A literal pain the butt

[NYEmomma]

I'm 7 weeks pregnant (I don't know if the pregnancy has a role in this at all, or not) and for the past week I've been getting increasing pain in my butt. No, seriously! It starts on the right side of my lower back and shoots down right into my right buttock. It doesn't feel like a muscular type pain... more like a nerve pain?

I'm fine if I'm laying down. If I'm standing or sitting it's kind of a throbbing soreness (especially as the day wears on). If I bend over though, holy cow, it just shoots right into my butt. Then it shoots again when I stand up. Also, if I'm sitting and move to adjust positions or go to stand up, I get the same shooting pain.

Anyone know anything about this? Before you say, "go to the doctor!", I have an ultrasound appointment tomorrow and a regular appointment next Wednesday. If I can talk to a doctor or nurse practitioner tomorrow, I definitely will, but if not, I'll wait until next Wednesday. It would just be nice to have some idea what I'm dealing with now so that I could google and find some ways to relieve the pain.

 

[happygirl]

I'm 7 weeks pregnant (I don't know if the pregnancy has a role in this at all, or not) and for the past week I've been getting increasing pain in my butt. No, seriously! It starts on the right side of my lower back and shoots down right into my right buttock. It doesn't feel like a muscular type pain... more like a nerve pain?

I'm fine if I'm laying down. If I'm standing or sitting it's kind of a throbbing soreness (especially as the day wears on). If I bend over though, holy cow, it just shoots right into my butt. Then it shoots again when I stand up. Also, if I'm sitting and move to adjust positions or go to stand up, I get the same shooting pain.

Anyone know anything about this? Before you say, "go to the doctor!", I have an ultrasound appointment tomorrow and a regular appointment next Wednesday. If I can talk to a doctor or nurse practitioner tomorrow, I definitely will, but if not, I'll wait until next Wednesday. It would just be nice to have some idea what I'm dealing with now so that I could google and find some ways to relieve the pain.

It sounds like sciatic nerve pain.

 

[SaraJayne]

It's your sciatic nerve.

 

[Coconut36]

It sounds like sciatic nerve pain.

I agree. Often happens to pregnant women but generally much father along because the baby moves into a position that messes with the nerve. I had it happen towards the end of my first pg.

 

[Stitchfans]

Sorry I can not help. My oldest DD had the same problem but that was after she gave birth to my grandson. She had a reaction to her spinal. There was a build up of fluid, too much administered. It ended up hurting her back, spine, all around that area. She was in pain for weeks. Not sure why you would be having this pain during your 7th week. To be on the safe side I would mention it during your ultrasound.

 

[golfgal]

I agree, sounds like nerve pain. With pregnancy your joints relax, especially in your hips, quite possible (although very early in your pregnancy to be experiencing this) that you are having some of this and it has pinched a nerve. It could be totally unrelated and you just turned wrong or something too. I would call your NP today and just ask about it.

 

[indimom]

Bring it up at your appointment, but I agree it sounds like sciatic nerve pain. I feel for you. That hurts.

 

[NYEmomma]

Thanks all for the input. I had come up with sciatic nerve pain when I was googling but like a PP mentioned, it seemed like something that happened because the baby shifted position. I do start showing early but I'm not THAT big yet! Lol.

I have a very, very short torso and experienced a lot of pain related to things just not fitting properly in there when I was pregnant with DD. Maybe this is just going to be another weird pregnancy thing that happens to me.

So what's the best pain relief for it? Ice or heat? Exercise or rest?

 

[golfgal]

Thanks all for the input. I had come up with sciatic nerve pain when I was googling but like a PP mentioned, it seemed like something that happened because the baby shifted position. I do start showing early but I'm not THAT big yet! Lol.

I have a very, very short torso and experienced a lot of pain related to things just not fitting properly in there when I was pregnant with DD. Maybe this is just going to be another weird pregnancy thing that happens to me.

