Sciatica in pregnancy

[ABCrafty]

Hiya - my daughter is 33 weeks pregnant and is in constant pain with sciatica - she has been in hospital twice in the past 2 weeks but the only thing that she has been offered is codeine. She doesn't want to take this unless she really has to - we have been talking about using a tens machine, Mama+ is the one we are looking at. Has anyone used one recently - can she use it at 33 weeks? Please share your thoughts/experiences - thank you

TENS machines are amazing as I use one for my torn rotator cuff, BUT using one for her sciatica, is a risk, as it can cause contractions given that the pads will be so low down her back and on to her hips and possibly thighs.
I would personally get her to speak with her GP first before she uses one, as she really doesn't want to risk it.
In the meantime and if she isn't already, see if she can do some pregnancy yoga and some gentle stretches to ease the strain on her hips and lower back.
A pregnancy ball is also a really good one for sciatica (pregnant or not).
Hope she's ok and feels better soon 🥰

Could she try to get a video consultation with a sports massage therapist or osteopath? I've had sciatica since I was 14 weeks and had to have a lot of manual therapy to put me back together as I'm also hyper mobile. I get that's currently not an option but I was shown before lockdown how to massage out the muscles myself with a massage ball as well as what stretches I needed to do to try and release the muscle round my sciatic nerve. It's not perfect and i have to push through the some discomfort but it definitely takes the edge off when mine starts to play up.

Another vote for an osteopath here - I couldn't believe how effective the treatment was. I hope it's a possibility.

Thank you for your replies - she suffers with extreme anxiety and has Borderline Personality Disorder, which means she would find it extremely difficult to go to an osteopath or chiro, I have even suggested acupunture. I have suggested that she speaks to her midwife this morning about using this before 37 weeks. I know my cousin used one some years ago and this was from about 30 weeks - but back then we probably didn't understand some of the risks. Although, I guess there are risks with taking codeine which she has been prescribed........ I'm sure she'll get there but talk about feeling helpless as a mum!!!! Still, it's only a few more weeks .............