sciatic pain - please help

I have been getting this pain in my lower bck and left buttock for days now. It radiates down my left leg to around calf level and gets worse as the day progresses. Sometimes to the extend that I can no longer walk, sit, lay down etc.

It is keeping me awake at night as I can only sleep on my left side and it cramps up and aches all night.

I am waiting for an appointment at the hospital physio but that could take weeks, I have done a search on the net for exercises to do, I have tried heat and cold, pillows between my legs, behind my back, stretching, being careful how I move. Nothing is helping.

I now have terrible nausea because I am so tired, I cant sleep during the day as Shelby is running around, and panadol is doing nothing.

What else can I try? TIA

Oh Clare...you poor thing!

I had this too...I went to a physio and it needed to realign my pelvis. The pain was alleviated within 2 sessions...

He did give me some exercises that helped...but I wonder if they only helped after my pelvis was realigned. Basically, I had to lie on my back, put a pillow between my knees and push hard against the pillow...and then have DH put his hand on the outside of my knee and then I had to push hard against that...

I hope you can get some relief soon...it's horrible, hey?

You poor thing, I definately sympathise, it is horrible.
I was getting bad sciatic pain maybe two to three months ago, then I started walking with a friend, three times a week for an hour and a half. We would also stop and let the kids play at the playground for a bit to have a rest. It really really helped. I still get bad pain sometimes overnight and if I overdo it during the day, but if you are up to it and don't really exercise I do suggest a slow long walk every couple of days.

Hi Clare - lots of empathy from me too my love. I have had it with all of my pregnancies and it just gets progressively worse. For me it starts earlier with each subsequent pregnancy - as a result I have it now!

What has been helpful to me is an osteopath - it's really gentle and very helpful. Also having a massage whenever I can helps. Like the others said if you try and pace yourself during the day - don't do too much - don't vacuum as it's an absolute killer for sciatic pain.

I am not much help I fear but I truly understand - see if you can get into an osteopath or a private physio - waiting for weeks is only going to make it worse... :hug:

A stretch for sciatica that I was taught at my pregnastics class:

Get down on all fours. Straighten one leg and cross it behind the bent one. Slide gently backwards until you can feel the stretch. Hold. Repeat on other side. (Only do this if it is comfortable. Any discomfort you should stop)

Thanks everyone,
I have been walking everyday on my treadmill to try loosen it up but it seems to aggrevate it more, I would love to go walking in the pool but there aren't any where I live that have a creche as well. (joy of bush living)
Deb, I feel sorry for you, at least I only have this for 11 more weeks, I have found that it started earlier this time than when I got it with Shelby. I don't know if it is because I was alot fitter and weighed 5kg less back then but I dread to think of what would happen if I had any more kids.

Last night I wedged a pillow behind my back with a heat pack, and sort of rolled back a bit so I wasn't laying directly on my hip. I also ended up taking a panadeine forte and a panadol earlier in the evening and I managed to get a decent night sleep. This morning it felt alot better, so hopefully we can continue with the exercises/stretches to keep it under control.

Sciatic pain in your scaro-illiac joints is common in pregnancy and I'm really sorry to hear it giving you so much trouble.:cry: Keep up with your stretches and try to tighten your buttock muscles at the same time. Strenghening these muscles=more support for your your lower back.

Also if you have not already, try lying down on your back, bending one leg over the other and hold onto it with the opposite hand. Then gently lower your bent leg to the floor, bouncing gently. Try doing this on your bed if it hurts on the floor.

Hope it feels better for you soon.