So what's the best pain relief for it? Ice or heat? Exercise or rest?

Not to scare you or anything, but showing at 7 weeks--um, you might want to prepare yourself for having more than ONE. I was in maternity clothing with our twins at 10 weeks pregnant--one of the tip offs I need an ultrasound.

 

[Mama Who]

Welcome to sciatica! Yeah, check with your doc, but it sounds like a common and painful symptom. The good news is that there are painkillers that can help manage the pain. (The bad news for me was that they made me nauseous, but at least I got the power to choose between the two, which was something.)

 

[dngnb8]

It sounds like sciatic nerve pain.

It's your sciatic nerve.

I agree. Often happens to pregnant women but generally much father along because the baby moves into a position that messes with the nerve. I had it happen towards the end of my first pg.

Bring it up at your appointment, but I agree it sounds like sciatic nerve pain. I feel for you. That hurts.

Thanks all for the input. I had come up with sciatic nerve pain when I was googling but like a PP mentioned, it seemed like something that happened because the baby shifted position. I do start showing early but I'm not THAT big yet! Lol.

I have a very, very short torso and experienced a lot of pain related to things just not fitting properly in there when I was pregnant with DD. Maybe this is just going to be another weird pregnancy thing that happens to me.

So what's the best pain relief for it? Ice or heat? Exercise or rest?

Yoga, Stretching, anything that increases blood flow. The nerve is probably being pinched causing muscle spasm. Heat is good for this as well. Deep tissue massage.

As always, consult your physician when doing any sort of treatment.

 

[NYEmomma]

Not to scare you or anything, but showing at 7 weeks--um, you might want to prepare yourself for having more than ONE. I was in maternity clothing with our twins at 10 weeks pregnant--one of the tip offs I need an ultrasound.

With DD I was in maternity pants and large, flowy tops by 10 weeks. And she was a singleton.

I apparently have the world's worst ab muscles (a relatively non-existent torse doesn't help, I'm sure... I can only get about 2 fingers between my ribs & my hips).

Some of my friends joked, before I got pregnant with #2, that my first sign of pregnancy (even before I get a positive test) is that I'll have to start wearing maternity clothes!

I'm not showing yet, but I full expect to be WELL into my maternity wardrobe by Christmas.

 

[NYEmomma]

Yoga, Stretching, anything that increases blood flow. The nerve is probably being pinched causing muscle spasm. Heat is good for this as well. Deep tissue massage.

As always, consult your physician when doing any sort of treatment.

Thank you -- I was wondering whether exercise would help at all. I had had a yearly membership to the local gym but it expired the end of September. I'd planned on renewing it, but we went on vacation, then when we got back I found out I was pregnant & have been exhausted. Not to mention I've had a sinus infection on and off since September.

So needless to say, I've been much more sedentary than I usually am. I was thinking getting back to the gym and doing some slow walking might help to stretch everything out? They do have yoga classes, as well as an exercise pool.

 

[NotUrsula]

BTDT; I always spent the last trimester walking with the aid of a cane because of the risk of falling.

It's pressure on the sciatic nerve, all right, but the weight of a baby isn't the only thing that can cause it in a pregnancy. I have SPD, Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction. What that condition means is that due to a combination of hormones and just the way that your body is built, the pelvis begins to separate earlier than normal, which puts a lot of pressure on the ligaments that hold the bones in position. The ligaments swell, and the nerve gets pinched. I'm not saying that you have this condition, but in the circumstances it is a possibility to be aware of.

Here is the gotcha: an enormous number of physicians do not believe in SPD and don't want to authorize extra treatment for it. The usual treatment for sciatic nerve pain in pregnancy is physical therapy and ultrasound therapy, because most pain meds are contraindicated in pregnancy, and heat is also. PT helps, but IME, not past about 24 weeks, when the baby gets too big for the exercises to really be feasible any more. My own OB tends to use a sports medicine clinic that uses some PT, some chiropractic, and a specially designed brace to help take the pressure off the pelvic joints. She also made it a point to put information all over my records about it, because it was very important that no one pull my legs too high when delivering, lest the cartilage get permanently damaged.

