Sciatica and Pregnancy

I feel your pain, I had that problem during my pregnancies too! Ice worked for me. Ask your doctor if you can ice it. Then do 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off. See if that helps.

I had it as bad as you with my second pregancy, and I had a all but new born to take care of, and then I got it that bad with my 4 pregnancy, all I have for you is baths, lots and lots of hot baths, I know they say not to make them to hot but that was the only thing that helped me from losing my mind. One other thing that helped was standing under a hot shower with the water on my back and bending and stretching, if you bend into the pain it works best but it can be painful at first, it did help though. I feel your pain I can still remember it like it was yeaterday. Sorry I couldn't be more help but I choose to stay away from all pain meds, partly because I was already sick and nasous(sp) through out the whole pregnacy.

Sciatica can be excruciating. I get it off and on. The times when I was in the most pain, my tens unit was my savior. I would do some of my physical therepy to get the muscles warmed up so I could stretch them out. Swelling causes your hip to pinch your nerve, so... Next I would hook up my tens unit, and lay on my back on top of an ice pack with my feet up on a stack of pillows, and meditate. See if your 2 1/2 year old will meditate with you. just talk about a relaxing beautiful place and you can imagine yourselves there together. It will help take your mind off of the pain. Also, make sure you drink lots of water. It helps your body reduce swelling, and it lubricates your joints. I know it almost makes it worse when you don't think anyone realizes how bad the pain gets. Try to remember, the mind is stronger than the body, so try to work through the pain. It is the first thing you MUST do. And it will be over before you know it. Since I have learned what stretches work the best, I do them everyday, whether I am in pain or not, and the pain has not returned. You will get through this.
work
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I feel your pain- with my first the the end of my preganncy I could not walk due to my back. I did manage to stay of most pain meds-tylenol and i were good buddies though.

What i found helped was some yoga stretches, a heating pad ( ok 2 of them) and hot bathes! yes hot bathes, my OB told me it was fine and it was a little peice of heaven.

I understand working retail but I would see if you can sit with your feet out in front of you as much as possible. Dont sit with your feet dangling or in front if you can help it.

The other thing you can try, with your OB consent, is acupuncture for it. I did it after my little one was born and it helped.

When are you due in January- I too am due in January.

Hi J.:
I also had this condition at one point during my pregnancy. I cant really relate to what you are experiencing because i dont think that it ever got as bad as yours. I do know that my Dr. gave me pain meds. I know that you Dr prob feels that he is doing what is in your best interest but does he know how bad things have gotten? Pain management should be one of the top priorities of health care providers and they should do all they can to aleviate it. Have you asked him his reasoning for not giving you pain meds, since it sounds like the PT isint doing any good? Maybe he doesint feel that you should be on a pain med for that amount of time and he is trying to find other methods to manage the pain? Have you looked into alternative medicine, aside from the chiropractor?
I dont know what to tell you except that if your Dr doesint take your concerns seriously then maybe you should go and get a second opinion?! Good Luck
K.

Awww, I just want to send you a ((HUG)), Im sorry your having such a painful last trimester, my heart goes out to you, I hope you find some relief, and share it with us if you do, I'm trying to get pregnant with #2 and I remember the back pain, not as severe as yours, but if I get it this time around, I'll come looking to see if you found something that works.

J.,

I have the exact same problem. It is worse with this pregnancy then with my first. My ob/gyn gave me a couple of sheets of paper that have exercises on them. They help a little especially after 20 weeks when it doesn't say to lay on your back. I won't take anything for the pain so I have to deal with it. I try to watch for things that irritate it and make it worse. When I notice something that is causing it to flare up I stop doing those things. Like I can't lay on the floor, lay on my back, stand for to long, sit on the floor, some chairs are uncomfortable, and things like that. So avoid what does cause the flare ups to be worse. Ask your ob/gyn about some easy exercises you can do while you are pregnant to help the back.

Stretch, Stretch, Stretch!!! I know that can be kind of hard to do, but just stretching out your spine can really help...at least it did for me. I had it so bad that one day I woke up and couldn't walk...but that was just for a short while. I didn't have it during my pregnancy, but the slight pain is back now. I actually had to have surgery to fix the herniated disc that caused it when I was just 20. But, if you keep on your physical therapy and do all the exercises they give you, you should be fine! Good luck!!!

