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Pregnancy

Sciatica - can't walk!

4 replies

Wildery · 10/09/2018 05:55

I'm so upset and frustrated. Developed sciatica suddenly over a week ago at 35 weeks and it's so bad I can't walk. I'm basically housebound and mostly bedbound. Dr has prescribed codeine but it's not really working and so far I've seen an osteopath, chiropractor and acupuncturist but no help. I've missed DD's first week at school and I'm in excruciating pain every day and night (not sleeping). Has anyone tried anything that's worked? I'm in tears most of the day from the pain and the frustration. Thanks.

OP posts:

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Stuckforthefourthtime · 10/09/2018 06:04

I feel your pain Physio and crutches aren't a magic solution but enabled me to leave the house occasionally at least! Ice packs aren't always instant relief but unlike hot packs, help take the swelling down over a couple of days. Similarly exercises can take a week or two to work, but are really worth it too.

You can usually get a referral to an obstetric physio via your midwife or gp or if the pain is this bad and you have the cash I'd suggest going private asap.

Good luck, it's horrible I know.

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scatteredglitter · 10/09/2018 06:06

Physio from a Physio who specialises in pregnancy helped me as did a support belt and using crutches for a week
Does your mater it's hospital
Have a Physio dept ? Mine had a waiting list but I git an emergency appointment after pleading with them
Hope you feel better soon

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ThirdChildFourthPile · 10/09/2018 09:58

Hi OP sorry to hear that you're suffering. I've been suffering since about 20 weeks.

The two things I've found that have helped to be point where I've actually had pain free days.
1- find my trigger. I can no longer sit up in bed or sit on the sofa. Ever.
I have to sit at a perfect right angle, anything else squashes my sciatic nerve and I pay for it. Big time.
So I bought a nursing gliding chair early because it's perfect for the job. It sucks that I can't just lounge about on the sofa at all for 3 months but it's worth it just so I'm able to bloody walk without being in agony!

I also can't lift of change nappies of my clients (I'm a private care worker and student nurse) because the leaning forward action squashes the nerve.

I've also started using a TENS machine which I bought from Amazon. It place the pads exactly where my sciatic nerve is. One pad under each buttock and one pad either side of my lower back and set it to massage and reflexology and the difference is huge. It feels amazing as well, really soothing for the pain.

I'm also trying to get into pregnancy yoga and antenatal swimming because both of these things help but so far I'm faint to find either in my area.

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Wildery · 12/09/2018 19:45

Thanks everyone for the tips. I'm seeing the hospital physio on Friday so I hope that will help. It's horrendous. At least I only have a few weeks to go, though it's not how I imagined my last weeks of pregnancy to be. Sorry ThirdChild you're having to suffer for so long.