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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Paralysed leg/trapped nerve, what is this?

6 replies

chipsandmushypeas · 06/08/2012 17:17

I was at work the other day and was walking when suddenly the most awful pain ran down the inside of my leg, starting right at the top and I literally couldn't move/walk. It didn't go away until I had a bath and DP gave me a massage. Any ideas what it was? It's come back a couple of times since but not as strongly.

OP posts:
MayimBialik · 06/08/2012 17:37

At a guess sciatica? I don't know much about it and don't have it myself but think its a fairly common occurrence in pregnancy. Google and see if it fits the description

PavlovtheCat · 06/08/2012 17:46

sciatic nerve entrapment. keep an eye on it, if it becomes numb more than briefly/does not go away - see your gp. trapped sciatic nerve is common in pg due to the relaxation of muscles/joints/pelvic bones moving around, but if it is trapped for too long it can cause permanent damage to the nerve, so you should get it looked at for medical advice.

Things to look out for: numbness around your saddle area/genitals, trouble going to the toilet (bowel or bladder, either inability to hold it or inability to go), and if your foot droops and you cannot pick it back up - if any of these things happen, it could be cauda aquina syndrome (rare), which is loss of function of the nerve roots below the end of the spinal cord, which services those areas mentioned. If you have these symptoms, you need to go to A&E to check yourself out.

It is worth mentioning that the above symptoms for cauda aquina is most likely if you have a lumbar disc related injury, so if your symptoms are sciatic pain due to things moving around while pg, you will unlikely (probably not likely at all) get those symptoms, but i mention it in case your symptoms are in fact related to a back problem rather than pg.

Despite what the medical professionals tell me re back pain/sciatic pain and keep moving, the best thing I find for acute episodes is to rest on my back (if you can!) and take paracetemol (cant remember if you can take ibruprofen in certain stages of pg, if you can, take this as anti-inflammatory and will help lots).

chipsandmushypeas · 06/08/2012 17:52

Thank you for replying.

Pavlov that's so helpful, thank you. I thought sciatica but was worried it was spd starting. I've had it happen a couple of times before but instead of inside my leg it was along the lower back and down the back of my leg - always left leg.

It's scary how it can come on anytime, which worries me. I found resting on my back helped the most too rather than walking, which made it worse.

I'll look out for the symptoms you described, but otherwise there isn't much I can do?

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PavlovtheCat · 06/08/2012 18:30

no, i don't think so, other than listen to your pain and stop when you need to (easier said than done I know!). pay attention to the positions that ease/make it worse.

I have mostly constant sciatic pain. I take the max anti-inflammatories that I am able to along with other heavy duty painkillers for back pain, they dont do a huge amount for sciatic pain but ease it a bit. I just try to listen to my body as much as possible, am still learning and accepting my limitations.

Do talk to your gp about it, just in case it is spd related. i did not have that so i dont know what the symptoms and signs are and if they are similar.

chipsandmushypeas · 06/08/2012 20:51

It's only because I googled spd symptoms and it said pain running down middle of leg :( hope it's not the start.

I'm sorry about your pain, this is horrible! I've just tried to get off the sofa and couldn't! It's now in my bottom lower back just above my bum. I had to slowly get up. Horrible.

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PavlovtheCat · 06/08/2012 20:56

i hope it is not spd. good luck, and take it nice and slowly wherever you can.

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