Sciatica... any good cures?

[HeadFairy]

I've got nasty pain radiating down one bum cheek and down my leg (well down my calf really) so I'm assuming I've got some sciatica. Am 21 weeks pg so can't take usual mega pain killers. Can anyone suggest a surefire treatment because I'm hobbling like an old lady!

[Noodleboo]

Hi, I am a physio and can't really advise you what to do but you can get a bit of laxity in your pelvis whilst pregnant. Therefore, things can just move out of place a bit. You can try the usual things, hot bath, hot water bottle etc and being careful about your posture. I am also 20 weeks pregnant and noticed that I was standing with a real curve in my spine and my bump very far forwards - not good for the back. Try and remember to keep your bump pulled in as much as possible and tuck your bottom in. Lying on your back on the floor with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor, some gentle knee rolling to either side - let your knees flop down slowly to the left then up and back to the middle, over to the other side but just make sure this is not too painful and don't go into the pain. Your midwife might be able to suggest a physio appointment if it is bad or even a maternity support for you until it gets better. Hope that's not too waffly!

[FifiOK]

My midwife suggested sitting on a fitness ball. Also can be relieved by a yoga posture when you go onto all fours, curve your spines up, tucking your bum in. Hope it impoves for you.

[HeadFairy]

Noodleboo, I have quite a lot of hypermobility, I think I scored 7/8 on the Beighton scale or something (I can put my hands flat on the floor without bending my legs, bend my thumbs back on to my arm etc) and I've had a lot of back problems in the past, facet joint pain, a damaged disc at the L1/S1 junction etc etc. Almost as soon as I got pg I noticed my posture went as it did last time, the curve in my back increased, my old physio used to call it my duck pose - bum out, big curve in lower back.

I will try the knee rolling, thanks for that. I should really try and find a pilates for pregnancy class but we're in the middle of a house move so I can't really find a class as we're moving around a lot. I think that would probably help with the posture. In the mean time I will definitely try and keep my tummy pulled in and bottom tucked under - I promise

Fifiok - my boss very sweetly got me a footrest for work but I didn't ask for it, and really a swiss ball might have been a better option. I wonder if I can persuade him? I can't really drag one on the train every day

[Noodleboo]

Pilates is good but it needs to be taught properly by someone who knows what you can do and the level you are at. A gym ball can be good for mobilising you but it might aggravate you more at the moment until you have let it settle. They can be really good for getting activity in your core muscles - back, stomach, pelvic floor, diaphragm- but again, you have to be careful. It sounds like if you are so mobile you might need a support to help everything keep in place and a programme of graded exercise to help build up your tone in the area. Can you see someone, midwife etc to put you in touch with a professional??

[binzle]

I had acupuncture for Sciatica before I was pregnant, presume it is still okay to do while preg, check with MW