Pelvic Girdle/Sciatica

[HeyDW96]

Wondering if anyone else has had the same so early on.

I feel utterly ridiculous and a fraud for this so early on (15 weeks) but the last week I've had a shooting pain right down the middle of my left buttock. Anytime I have weight on my left leg it's painful, sometimes my foot is numb when I wake in the morning.

I have a really active job and today I ran in to an emergency, the pain shot right up my back and I almost went down on my left leg. I've been in quite a bit of pain since, it's not unbearable but I'm hobbling.

Apart from paracetamol and a hot water bottle I'm not sure what else to do until I can get to the gp. Had a quick google, could it be pelvic girdle or sciatica?

Thanks in advance!x

Sounds like sciatica alright. I had this when I was pregnant, the only thing that helped was paracetamol, when not pregnant ibuprofen is your friend.

Your doctor won’t be able to give you any thing else unfortunately. Try to elevate your leg when sitting down with a cushion under your knee. It is grim and not much you can do.

@LemmysAceCard thank you for replying! I honestly though 15 weeks would be too early to have sciatica, I have a little bump but I'm by no means going to be crippled by a baby the size of an apple surely!?😩😂

I have a working breed dog and we're really active, the walks actually aren't helping it's only comfortable when I'm at rest unfortunately and I don't want to be sitting on my backside for months 😞

Sciatica isn't that common. If the pain is around your buttock it could be SI joint pain from a change in posture and ligament laxity. Bring your bump/tummy up and in and stand back on your heels, make sure your bum is tucked in so your pelvis is rotated. Figure of eight whilst standing can help as well as a little firm ball to sit on - google piriformis muscle if you're not sure where it is and place the ball in the middle of that muscle or get someone's elbow in there, if that muscle is tight it can become inflamed and press on the sciatic nerve which may be referring down your leg... sciatica is irritation of that whole nerve so will follow the pathway.. if you think it could be that good stretches fro sciatic nerve.. one is sit upright, extend your leg out in front of you and point toes towards the ceiling as much as you can. Hope you feel better.

Pelvis isn't rotated that should read!

@HeyDW96 I had this from 16 weeks so felt too early as well! Midwife just said the baby was probably in an awkward position and resting on a nerve, and it will might ease as the weeks go on. I’m 23 weeks now and it got worse before it got better but it has improved now. Hoping it doesn’t come back!

[quote HeyDW96]@LemmysAceCard thank you for replying! I honestly though 15 weeks would be too early to have sciatica, I have a little bump but I'm by no means going to be crippled by a baby the size of an apple surely!?😩😂

I have a working breed dog and we're really active, the walks actually aren't helping it's only comfortable when I'm at rest unfortunately and I don't want to be sitting on my backside for months 😞[/quote]
I got it early on too, it lasted a few weeks then i didnt get it again. Little bump that caused all that is now a 25 year old son, this thread has reminded me of the pain he caused with sciatica so i might go round and see him later and kick him in the shins for revenge

Mine was the other way round, walking and standing was fine but sitting down was torture.

I am having a bad bout of it again so i know how you feel and grimace along with you. Not pregnant but i think it is sitting at the dining room chair that has caused it. Eating ibuprofen like there is no tomorrow!

Mine went after the 20 week mark and i didnt get it again, i found elevating my legs and not standing for too long helped.

If you search the nhs website for sciatica, there are some gentle exercises that really help stretch out the muscles. I'd say within a few days I saw some improvement.
It could be the start of PGP/ SPD though so check the pelvic partnership website to check your symptoms. Even if it isn't, the adaptations aren't going to hurt and will protect your back and pelvis.