Sciatica

[Brussels1]

I'm 28 weeks pregnant and in so much pain with sciatica it starts from the outer bum cheek of my left leg and goes down to my mid thigh. I struggle walking and I can't get comfortable sitting or sleeping does anyone have any advice I'm in agony!!

are you sure it is sciatica and not PGP (pelvic girdle pain) which can often be confused with sciatica? you should speak to your midwife as she can refer you for physio

Have you tried a TENS machine? I borrowed one off my midwife. Bliss. I even managed to to camping for a week at 31 weeks!!

Just like Ilovecaindingle said, TENS machines word really well. I read somewhere that compressing the back can help. So one thing I use for my back pain is just a gym back support thingy. I got a cheapo one based off this list powerliftingbelts.org/womens-weight-lifting-belts/ and just stick it on while around the house. It actually really helps!

I can sympathise. I've been in agony for 6 weeks and now signed off work with sciatica. I can't walk at all, put any weight on my left leg or sit on my bum. I'm on crutches and taking pain killers from the gp.

If it's really bad, please see your gp and get referred to physio asap. I just put up with it for 3 weeks and was limping. I have certainly made it worse as I can't do anything at the moment! And I've got to wait another 2 weeks for a physio appointment.

It's the most excruciating pain I have ever been in x

Go for physio or deep tissue massage.

Thanks for your advice I'll look into it all

I find sitting in pigeon pose helps :)

Weirdly I had it from 6 weeks to about 30 weeks - I thought it was normally at the end not the start. It got so bad I was on crutches and it was dreadful. I got referred to the physio team at hospital and I did aqua therapy there too.
I saw an osteopath who specialised in maternity issues which helped a bit. I didn't take painkillers. A support belt helped some too. It was w my first baby so didn't have a toddler demanding my time so I was lucky.
TTC again now and I'm worried it will happen again. Keen to try a tens machine if it does as didn't try that last time.
Best of luck OP.

Sitting on a hot bottle on the affected side helped me. I had it with my second. It's terrible though and you start to walk funny even when it's not hurting, for fear that the next step will reignite it, Physio said that only adds to it (tight, fearful muscles) but it's hard to relax! Dreadful. I hope I don't get it this time. All the best.

www.babycentre.co.uk/a564618/pelvic-girdle-pain-pgp

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/pelvic-pain-pregnant-spd.aspx