiserate a little. This just started with me a couple of weeks ago. Sometimes, it's in the right side and sometimes in the left. It hurts when I go from any sort of bent position (bent over or sitting or crouched down) to standing. It hurts from buttcheek down past my knee.

    I do not envy you being on your feet all day!

    Jamie


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  • amye02amye02 member
    edited September 2015
    I have had sciatica since 13 weeks, sounds like you are doing everything right. For immediate relief icy hot patches are great and epson salt baths. Fair warning on the latter only take baths when someone is home to help you up, because if a spasm hits while getting up in a bath you might fall.

    Hopefully your LO will move and you will feel normal (I did for a whole week)
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  • Rynney1979Rynney1979 member
    I've struggled since about week 15 with this. And it totally sucks. I've had luck with liberally using a heating pad for 20 min on/20 min off. I also started using a lacrosse ball to focus on the area that hurts (leaning into the wall with the ball) and that works wonders. All of a sudden it's subsided here in the past week (I'm 27 weeks today) so maybe there's hope??
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  • koala1107koala1107 member
    Definitely can commiserate as well. I'm waitressing as well and by the end of the night can be almost in tears from the pain. The worst for me is that I'll feel ok and then randomly put pressure on my left foot wrong and the pain shoots down my whole leg and I have to catch myself from falling. Then laying in bed after is almost as bad! I haven't found anything to get rid of it but a heat pack soothes it a bit at least. Sorry that wasn't helpful but you're definitely not alone!
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  • altima703altima703 member
    I had sciatica pain with my first but this time around I am "only" having the pelvic pain (SPD/IL). I tried everything to help, baths in Epsom salt, stretches, special support tanks and leggings all of which only provided temporary partial relief.

    I came on here for recommendations and a lot of people suggested seeing a chiropractor. I didn't want to go that route because I had already used up that portion of my health insurance and didn't want a lot of additional out of pocket expenses.

    Fast forward a few weeks and I was at the point where just walking was so painful at times that I would be in tears. I scheduled an appointment with a chiropractor that specializes in pregnancy and after just 1 visit I was already getting relief. I have gone 2 more times now and it is hands down the best money I have spent.

    I have heard that chiropractic is even better at helping sciatica than the pelvic issues. I would highly recommend going to see a chiropractor. Mine also has me do physical therapy type exercises to keep the pain at bay in between appointments. I only regret not having not gone sooner.

    Best of luck, I hope you guys are all able to get some relief!
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  • kallarinakallarina member
    I'm just glad I'm not alone with this! After talking with the chiropractor, I'm supposed to go three times a week. It's a little much, but I'm desperate for something to help! My doctor said I can take Tylenol for work, but I can't just eat Tylenol everyday...
    Here's hoping the chiropractor will help! Or that little girl will shift a little, but with an anterior placenta, I'm just assuming this is going to be a struggle until delivery. Good thing our babies will be worth it, right ladies?!
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  • VixDecember2015VixDecember2015 member

    I suffer from severe sciatica when not pregnant (luckily mine has actually gotten a little better with this pregnancy and is manageable).  In case you aren't already doing it, it is really important to keep your hips aligned when you sleep - so, you will want to sleep on your side and make sure that you have pillows supporting your leg all the way from the crotch to the foot.  Oh, and always hold on to the railings of staircases.  Falling down the stairs due to leg weakness is the last thing that you want to do.

    Unfortunately, when I talked to my surgeon about dealing with sciatica and back pain while pregnant, he said that you just have to make it through to the delivery.  No one beyond a chiropractor or masseuse will touch a pregnant lady to give real relief.  Wishing you the best of luck.

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  • VesperLoveVesperLove member
    So sorry you're going through this. The only two other  things  I can think of are physical therapy (they'll have some additional exercises/work you can try) and acupuncture ... but aside from that I only have sympathy and hugs to send your way!
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  • tesarytesary member
    When I was pregnant with DD I had really bad sciatica because my hip rotated and pinched my nerve. I went to physical therapy and it made a huge difference.
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  • casicatalanacasicatalana member
    Do yourself a favor and see a chiropractor. I promise you it will be worth it. I had crippling sciatica in week 12. I saw my chiropractor twice and it went away so quickly after that. Good luck!
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  • lflores44lflores44 member
    Definitely see a chiropractor. I had bad sciatica before pregnancy and it only got worse once I was pregnant. Been going to the chiro every couple of weeks and it's a magic cure for me. I try to sleep with a pillow between my legs and pay attention to my alignment when standing up. That gets me the two weeks in between appointment. Before I was pregnant I was doing yoga regularly and that actually really helped. I feel totally unable to do yoga now and have tried stretching like I used to but it just doesn't work for me. Best of luck!
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  • leeshpattyleeshpatty member
    edited October 2015
    Omg I'm in the same situation! I'm a server and sciatica hit me hard last week, I almost fell at work:( So I went to the chiropractor that specializes in pregnant women 3x a week, took a
    week off work, and started doing prenatal yoga. I feel almost 100% better already:) I still get sore from time to time but nothing compared to the debilitating pain like before. Feel better soon!!
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