Dear J.,
I feel for you and had some problems with sciatic pain from about 34 weeks on with my last pregnancy. Have you tried those "belly bands?" I can't remember exactly what they are called but I got mine at a maternity store in the summer of 2006 for about $40. The people at the store were extremely helpful in measuring me and getting one that fit well. It helps to support your tummy and also put pressure on your back (like a super girdle). If you get a prescription from your OB for this item, you can send in the receipt and sometimes your insurance company will reimburse you. The band/girdle didn't take away all of the pain but it did help relieve some of the pressure. Also, if you have an opportunity to attend prenatal yoga classes or purchase/borrow a prenatal yoga DVD - that did help me a bit too. Standing in the shower and letting hot water hit that part of your back also helped me. I hope that helps. Hang in there! It will all be worth it.

J., I went through the same thing when I was pregnant with my twins. I remember going to the IL state fair in a wheelchair. I had so much pain my 3 boys at home did the cooking and took care of me. My husband didnt do a thing. He didnt beleive the pain was so bad. Continue to do what the chiropractor says to do. That was the only releif I had along with Tylenol. Good Luck I also used ice packs and heat. P. Heder

Hello J.,
I read your post and thought I would respond. My husband is a chiropractor and it sounds like you are already doing the right thing. I gather that you just started with him. My advice is to continue and to do everything he says. I am hoping he is scheduling you every day for awhile. He is adjusting you isn't he? Does he use an instrument when adjusting you or is it hands on? That is really the best way. I have had it as bad as you have it and had to lay in a recliner to get any relief. I couldn't sleep very well in it because I can't sleep on my back. My husband adjusted me 3 times a day for about 3 weeks and I finally got some relief. I can imagine how it must be to have to go to work. If there is any chance at all that you could quit early I would advise that. I asked my husband if he had anymore advice and he just told me to find out if you were putting ice on it? He says about 10 min. every hour. I hope you find relief soon. Please keep us posted on how you're doing. By the by my husband uses ultrasound on his patients he thinks it works better than Tens.
D.

Have you tried essential oils??
Young living has high quality oils and I have heard of them working for sciatica.

You may be able to find a link for someone knowledgeable in your area to help you.
I know of some in the Oconomowoc area.

www.youngliving.com

When you say your OB will not "let" you have anything for pain I have to wonder if your OB is a sadist.

I suffer with SPD (basically the cartilage that holds your pelvis steady gets stretched out/torn/seperated allowing the two halves of your pelvis to get into some really funky and painful positions) so I know a bit of how uncomfortable you are.

Try tying your hips together by wrapping some fabric tighttly around them.
Massage therapy.
If the Chiropractor does not give you relief....FIND A DIFFERENT ONE.

Did you mean Tens Machine? If you aren't getting pretty much immediate relief from a Tens Machine it's unlikely that it will work for you...it tends to me a hit or miss type device.

Hey J.,

I have feel your pain. I also had sciatic nerve pain when I was pregnant with my daughter. It started around 14 weeks prego and went through the rest of my pregnancy. She is two months old now. It was horrible, my hips kept giving out and I nearly feel down the stairs multiple times. I also went to a chiropractor and they had me wear a belly belt that supported the weight of the tummy and took some pressure of the sciatic nerve. Besides that, I had to stay off my feet from around 27 weeks to the time she was born. Once that happened, the nerve pain died down. I know you said you worked retail and have a little one so it's probably pretty impossible to get off your feet.. .but, that is what helped me the most. the only pain meds that I know of that are relatively save to take during pregnancy is tylenol with codine. I would insist that your obgyn find something that is save for you to take or write you a note so you can go on medical leave. I hope you get feeling better, dear.

P.

Hi J.,
I had sciatic pain in my first pregnancy. I started going to my chiropractor once a week and after my appoitment it was always better. It wasn't gone but it was much better. I don't know of anything else but know you aren't alone. Good luck. I hope it gets better.
Chris