Sciatica?

[StylishDuck]

I'm 22 weeks pregnant and for the last week or so I've had sharp shooting pains at the top of my thigh into my buttock. Right side only, it comes and goes throughout the day, seems to get worse as the day goes on. It's actually usually fine in the morning, which I think is pretty strange since I've been in bed all night. A heat pack usually helps a bit, I've not taken any painkillers for it because, well, you can only really take paracetamol and that's a bit useless. It's bearable most of the time but sometimes the pain takes my breath away.

Dr Google suggests sciatica. I've got a MW appointment on Monday so I'm going to ask there. Any experience/advice from anyone who's also suffered?

could be pelvic girdle pain

So her if she can loan you a TENS machine. Worked wonders for me.

Even managed camping and hiking and slept soundly on an airbed for weeks!!

I suffered and I'm sorry to say I'm still suffering! Your MW likely won't be able to do much, you need a physio referral asap. They will discuss options but a support belt can be helpful and possibly some exercises. If it gets bad do go to your GP as you can have more than paracetamol if you need it - I had codeine for quite a while as it was unbearable.

If you can afford it might be worth while seeing a private physio. I had different pains, but one private physio session to get good advice on stretches and exercises was all I needed. As I say tho, my pain was different, and it was PGP.

I've been prescribed codeine 15mg for pelvis and sciatic pain however I try not to take it a lot because baby can develop an addiction as well as parent, I go through phases where it is bad for a few days to a week then settles down n is not so bad.

Also see about midwife referring u to physio as they can give exercises to help with tha pain, I am currently waiting for an appointment.

Try keep active, staying still can actually make it worse, or has in my experience

I'm pregnant with sciatica - I actually had the sciatica before I got pregnant. I had some time off work and assumed it would get better. I tried going back six weeks but off again now.

I'm 29 weeks now, still have sciatica and physio think could be due to slipped disc but can't find out until after birth. We have mostly been seeing what I can do to manage the pain rather than cure it ( any attempt to try and do exercises to move disc back goes wrong and I end up bed bound)

Sitting on a tennis ball/ dog rubber ball with spikes in it and rolling bum on it in circles helps a little. I also have stopped bending down, carrying anything or mopping / hoovering.

We have been concentrating on exercises to strengthen core muscles. A good tip physio gave me for when I cough or sneeze ( pain was excruciating like a painful lighting bolt down leg) was actually to squeeze bum and tummy muscles to offer support. It's reduced that pain so much.

Painkillers don't do jot so don't take them, heat pads help a little.

I can't really add to much more except I'm still hoping baby will kick disc back into place - a very small chance could happen but I'm trying to keep positive.

Best of luck and hope others have tips to help you too xxx

Sorry should add I've just re read my post when I say painkillers don't do jot I should have said I don't take them - it wasn't advice to you not to take them - what doesn't work for me could work for you with advice from doctor xx

Are you wearing decent shoes with good support?

Thanks for the replies everyone. Sorry, I've not been on much because DD hasn't been well for the last couple of days (last thing I need right now!). I take your points about it potentially being SPD. I don't know too much about it but I'll definitely speak to the MW about it on Monday.

Pains been not too bad for the last few days thankfully. Moving around definitely helps. Problem is my job is mainly desk based at the moment so I have to remember to keep getting up to walk hobble about for a bit every so often.

That should be PGP not SPD Not sure where that came from!