Sciatica

[mustangsachy]

hi everyone

has anyone else experienced sciatica during pregnancy. i've never felt anything like it before. PAIN PAIN PAIN!

even when moving when in bed hurts sooo much. i've had DP rub deep heat into it each night just so i can sleep. not sure if it's actually helping it though! might just 'burn' so i'm distracted LOL

chiro hasn't helped either. any other suggestions - i'm only halfway and i can't put up with this from now til then!

[~*Niadalla*~]

I've got some pains at times radiating up my butt cheek and into my lower back. Not sure if it's the same.
Be careful with Deep Heat. I don't think you are supposed to use it during pregnancy but I could be wrong.
I hope that the pain eases up for you soon.

[LaDeeDa]

careful chick - your not mean't to use deep heat when your pg....

try a heat back and DP really kneeding into the muscle.
also try and stretch that helped me

[jackrose]

maybe you can try self massage with a tennis ball, if you can still lay on your back, put one ball under each but cheek and rock slowly side to side on them so that the ball massages deeply into the muscle where the sciatic nerve is being pinched...

If you cannot lay on your back try doing the same thing against a wall - with two tennis balls in a sock (at each end of the sock to create a little self massage tool and to keep them in place)

otherwise, maybe try an osteopath?

[krysalyss]

Get a tennis ball and place it under that spot while you are sitting on the floor. It gives a really good spot massage and generally deeper then a hand massage. Just be careful to support your body well while you are sitting on it. I sit with both legs to the opposite side to the pain.
HTH It is pretty common during pg.

[krysalyss]

snap jackrose!

[jackrose]

ha, snap krysalyss!

[kristi14]

I got lots of sciatica.

Try a warm shower and run the water over the affected area. I would also massage it myself while in the shower.

Otherwise try to take it a bit easier. Stand up slowly etc.

[alioops]

I went to a physio when I was pg with DD1, and they gave me some excellent stretches to ease the tension in the glutes and having the muscles more stretched and supple really helped. Sit with your knees at right angles and your back straight. Put the ankle of the most sore hip on the opposite knee, and then using your hands press the knee of the sore hip towards your chair. This will stretch the muscles from your lower back to your knee, and you will feel that the sciatic area is one of the areas that is stretched. It may also be worth getting some tubi-grip or a support belt for the times it is at it's worst, just to hold the hip socket in the best position and reduce the pain.

[mustangsachy]

thanks for all the advice i'm going to try the tennis ball thing out. sounds odd but at the same time - nice

[Shanti]

ooooh! I know how awful it is..... I've had it on and off throughout my pregnancy and it is so painful at times

I had it bad around 14 weeks and saw physio who helped me correct it by massage. I then saw my Acupuncturist and she helped relieve it also. In fact you are better off seeing an Acupuncturist than a Physio for Sciatica (i believe).

I'm now suffering with it again the last week and I think it's cos' i was picking up my niece on the weekend! Ugh!! I should be more careful when I lift. Or perhaps its where bub is lying I'm not sure......

I find exercises to stretch it out helps and heat packs and hot showers