Anything I can do about sciatica?

[phdlife]

Am 28 weeks and am getting dreadful sciatica in left side. Paracetamol doesn't touch it and it isn't much better in the mornings than when I go to bed. Doc says "heat" but it is 31 degrees here ffs I can't bear dh putting his roasty hands on me let alone a hot water bottle!

any other tips please?

I'm 21 weeks and suffering quite badly at times.

It helps to swim (or float) for a bit, just moving legs about.

When pain it bad, it also helps to stand up straight and pull tummy in (well, try to). Somehow it helps a lot.

Hi lovely to hear from you! How's things going now (you numpty! ) apart from the sciatica?

Apart from being really careful with what you lift (especially GCSE) and your posture, it's difficult when you're pg and have back pain. Have you asked for a physio referal?

One thing that did help my more general back ache during my last pg was wearing a rucksack (our changing bag is a rucksack!). I think it counteracted the extra weight I was carrying up front and kind of evened me out a bit - starnge but might be worth a try?!

Are we even talking about the same thing?

Sciatica is not back pain, afaik.

No, I know that's it's pain that goes into your leg but it's caused by pressure on the nerve roots that come from your back.

Hey IWIWMO, nice to see you again too You will be delighted to know they are queuing up here to tell me what a numpty I am

You're both right Cote - the sciatic nerve emerges from the spine just above the top of your hip bone (around the back), then dives back into your hip joint and down the back of your leg. (doc showed me a lovely diagram this afternoon!) Where it's killing me is very low on my back, my left butt-cheek (feels like it's got a knife in), then as the day goes on it gets further and further down towards my knee. Haven't had it all the way to my feet yet thank goodness!

Am in the pool nearly every day. Find it helps while I'm in, but not after. Will work ony holding my tummy in though!

The further down your leg the pain goes the more pressure there is on the nerve root (I'll admit to being a physio at this point but I specialise in elderly rehab, not musculo skeletal problems!). So central back pain is better than pain that goes into your bum cheek or leg.

Tummy work will be good, posture awareness and lots of pelvic floor exercises too. Do ask about seeing a specialist physio too.

Aha! Well my dsis, a MW, said if I presented at maternity outpatients they'd send me down to physio, but the GP said he wouldn't refer to one at this stage and I can't afford to go privately darnit.

tummy work = cat arches, holding tummy in? Have been doing my PFEs though of course never enough.

Mine is a knife in my right butt cheek.

I know where the nerve comes from, but if you feel it as "back pain", it's probably not sciatica.

yes, you've got the idea! Also holding your tummy and pf tight before doing any lifting.

Hope it eases for you

thanks, ok

give my love to the MilkMates girlies, won't you? and how's your little one? still working his gorgeous grin?

I had a terrible sciatica, could not even get up from a chair durin g the middle months of my PG. was really really bad, sometimes I was not able even to walk for few mintues. I also had a history of sciatica before, then cold showers along the aching leg helped me. This time round cold showers did nothing for me, so i went for massage: strong ( not relaxing) but strong accupressure massage with oil. Sorted me out straight away. Now I am like a spring chicken. try it , good luck

oh, thanks ranirani, I might try that. massage is NOT dh's strong point!!

If you can afford the £30 to see a sports physio, it's well worth it. Take your DH.

It sounds very like a piriformas muscle spasm. Your physio will do deep massgae to release it, then can show your DH how to do the massage in future. All totally safe in pregnancy - the physio will show you how to lie safely.

I had sciatica with both my pregnancies. First time round was basically just told I had to lump it by the GP and physio. Second time I went to an osteopath, who sorted it out in one session and it never came back. Definitely worth a try.