Pregnant with Sciatic Nerve Pain

I had this with both of my pregnancies. Prenatal yoga and stretching coupled with weekly deep tissue prenatal massage made the latter half of my pregnancies much more comfortable. Additionally, the yoga was very helpful in preparing me for labor by practicing breathing and helping to open and loosen up the pelvic area. I'm not a fan of chiropractors but I know a lot of people swear by them. Good luck!

I would agree that you should see a chiropractor who has experience with pregnant women, also massage could be very beneficial.

I went to the chiropractor as well. Lakepointe Chiro has 3 chiropractors who have a lot of experience with pregnant women. They helped me imensely with my sciatic pain. Good luck.

I had issues with it during my pregnancy as well. My leg would give out from under me when I got out of bed and everything. I tried physical therapy that the doctor recommended but all they did was end up bruising me from deep tissue massage. It hurt even worse than before I went. I got a maternity belt which helped a little but what helped the most was my chiropracter. I tell everybody I wouldn't have gotten through my pregnancy without my chiropracter! The physical therapist and chiropracter gave me a few tips like not putting most weight on 1 leg (make sure to put even weight on both legs), sit straight on chairs (no slouching or leaning to the side with one leg bent underneath the other), don't cross legs (like most women do when they sit), etc. I did notice a big difference when I tried these things. Good luck!

I had it with my first pregnancy too. It lasted a while, but once baby dropped that pain went away.

This happened to me when my daughter dropped at 36 weeks and settled on my sciatic nerve. It was so bad that my leg would literally get paralyzed and I wouldn't be able to move without picking up my leg and swinging it forward. I was not allowed to drive for a while because it was my right leg. I went to a physical therapist who fixed me up almost 100% in one visit and then I had just a few more visits after that first one. Apparently one leg was a lot longer than the other so he adjusted it and also gave me a support band to wear that helped keep the pelvis/hips/back in place. I would not have wanted to take pain killers either, if you can, ask for physical therapy and make sure it's a place that's treated sciatic problems before.

I used to work in physical therapy and know a few stretches for sciatic nerve pain. I also treated dozens of pregnant women with it. If you don't already know the stretches message me and I will type them out for you. I used to have a handout with pictures but I am not sure if I still do.

Make sure you sleep on your side (preferrably left) with a pillow support between your knees that goes all the way down to your ankles. Some only go between the knees, but your ankles are together causing even more mis-alignment. Also, you may want to look into a pregnancy support belt, which is meant to help with pain like this.

Some women I know swear by their experiences with chiropractors during pregnancy. If you have a reliable recommendation, give it a shot. I just don't have any experience with it.

I was sent to physical therapy for mine. I was the same way, didn't want to take pain killers. They gave me 3 or 4 stretches to do that gave me immediate relief! Hope you find something quick so you can get some comfort

I have just recently gotten my sicatic pain to go away. I used ice, deep tissue massage, chiropractor apt and there are some stretches that might help that you can get from your Dr. or Chiro. I'm 35 weeks and its be gone for about 1 1/2 weeks. Good luck.

I had that with my first pregnancy. I went to my family doctor (a DO) and he adjusted my back. The pain went away in a couple days. No pain meds involved.

I, too, had sciatica with both my pregnancies, so I feel your pain!!! Mine was on my right side. I didn't get any pain meds, just tylenol when it got really bad, otherwise, ice and elevating that leg sometimes helps. However, yours sounds much more severe than I experienced. Once I was able to get up out of bed in the morning (and able to put weight on it without my knee buckling) and get moving, the pain usually subsided -- never really went away, but enough that I could at least function. I would definitely keep that appointment with your doc. This isn't an uncommon situation, and I'm sure he/she will know how to best handle it. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

Chiropractor! I was always afraid of them before my pregnancy (the neck-cracking thing just freaked me out!)....but once the sciatic nerve pain started I was desperate to get rid of the pain! I would wake in the middle of the night and have to go to the bathroom but the minute I sat up I would have that shooting pain and not be able to move my leg without walking with a "peg-leg" as my hubby called it! Lol! A dear friend of ours is a chiropractor and talked me into coming for just one adjustment that Friday. I did not have another pain until the next Thursday!!! I got weekly adjustments after that and ironically the pain came back after 6 days exactly. I never needed painkillers at all, and honestly I don't think I would have either! Good Luck....hope you find some relief!

I have had this issue for years, including during pregnancy. I highly recommend to try a chiropractor, be sure to find one that treats women who are pregnant. I have seen one off and on for years and it has always relieved my siatic nerve pain. I have never used painkillers for it, so I cannot speak to how effective they are:) And good luck!

I went to Motherhood Maternity and bought a maternity belt, recommended by my OB. I thought it was pretty stupid, it was just elastic and velcro, but darned if it didnt work! Before I started wearing it, I would be walking and all of a sudden get the pain down my leg and almost fall over! After I rarely had a problem. I highly recommend them. Plus the Motherhood Maternity gave me a goody bag with a bottle and paci for my first purchase there!

uggh! sciatia is awful. The only thing that helps me is stretching, hot and cold compress and maybe the chiropractor if things get really bad. downward dog, laying on your back with legs falling to the sides and other stretches while laying on your back. I highly suggest you get this under control now before you get later in your pregnancy because it will get worse with more weight. Good luck. Get comfy soon.

See if you can get a referral for physical therapy from your doctor. I was able to get a referral and have been going to PT 3 times a week for a couple of months now. It has helped with pain in my sacrum area immensely.