You have my sympathy -- constant severe pain pain in pregnancy is not something that most people understand, and it is a huge stressor. Try to find some treatment that really helps.

 

[scooter7487]

actually everyone is wrong. The kid is just starting early to be a pain in his/her mothers butt In all seriousness it sounds like Sciatica. I would check with Doc howerver as some flexibility is not indicated for pregnancy.

 

[NYEmomma]

actually everyone is wrong. The kid is just starting early to be a pain in his/her mothers butt In all seriousness it sounds like Sciatica. I would check with Doc howerver as some flexibility is not indicated for pregnancy.

NOOOOO!!!!

DD was a holy terror as an infant. The evil trifecta of colic, acid reflux and poor sleep habits (that I wasn't smart enough to learn about & attempt to fix until 4 months). That child was a 24 hour screaming, puking banshee for the first 6 months of her life. I'm serious.... our first family outing wasn't until July and she was born in December! And even that ended in a disaster & cold food being stuffed into to-go boxes.

The only way I could talk DH into another child was by telling him we've already experienced the worst... if the rules of karma hold out, we're due for an "easy" kid. If he finds out this one is already being a pain in the butt, I'll never hear the end of it.

 

[sweetdana]

If it is very very painful, see a dr right away incase it is a tubal preg too.

ANY/ALL pain you should call and bug your dr. The risk vrs reward just isn't worth it. I felt unbelievable stretching in the front at 7 weeks, but not in the back.


PLease go see or at least call your dr.

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

NOOOOO!!!!

DD was a holy terror as an infant. The evil trifecta of colic, acid reflux and poor sleep habits (that I wasn't smart enough to learn about & attempt to fix until 4 months). That child was a 24 hour screaming, puking banshee for the first 6 months of her life. I'm serious.... our first family outing wasn't until July and she was born in December! And even that ended in a disaster & cold food being stuffed into to-go boxes.

The only way I could talk DH into another child was by telling him we've already experienced the worst... if the rules of karma hold out, we're due for an "easy" kid. If he finds out this one is already being a pain in the butt, I'll never hear the end of it.

You sound like you have the exact same body type as I do, super short waist, no core strength. I've had the same types of pain, my Dr. said to not put heat on it, just use ice, and try sitting on an exercise ball if you can, that'll help strengthen the core.

Also, whenever you bend over, make sure you're supporting yourself with a hand on a shelf or a knee to relieve the pressure on your back.

 

[erincon23]

Of course, your dr. will give you the best info, but when I had sciatic nerve pain (not related to pregnancy), this is what helped: heating pad and STRONG massage (first done by a physical therapist, then I showed my DH). If your dr says that's what it is, get your DH to massage the area that hurts as strongly as he can -- it definitely helps to loosen up the muscles.

 

[scooter7487]

NOOOOO!!!!

DD was a holy terror as an infant. The evil trifecta of colic, acid reflux and poor sleep habits (that I wasn't smart enough to learn about & attempt to fix until 4 months). That child was a 24 hour screaming, puking banshee for the first 6 months of her life. I'm serious.... our first family outing wasn't until July and she was born in December! And even that ended in a disaster & cold food being stuffed into to-go boxes.

The only way I could talk DH into another child was by telling him we've already experienced the worst... if the rules of karma hold out, we're due for an "easy" kid. If he finds out this one is already being a pain in the butt, I'll never hear the end of it.

Just adding some humor. I am a licensed and certified athletic trainer and while I don't deal with pregnancy issues i do deal with all types of issues and while a lot of the suggestions are good and have worked for them the bottom line is you need to see your doc asap. No need to be miserable. One suggestion I will make is make an effort to contract your abs when you stand sit pick up anything. If aligns your pelvis supporting your lower back. Good luck I hope you feel better!