Is this Sciatica? If so OUCH

[jemsy87]

Hi Ladies,

Am 24weeks +4 and have been having some really bad pain in my back on the right side and all down my bottom and leg on the right side to the point of It hurts to walk sometimes. Was wondering if A) this is normal B) do you think it could be sciatica and C) If this Sciatica can i have your best tips to ease the pain pretty please.

Thanks Ladies x

Sounds like sciatica to me. Can't give advice personally, except to go to your doctor and ask for a physio referral asap. I had a pain in my bottom which I thought might be the beginning sciatica. It turned out to just be a tense muscle, but I was told that here the gps send pg ladies to the physios quickly. You could also see a chiropractor, but that's obviously not funded by the nhs. I just wouldn't delay getting professional help. It sounds awful.

Hope you get some relief soon!

it is just on one side? sharp shooting pains? worse when you lie down? I had it and this were my symptoms. though they only started at 39 weeks (now 41 weeks). talked to my MW and she said the best way to get rid of if would be to give birth (good idea when you are due but not at 24 weeks). other than that she suggested I take a paracetamol if I can't stand the pain. I also found, that a hot bath helps me. but as you still have a long way to go, I would probably check with MW or GP if there is anything else that can be done (maybe physio?)

Hi Jemsy, I have sciatica and yes, it feels the way you describe although mine eases up when I walk. My doctor said I was allowed to take paracetemol and codeine tablets (over the counter from Boots) and they are slightly more effective than just paracetemol. I also find a hot water bottle on the base of my back works quite effectively. Other than that it's physio and chiropractors....

Thanks for your replies ladies,

Yeah its a sharp pain down one side and it is worse when I lay down or stand up after sitting or laying for a while - its to the point that the pain is making me feel sick, Have gps friday so will mention it then x

This is likely to be Pelvic Girdle Pain, usually mis diagnosed as sciatica

www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/antenatalhealth/physicalhealth/pelvicgirdlepain/

The only thing that helps is me is resting - no walking round and staying home as much as possible!

Jemsy, please take a look at the links below pertaining to best yoga poses to relieve lower back/leg pains. Try to stay in these postures initally for at least 1-2 minutes and repeat a few times per day, and then if you can increase the duration of excercise. If you practice regularly, the benefits are amazing!

www.womenfitness.net/top10_yoga_exercises.h tm

www.wikihealth.com/Yoga_poses_for_sciatica

www.yogajournal.com/practice/812

www.suite101.com/content/hatha-yoga-for-sci atica-a154024

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

Hope you feel better!

Exercise may help but please be careful with those yoga poses when pregnant.

There seems to a be a lot of poses lying on your back. You should not lie supine after 18 weeks (I think) because of the weight of the uterus on the vena cava. It can make you feel quite dizzy as it deprives blood flow. Also, for optimal fetal positioning you don't want to be tipping your uterus backwards much, it encourages a baby's heaviest part to move to your back, i.e. back to back.

Forward bends are not recommended if you have a low lying placenta.

You have my fullest sympathy. I had sciatica through my last pregnancy and labour and now, at 6+2 with dc2, it has kicked in again much worse than with DD.

I am definately going to ask my GP for a physio referral, I found the pain was worse in labour and I want to avoid that if I can.

With my last pgnancy I got this pain after sex in the last few months! Like a religious punishment for enjoying myself!

Also, sometimes I get it when I use a tampon, which is odd, think it must be to do with nerve pressure.

Hope you get it sorted out, it's horrible and it feels like nothing you can do will sort it out, a deep kind of pain.

Whether it's sciatica or pelvic girdle pain, I think you should insist on a physio referral. Don't just mention it to GP - you've got a lot of weeks left to go and it's unlikely to get better. At 28 weeks I could hardly walk with PGP, was in so much pain, utterly miserable. Had 3 sessions with a specialist physio, and am still active now at 40 weeks. GPs will try to fob you off, since the condition is obviously time-limited, but treatment is effective and will make a big difference to how you feel for rest of pg and to how ready you are for the birth.

Hulla, are you a yoga teacher? it is actually ok to lie on once's back up until 27-30 weeks, depending on one's body type...

No, not a yoga teacher lilly13 but I am training as an antenatal teacher so have studied movement in pregnancy.

I am fairly certain that lying on your back by 29 weeks is a no-no. Have you been doing it? I think the NHS says 16 or 18 weeks, lying on your left side is best.

I wouldn't worry too much if you've been doing it up to now, say if you slept like that, you'd wake and shift position if the weight of your uterus was pressing on your vena cava. But you should try and avoid it as much as possible, particularly in later weeks for baby's optimal positioning for birth.

NHS guidelines in exercise section

good explanation here

Experienced yoga teachers say it is ok to lie on one's back until 27-30 weeks. You will learn this if you view a few yoga DVD and/or read books... Of course, one must listen to one's body. Btw, all postures that you deemed lying on one's back can be easily modified to be done as standing postures. These are very simple and effective excercises.

Experienced yoga teachers might but the NHS don't.

Spinning babies website is particularly good for explaining why you shouldn't lie on your back in pregnancy. It's a website dedicated to optimal fetal positioning i.e. the best position for birth.

Obviously it's up to each individual but personally, I wouldn't be taking any chances, particularly as you say positions can be modified for pregnancy.

OP I find I get some relief from sciatica if I don't bend from the waist but crouch instead. Good luck!

Ive got the same problem but in my left side, just got back from docs coz ive had it for ages hes reffered me for physio. Prob wouldve had the baby though by the time i get an app!