Sciatica!

[elk4baby]

Hi all,
I've had sciatica pretty badly in the first pregnancy and now it's back with a vengeance :(.
Does anyone have any advice for treatment?
I am aware that the only cure is the birth, but I have a toddler to take care of in the meantime, so would really appreciate some 'help'.
Thanks!

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

Def push to see a physiotherapist. I have had sciatica on and off all my life, and the exercises recommended by the physio really did help.

I also tried "belts", heat, ice and a chiropracter.

One of the bits of advice I got from physio after dd2 was to take painkillers. I am one of those people who don't like to take drugs, but she explained if you are sore you move and bend awkwardly and put further strain on other joints, so better to have less pain and move more naturally. Worth seeing one to see what they think.

[lilly13]

If you practice yoga, the best thing is to do pigeon or double-pigeon poses several times per day. Also, do legs up the wall and hip openers/stetches. I hope you feel better soon!

[lilly13]

Elk, please take a look at the links below pertaining to best yoga poses to relieve sciatica. Try to stay in these postures for at least 1-2 minutes as a start and repeat a few times per day.

www.womenfitness.net/top10_yoga_exercises.htm

www.wikihealth.com/Yoga_poses_for_sciatica

www.yogajournal.com/practice/812

www.suite101.com/content/hatha-yoga-for-sciatica-a154024

www.yogawiz.com/health-issues-and-yoga/yoga-for-sciatica.html

Hope you feel better!

[AmazingBouncingFerret]

Oooh I had what I think was Sciatica when pregnant with DD. I would get shooting pains down one leg that were unbearable. I had one episode where I was pretty much "pinned" to the floor in pain, heavily pregnant, swearing at my mother that I wasnt in labour.
Honest to god, my labour with DD was so quick that the sciatic pain was far, far worse.

[Samraves]

I have been struggling to keep my sciatica under control throughout my pregnancy - I have had it before, but it is difficult to keep under control as I can't do all my exercises that normally keep it bearable.

I know people have probably already mentioned these to you, but in case they haven't and in addition to stuff already mentioned on here:

sleep with a pillow between your legs to keep your knees apart

check that you are relaxing your muscles when you are sitting down (esp your bum) - very easy to tense up without realising and relaxing your muscles will help

Keep moving! Go for a walk even if it is painful and someone has to help you... i find that gentle stretching exercises to stretch the back of my legs help, so trying to touch the floor (not easy at 38 weeks) or anything you may have picked up from aerobics etc to stretch your legs can be helpful.

Also make sure you gently stretch you neck and shoulders so that you don't get referred pain.

And keep moving stretching every few hours and even do some stretches when you get up for a wee in the night.

I hope this helps - and if you don't know what stretches to do then i agree it can be good to see a physio,

Hope you feel better soon
x

[elk4baby]

Thanks! That's awesome!
I am doing some yoga and stretching, but it's not helping that much :(. And going for walks seems to make it worse - especially, if I'm actually trying to get somewhere (used to walking at a fast pace).
I also read that massage therapy can help. Is this true? It's quite pricey... very nice, I'm sure, but I'd like to have some reassurance that I'm not paying just for the nice feeling of it :)

[cheeseandcrackers]

I found that the best thing for my sciatica was my tens machine. I bought my own (about £20) after borrowing one from my physio department and it was the only thing that took my mind off the pain and loosened me up, especially first thing in the morning.

[Hopalongcassidy]

I've had sciatica since 18 weeks-now 34 and moving nowhere without crutches! This is unhelpful asvi slso have a toddler!

Best advice anyone gave me was to teach my 2 year old to climb himself into car seat/pushchair/booster seat at table. He stands on a box to help me get him out of his cot, so I lower him but don't lift him. Any lifting at all (sometimes unavoidable when dealing with toddler tantrums) makes things much worse.

Walking short distances is good and easier using a pram as a zimmer frame. Swimming (front crawl or just legs with a float when v knackered) seems to make a big difference, as does pilates. In fact, lots of the pilates exercises are similar/the same to the ones the physio gave me.

I see a specialist maternity physio who gives me belt/crutches/reassurance, and also manipulation and massage. It's worth seeing if you can be referred. Good luck!