Sciatica and Pregnancy

I am 30 weeks pregnant and last week started to get severe pains in my right hip in the rear. They sometimes also 'shoot' into my leg. They are so strong at times I can't walk, and often walking is very painful and I am limping. Then sometimes I can't feel the pain at all and feel normal.


Saw the doctor today, and he confirmed it is Sciatica and has referred me to a physiotherapy centre. He also said the pain will reduce over the next four weeks before going away.


I also read on some websites that it can last longer, but he said for me hopefully 4.


I have read a lot on the web already, but would like to hear your views/experiences/advice.


The biggest problem for me is that I am comfortable in bed or floating in a pool - but really uncomfortable at work, which is where I spend most of my day.


Has anyone else experienced this? (it is supposed to be common)


What did you do that helped?


It feels great to have a heating pad, but as soon as I move it away the pain comes back.


Thank you.

UGH!

Had it when I was pregnant with #1 and have it on and off again with #2. In my experience, Yoga poses really help - somehow it allows you to stretch out the muscles and stuff surrounding the nerve that is causing you problems. the days I don't do any yoga positions it comes back, but this pregnancy I am more diligent about the yoga, so I notice it far less than the first pregnancy. When my mother in law was here, I limped around because of it (no time to do any yoga) and after she left I started the yoga again, and it disappeared. if you have a cubicle or some slight privacy at work, maybe some poses periodically throughout the day will alleviate some of your pain?


Feel for your pain - but you're on the home stretch. By the way, I still had some pain after I gave birth - it hadn't fully gone away afterwards.

Thanks HKCC - what poses did you do?

I tried the one with my leg crossed over where you push on your knee and twist - but with my big belly it was kind of hard!

I have also been trying pelvic tilts.

Hoping the physio will have some good ideas.


Good advice for others - to do yoga from day one!

Hi Cri -


Well - I used this prenatal yoga DVD. But from what I know about sciatica, you need to work on the buttocks and below to help alleviate some of the pressure.


So triangle pose helps - you may need some support as you are in your third trimester.


If you're able to - squats - but if you can't do them now , you should sit in a chair and try and point your butt down. A lot of pregnant women start sticking their butts out, so to try and counteract that by stretching it the other way. (you could do this at work if you're wearing pants.)


Child's pose - modified - with a blanket in between your legs.


Downward dog - modified - lean on a low table or a chair if going all the way down helps.


See what physio offers - I've had lots of luck with yoga and the pain - so I highly recommend it.

HKCC - I have to laugh, I was never that great at yoga before, and in my state I can't do most of what you suggested :(


Mrs M - Have you recovered now? I know you gave birth a few weeks ago.

Your case of sciatical sounds very similar to mine. I am glad to hear that physio helped, I am really looking fwd to my apt on Thursday morning.

Your comment on breast stroke is timely - I went swimming on Sunday and was really uncomfortable, and I was doing breast stroke (with frog kick) I couldn't really get the legs right and this is the way I usually swim, it was really odd and upseting!... the only thing I wanted to do was float...


Thank you all, very helpful advice - good to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and that the physio helps.

Cri -


just sent you another message on baby signs! you sounded familiar and had to double check.


I guess I was pretty diligent with yoga before my second pregnancy - maybe that helped? Yoga can be modified for all phases, but Mrs. M seems to have some sound advice for you regarding the physio. My doc back in the US recommended the yoga to me, so I did that. I want to hear what your physio says about the sciatica tomorrow, so keep us posted!

Post visit.


They gave me 30 minutes or so of heat. I was laying on my back on a huge heating pad. Comfortable.

Then about 30 minutes of massage. I was laying on my left side, and she massaged my right side focusing on the hip, but also the upper back (as they are connected)


She then taught me how to wear the small maternity support belt correctly (much lower than I thought)


She then taught me 4 exercises to do every day.


Calf stretch

For calf to stop those horrible nighttime cramps.

Flex the foot - toe towards the knee, not toe pointing down. I can do this every day and if I get another cramp in my calf I can even use a towel to add tension to the stretch.


Side Knee Bend

Laying on my back, with feet on the ground with my knees up.

twist the knees to the left, then to the right.

hold a few seconds each time and do 10 times.


Mini-Pilates move

Laying on my back, with feet on the ground with my knees up.

do a mini tummy crunch, but just reach my hands to my knees and hold 5 seconds (I could only do 3). Do 5 times a day.


Pelvic Tilt

Laying on my back, with feet on the ground with my knees up.

Tilt pelvic done up, then down


Posture advise:


while sitting at my desk put my chair close to the desk so I don't slouch and am forced to lean back on the back rest.


do pelvic tilts while at desk sitting up.


Swimming

She said swimming is good, the reason breast stroke is bad is because you lift your head up and arch your back.

I can do front crawl (freestyle), use a kickboard (kick normal or frog kick), and swim on my back no problem.


Sleeping

use lots of pillows to keep head up... I do that anyway.


Heat pads

she said I can keep using heat pads at home, and I can get those 'chinese medicine pads' to use all day, and the 'japanese heat pads' to use on my clothing.

Both she and my accu/tcm doctor advised using the ones with the least medicine and least ingredients - just the heat.


I am scheduled to see her 3 x week.


Thanks again for the advise above!

UPDATE


The first 10 days, I was in a lot of pain, was walking with a painful limp and was completely uncomfortable.

Now, after one week of physio, and about 2 - 2 1/2 weeks after my first pain, I feel so much better!! (same as Mrs M above said)



The Physio says it is a lot due to the exercices I am doing, but I think a lot is her treatment too. In addition the Dr told me it would get better, luckily he was right!


I am still walking slowly and stairs are tough, but that's okay since it does not hurt.


The Calf Stretch Exercise she gave me is great, no more leg cramps, and it is so easy to do :) I can't believe this isn't in every pregnancy book - all they books seem to say is 'pregnant women get leg cramps!'


Actually, all the exercises are easy to do, and I just do 10 minutes in the mornings and 10 in the evenings - even from bed she said is okay.


Anyway, that's it - just wanted to update you, and if anyone else who has Sciatica reads this, it really can go away....