Sciatica or pelvic girdle pain?

[piggie88]

I’m currently 24 weeks pregnant and I’ve been getting a pain right at the bottom of my left bum cheek/top of my leg.
I work 12 hour shifts, on my feet most of the time, and if I stand, even for just a couple of minutes, and then go to move and put weight on my left side I get the pain. It’s sort of a shooting pain but like an ache, not too sure how to describe it.
It then eases off if I walk for a bit but it is so
painful initially.
It was then painful in the shower this evening when I lifted my leg up to wash my foot, getting off the sofa and turning over in bed tonight. Just got up for a wee and could hardly walk. I can’t sleep because I’m just so uncomfortable.
I had quite severe pelvic girdle pain with my first pregnancy, I was signed off work for my last 5 weeks, but I don’t remember having this pain and it wasn’t this early on. A few people at work have told me this is sciatica pain but I’ve looked it up and it mainly says pregnancy doesn’t cause sciatica. Just wondering if anyone else has had this and what it could be?

Yes it sounds like the beginning of PGP or SPD. Mine started at 24 weeks too.

Are you able to see a women's health Physio? I've been paying to see one privately - it's $$$ but I'm nearly 36 weeks and still pretty much pain free which is a vast improvement on my first pregnancy.

Things that have worked for me:

• staying off my feet as much as possible/taking small steps/ keeping knees together/ never standing on one leg (even just getting changed)
• serola belt - wearing it as much as possible especially when I'm on my feet
• massage & Pilates with a Physio
• icing my groin and putting a wheat pack on my bum when the pain gets bad!

The biggest thing for me, I think was not trying to push through it and stay active. I did this with DS and ended up immobilised by 36 weeks & it took a good 6 weeks after he was born for the pain to subside. This time I've been pretty sedentary but I figure I'd rather take it easy now & avoid the pain.

P.S. Sciatica is a general term for pain so it can very well be sciatica caused by pelvic issues.

Thank you! I don’t see the midwife for another 4 weeks but I’m pretty sure last time she just gave me the number to refer myself to physio so think I’ll try and give them a ring.

That’s what I did last time, tried to carry on working even though I could barely move and then ended up off sick and not able to do much for my last few weeks before my daughter was born. This time I’m leaving work at 30 weeks, because I’ve been told my job is likely to make it worse, but it seems to be starting earlier this time. Hopefully if I see a physio now before it gets too bad I’ll be able to carry on working.
I don’t want to be like I was last time, especially not with a toddler to look after this time around.

I agree with Gennz - the two aren't mutually exclusive. It's probably sciatic pain caused by pelvic instability.

This is exactly how I am at the moment and I’m not quite 18 weeks yet. I really feel for you! It’s so painful. I work 12 hour shifts too and constantly walking or at least on my feet. I’ve been signed off for two weeks and the resting is really helping. I actually managed to sleep really well last night (well, as well as a pregnant woman can!)
Hope you manage to find some relief, it’s horrible

Honestly if there's one thing that could make a difference quickly it's the serola belt, especially when you can't avoid being on your feet for extended periods.

Thanks guys. It’s not been too bad today so it seems to just be when I’m at work at the moment.