Is this sciatica?

[woose]

I am 20 weeks pregnant and recently developed a really painful shooting pain in my left buttock area. It happens whenever I move basically and I am in agony. I was wondering if this was sciatica and whether there is anything I could do about it, or is it something that I will have to put up with for the next 4 months!!! Will exercise help or hinder, will massage help do you think?

There are various degrees of sciatica, not sure if its true sciatica if only in the buttock.
Mine used to travel down my leg, now I only get it in my buttock when I move and it is bloody agony.
Go to G.P, some gentle physio might be ok x

Im getting the same pain except its only down my bum crack (sorry if TMI!!)

and its usually when i sit/lay down then get up and sometimes its bad when i walk. Suffered from this since about 14 weeks, im just coming up to 20 and GP put it down to the muscles at the base of your spine relaxing as everything is 'stretching'

If it gets worse you can have physio

I thought I had sciatica when I was pg, but it turned out I had pulled a muscle in my bum cheek

One appointment with an Osteopath sorted it out. IMO it is a waste of time seeing a GP or MW about it, so if you have the money book an appointment with an Osteopath.

Thanks for comments guys. I have just been on walk thinking it would help, but now feel even worse. I can hardly move, I think I will have to see Osteopath as suggested as otherwise I don't know how I am going to get to work.

I was signed off work for a month with sciatica with last pregnancy, and I can feel it starting to flare up again.

I was referred to a physio, but unfortunatley that wasnt much use. I was given a support band but spent more time adjusting it than seeing any change!

Unfortunately sciatica is one thing that gets worse as your pregnancy progresses due to your baby growing.

Hope you manage to get some help

Had this will all my pregnancies, bloody agony. sometimes helps if you get on all fours and do yoga cat stretch thingy. you know, arch your back then do the opposite, up and down, slowly, used to give me a bit of relief, hope it helps.

Oh well it looks like I am in for a painful summer. I shall try the cat thing though and see if it helps. Thanks

woose - i thought i had sciatica till i went to see my physiotherapist. Sciatica is when you get a shooting pain down the back of ya leg(s) but if its just in the bum - like i had, then possibly its a loose pelvic joint. I was in agony and was told that walking can make it worse. Please go to see a physiotherapist as its TRUELY worth it!. i was sobbing on the phone last week as couldnt hack it any longer (As had been putting up with it for over a month). My physiotherapist gave me some exercises to do at home to tone up my back and my bum. i only went twice as i continually did these exercises at home.

Please go........as i wouldnt be able to put up with it (im 22 weeks pg) and was only it will get worse if you dont get it sorted so im so happy now

Apparently it's very rare for sciatica to come on in pregnancy, it's usually Pelvic Girdle Pain- symptoms very similar. I've had it with all 3 pregnancies. You need to see a physio and you can get a support belt to wear that should help it.

Yes, I have read about the pelvic girdle pain and thought it could be something like that. I think I will try and see a physio and get some exercises to do. Thank you for the advice. Do you think I will need to see a specialist physio that deals with pregnancy, or will the ones at the hospital know all about it?

Woose, I have the same stabbing pain on the left lower back, just above the middle of bum cheeks. Can't turn properly when lying on my back and sometimes I'm hobbling when walking.

My pre-natal yoga teacher said it's sciatica and mentioned no massages, etc. are going to cure it but certain postures help. The cat is very good and also try turning to sides, sitting in cobbler position. She advised me not to bend over as it'll worsen the problem.

Will watch this thread with interest!

I agree thats it's probably pelvic girdle pain I have the same shooting pains.

Some physio and a support belt may help ask your MW for a referral to a maternity physio.

Apparently it is very rare for pregnancy to cause sciatica but people often just call any sort of pelvic pain sciatica if they don't understand PGP IYSWIM as they are quite similar. I believe true sciatica is to do with the nerves whilst PGP is stretching of the ligaments leading to an unstable pelvis.

woose - dont wait for a referral for the hossy as you will be waiting and waiting till u get your first physio.

you just need to go to a good physiotherapist and no doesnt need to be a specialist one that deal with pg.

The maternity physio in our local hospital is quite quick at appointments a week at most, worth a try.

I had an appointment today and she said my whole pelvis was misaligned and did some manipulations on it, even if reduces the pain a little bit it will be well worth it.

I had sciatica with first pregnancy. Was agony, and still have it now, although infrequently. I found resting with feet up helps, but you have to get in a comfortable postion which is sometimes hard. It got worse later on and esp. in the evenings. Paracetomol took the edge off the pain. Physio didn't work for me, but it does work for some people so def worth a try - my physio told me you can self-refer to your local hospital physio dept when you are pregnant. You just call them and make an appointment apparently... I went through GP, but would save you the wait.