sciatica pain in pregnancy

[dumbo_buddy]

hi all! need some mama advice here!

i'm almost 27 weeks pregnant with my 2nd boy. i have pain in my left butt and it seems to be going into my leg. this is sciatica, right? i never had this with my first son.

anyone experience this? any tips for easing the pain?

i'm hoping this is just temporary because 1) it really hurts! and 2) we're going to disney in less than 3 weeks and i don't want to be a hobbling mess!

 

[NotUrsula]

Call your OB; you should be getting physical therapy right away; there is really nothing else that will help that you can take during pregnancy.

I don't want to alarm you, but severe sciatic pain during pregnancy is often a precursor of a condition called Pub_ic Symphysis Dysfunction (I hope the mods will forgive me for a forbidden word since this is a medical term.) It stems from an excess of the Relaxin hormone that loosens your joints; the pelvic joints open up a bit too wide too early, which causes severe pain when walking or even just lifting the legs. If this is what is going on with you, you'll know it at your next pelvic exam, because I'm afraid it will hurt like the dickens to put your legs up that way.

I had PSD with all of my pregnancies, and by the last one, even with PT twice weekly from 9 weeks, I needed a cane by the middle of the second trimester. I always needed to use a cane to walk by 30 weeks. This was because my joints were so wobbly that my knees sometimes folded sort of ramdomly, and the cane was needed in case I started to fall. By 36 weeks I simply could not walk more than a few steps, and even rolling over in bed was nearly impossible. I had to get a temporary disabled parking permit until after I delivered just to walk from the parking lot to my office.

I'd check on the possibility of renting an ECV from Walker if you are going to WDW at 30 weeks; you may well need it.

 

[MommyBell08]

I had it really bad with my first pregnancy, and with this last one, not at all. I did see a chiropractor regularly with this one, but I think it has to do with the position of the baby. I would see a chiro if you aren't already. I had it to the point that I couldn't walk at the end. It was bad pain, worse that the pain of my last labor, and I had a homebirth with no meds, so I feel you! For me, the pain went away right after I delivered, but got worse and worse up to labor. I think the less I did the better. Most ppl say to try to do light exercise to help, but for me less was more. Good luck Mama, take it easy!

 

[ericalynn1979]

I had sciatic nerve pain that related to the position the baby was in. There are some yoga stretches that can help, google pregnancy yoga.

 

[MommaSnowwhite]

I have been having similar pain for weeks (I am currently at 36 weeks). My ob doesn't seem concerned. I have DH rub it every night and it really seems to help. I also sit on an ice pack for 15 min during the day and sometimes I sit on an ice pack in the evening.

During my last pregnancy I had the same issue and I saw a chriopractor. I really don't think it helped me at all.

 

[notsosnowwhite]

All good suggestions...
I had sciatica that stemmed from a bulging disc - 2 by the time my pregnancy was over and they required surgery a year later. There was really nothing I could do. I did the physical therapy and chiropractor, and that somewhat helped. I slept with a body pillow on my side and a firm pillow between my knees to try to keep my hips and back aligned. But the best thing I tried was to buy a really good back massage unit and use it on my leg / butt / back every night. I was having physical therapy and they used what I called "the sander" - a flat, large massage unit on these areas. I still have sciatica and nerve flare ups, so still use this almost nightly. Nothing has helped me as much. Good luck!

 

[RMulieri]

I had sciatic nerve pain that related to the position the baby was in. There are some yoga stretches that can help, google pregnancy yoga.

2nd

 

[Anya22]

If you can find a good, certified prenatal yoga instructor in your area, I highly recommend going to a class. It saved me! My issues weren't sciatic nerve pain, it was something else in the sacrum area that is often confused as sciatic pain. I can't seem to recall what it was called but my yoga instructor gave me great tips and it ended up getting a lot better later in pregnancy.

 

[lmc318]

I had sciatic nerve pain that related to the position the baby was in. There are some yoga stretches that can help, google pregnancy yoga.

3rd.

It's very common in pregnancy. Before you do anything, though, talk to your OB to make sure what you're doing is safe for the baby. You don't want to do yoga positions that are unsafe. If home yoga isn't doing the trick, there are many yoga classes for pregnant women and the instructors can work with you just for these kinds of things. Good luck and hang in there!!

