Pregnancy with sciatica

[HopingForALittleOne]

Hello, I'm currently TTC and would love to hear from those who suffer with sciatica or bad back problems and what it has been like while pregnant?

Does pregnancy trigger sciatica? How are coping? Are you still at work?

When I get bouts of sciatica it can last several weeks and really cause me problems ( can't lie down for long or really sit and get exhausted trying to move around).

I've always had lower back problems and five years ago I had to have back surgery as one of my discs slipped out in my lower back causing severe sciatica.

I have two other squished discs in my lower back and that coupled with sciatica I get I just wonder what will happen when I get pregnant and as pregnancy progresses.

I would really love to hear from anyone else and how they have found it and what they have done to manage it

Thank you in advance xxxx

I had sciatica from about mid pregnancy last time. I loaned a TENS machine from my midwife. . Enabled me to get on with me day! I actually went camping at 31 weeks and managed an air bed and walking no problem!

lovecain that's really reassuring thank you. It's good to know there are ways to cope.
Anyone else use the tens machine or any other tips? Xx

No other tips really, just sharing experience. I had surgery for a slipped disc (causing excruciating sciatica) in 2005. Had absolutely no problems during first pregnancy in 2011. I'm now 20 weeks pregnant with DC2, and it's just starting to cause problems. Taking today off work as sciatica pretty bad. I'm going to see osteopath and will be taking Pilates classes to strengthen back as best I can but feel it's a little late to be doing this! Should have perhaps worked on my back before pregnancy, but have been slack and naively thought after DC1 smooth pregnancy it wld be ok. Can you try any exercise/treatment now while TTC? I'm going to look up the Tena machine option as well. Good luck xx

Hi lucinda yes that sounds similar to me I ended using crutches and a wheelchair for four months while I was waiting for surgery. Since then I've always had a fear of it getting that bad again.

It's comforting to hear you had no troubles with your first pregnancy but sorry to hear sciatica is bothering you now.

Strengthening muscles/exercises good advice. I'm my own worse enemy I do them religiously after I've had episode of sciatica and then when my back feels good I start forgetting/not finding time/ assuming I'm ok and I then I curse myself when it comes back!

I think I've just been scared I will get to a certain point in pregnancy and then have to cope with sciatica for rest of pregnancy. X