Sciatica? :(

[Artisticme]

So I had physio on Monday at which I was told I have a weakness in my pelvic joints and I was given a support band. I had originally asked to go to physio due to feeling my sciatica was getting worse in pregnancy ( completely self diagnosed and am now 27 weeks) she seemed to just dismiss my sciatica and said that the band would help support my pelvis and stop lower back pain however since wearing the band I feel my sciatica has got a lot worse to the point where I am now struggling to walk:( I havnt wore the band today to see if it eases again but it is just getting more painful and difficult to walk. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to ease sciatic pain atall? Anything would be much appreciated:)

Sciatica is very different to back pain (had both). Does pain shoot down your leg? Have you been diagnosed?
Perhaps this was physio trying to tell you that you don't actually have sciatica. Is this SPD starting or back pain?

Or change physio. I've been to lots and some are incredible, others are complete crap. This one sounds potentially crap. She hasn't really listened to what your problem is (and if she was trying to tell you you didn't have sciatica, she should have made that clear). Did you say you have lower back pain, or did she just assume you did because you were pregnant? I've had chronic lower back problems due to a medical condition and I had excruciating sciatica (where I was reduced to crawling) during pregnancy - the two are very different conditions and I can't imagine they require the same treatment.
You could be getting worse just because your sciatica isn't being treated, or the band may be actively making you worse; either way you need to get back to the physio or see a different one.

I had sciatica during my last pregnancy and it was awful. The physio at the maternity unit diagnosed mine and told me it's actually quite unusual - most back pain in pregnancy is related to something else.

As the previous poster said, I had awful shooting pains down one leg and in my bum. I was given some exercises, which helped a little bit. To be honest though, the only thing that actually stopped the pain was giving birth - my symptoms disappeared almost immediately!

I thought I had sciatica but after reading up on it it is actually quite rare to get it just due to pregnany it's just that the pain that you experience is very similar. It is usually due to pain in your sacroiliac joint, caused by the softening of ligaments in pregnancy. I went to a mctimoney chiropractor and after 2 sessions the pain is gone as she worked on the alignment of the pelvis. Sounds miraculous I know, I'm still amazed as I could hardly move before.

After seeing my physio about lower back pain (which I've had for ever but has got worse in pregnancy) I was given some exercises to do. I've been doing them in the morning but then been left with pains similar to(if not actual) sciatica for the rest of the day!

I think a private chiropractor would be better than an NHS physio to be honest (used to see one and will head back again) and maybe consider acupuncture for the leg/bum pain?

Thanks so much for all the replies everyone:) the pain isn't shooting down my leg atall, it's pretty contained to my left mum cheek and top, back of my left leg. As a result I'm really struggling to move my left leg, feel like I want to shuffle along. As well as that Iv been getting lower back pain which is what the physio said is a result of a weakness in the pelvic joints, something to do with the where they're joining to my spine. And this is what she's given me the support band for. She has left me with an open appointment but I am feeling like it might be better to go private. Or like some of you have said it may just be a case of waiting till little one arrives:/

That sounds like piriformis syndrome which I've had as one of my flavours of SPD/PGP. Buttock pain down into into outer thigh. It can also cause a form of sciatica as I also had classic pain down my leg. I worked it out myself but had it confirmed by my physio (private). It's actually been one of few things that has been amenable to exercise. You can't fix the underlying problem of the unstable pelvis but you can get the muscle to relax.

I put a link to the best videos of the exercises I could find on here because I wanted to share they joy!
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/1887094-Buttock-hip-pain

They gradually get easier if you do them a couple of times a day. Also if it's hurting at night try folding up a single duvet lengthwise in your side of the bed for more padding.

I found it helped having DH help me do the lying down ones by lifting my leg. And try sitting on a wheat bag/hot water bottle.

Oh and the support belt should help the lower back not get any worse - it's your sacroiliac joint that is being affected by pregnancy en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacroiliac_joint_dysfunction - but I am afraid I haven't found anything that actually improves it. I wear mine when standing and walking.

Sorry link en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacroiliac_joint_dysfunction

Hi there, I had sciatica with both my pregnancies and I dont think there is much one can do. Im 34 weeks with my second and tried everything first time round and just eventually gave up. The good news is, it stopped as soon as my son was born and it was the biggest relief ever !
At my worst point I found that sleeping on the floor actually helped and I had a few pain free hours in the mornings. And for some weird reason the pain lessened around 39 weeks? I think the weight of my whole uterus must have shifted. This time round it is again very painful, pain all concentrated in my lower back on the right, my bum cheek and leg. My husband massages it every night and that helps a bit? Try swimming also that does help a bit too?
Someone suggested I saw a chiropractor but I was too scared that too much work on that area could trigger labour so just left it. But if you are more relaxed than me try that?

So: swimming and massages and sleeping on a very hard bed and keep in mind that in 13 weeks it will all be gone. Good luck ! xxxx

Your symptoms sound exactly what I had. Could hardly lift my leg, walking was very difficult. The mctimoney method (chiropractor) is a more gentle form of chiropractice which makes it more ideal for pregnancy. I had never been before and was slightly nervous but I'm a compete convert now. I honestly highly recommend it.

Get it properly diagnosed. I struggled with 'sciatica' for weeks, until a physio friend had a look at me and said I had piriformis syndrome, not sciatica. One I did the exercises she recommended it was gone in days.

Just to say piriformis syndrome is a form of sciatica... www.nhs.uk/video/pages/sciatica-piriformis-syndrome.aspx?searchtype=video

It's just a different location of irritation of the sciatic nerve.

Sorry not having a good day at tucking the linking box www.nhs.uk/video/pages/sciatica-piriformis-syndrome.aspx?searchtype=video

Thanks so much everyone, much more helpful than my physio already!! Havnt had a chance to look at those links yet ladymedea but I will do and thankyou again:) I will try anything!!

And afergie I really struggling to sleep at the moment due to hip pain so I think anything to hard would activate that but massages sound great!! Haha t parter is only ever home for 5 days ever 3 weeks so they will be few and far between but might aswell try it!! Haha and your right, only 13 weeks to go:)