 

[dumbo_buddy]

thanks everyone! i called my OB and am awaiting a phone call back to see what he says. i actually got some sleep last night and when i woke up i felt pretty ok. but then i did a couple loads of laundry which involved going up and down the stairs into the basement and bam! butt pain. grr.

maybe i can get the baby to move over a little

i appreciate everyone's comments, thank you!

 

[ericalynn1979]

thanks everyone! i called my OB and am awaiting a phone call back to see what he says. i actually got some sleep last night and when i woke up i felt pretty ok. but then i did a couple loads of laundry which involved going up and down the stairs into the basement and bam! butt pain. grr.

maybe i can get the baby to move over a little

i appreciate everyone's comments, thank you!

Yep! That was it with me!

Sorry I didn't post more last night, my 6 month old was nursing and it's hard to type with one hand.

I used prenatal yoga positions (approved my my OB) to relieve some of the pain. I'd also soak in a hot bathtub for about 10 minutes at a time. Not long enough to raise my core body temp or blood pressure, but it gave me a little relief (again, OK'd by my OB).

 

[CrAzY4DL]

With DD12 I had it non-stop from about 30 weeks until 41 weeks. DD8, didn't have it at all. DD10mo, I got it when I was about 10 weeks. My dr said, gee that sucks *** there's nothing we can do about it. Hmm thanks!! I went to my regular masseuse and one 60 minute session cleared it up for about 6 weeks. So when it came back, I just went back to him. And then it never returned during that pregnancy. I feel for you, it's horrible. Hurts to stand, sit, lay down, walk, etc. Boo!!

Maybe a prenatal massage? I didn't get prenatal ones, just normal massages until I could no longer lay on my tum. Hope that helps!

 

[Jaime4004]

I had that also and PT did not help me at all. What did help was a prenatal pool exercise class. It was great!

 

[stich1fan]

I had this really bad for many many weeks,]/months. My ob said it was position of the baby and nothing really would help. I is really up to them. our DD was laying on my nerve and until she moved it really did not go away.

I did some stretches but they were really had since I could hardly move. One thing that helped is hanging from a chin up bar. Sounds really crazy but stretching your whole body should help and it did.

 

[Anya22]

I had this really bad for many many weeks,]/months. My ob said it was position of the baby and nothing really would help. I is really up to them. our DD was laying on my nerve and until she moved it really did not go away.

I did some stretches but they were really had since I could hardly move. One thing that helped is hanging from a chin up bar. Sounds really crazy but stretching your whole body should help and it did.

I would DEFINITELY talk to a doc before hanging with all your weight from a chin up bar. I know that you can overstretch the sides of your belly and need to be careful with anything involving dramatically reaching upwards (you can reach, but it needs to be controlled).

 

[Belle's Castle]

I had the same problem. My got so bad that one day my leg gave out and my DH caught me before I feel on the floor. After that the doctor sent me to physical therapy...three sessions and the problem was gone. She gave me nightly exercises, and the problem was gone. After my DD was born I continue to have the pain on and off...especially when walking A LOT, like in Disney World, so I do the exercises and it goes away.

 

[ksantilli]

I suffered from this as well. My OB actually sent me to physical therapy and massage for it. It made a HUGE difference for me! It might be worth checking out. If you could get in before your trip, you could have some helpful exercises and stretches to take with you.

I'm so sorry!

 

[meg8017]

I had this too, and PT really helped. Especially pool therapy, being in the water was heaven! Good luck, hope you can find some relief!

 

[Keke]

I had it really bad for about 2 weeks in my third trimester. My OB showed me some stretching exercises to help. But over 2 years later, I still get pains every now and then. Especially when we are about to get a big rain. A bunch of Advil or Aleve usually does the trick though.

 

[Button]

Yep that was a mare when I was pregnant and nothing gp/midwife could or should I say would do. I made sure my boss was aware and got a new chair from the health and safety dept which did help a little.

The other thing I had was waking with ridiculous leg cramps so really was a sight for hubby's eyes me waking from my snore zone screaming about back and legs.

My tip would be get husband to give lots of back rubs.