sciatica? ouch!! pls help..

[bluepanda]

Am 30wks pg with baby 2 and have suddenly got sharp stabbing pain in one of my butt cheeks! I was struggling to put weight on tht side this morning but it has worn off some over the day. It feels like sciatic pain but not down leg. Anyone got advice on how to ease it? Feeling really hobbly and moany and not getting much sympathy (to be fair I do look a bit pathetic...)

ooh no advice i'm afraid but i had this with DS1 and am starting to have it a bit with this pregnancy - got it when i was hoovering so i think when i bend forward it;s worse. I think it's sciatic too. Acupuncture and osteopath can both help that, I believe. My mum had the former for acute sciatic pain and it was v helpful.

I've had sciatica in all three pgs ? always, like you, in the actual buttock, not back or thigh or anything. I found it came in phases, ie would be quite bad for a few weeks, then would ease off. This time round it reached a peak at maybe 25 weeks, I think, then suddenly disappeared and I've had nothing since (am nearly 35 weeks). It worried me with DC1 that it would just get continually worse and worse as I got heavier, but that's never been the case at all.

Not much to suggest, but I found that if it came on after doing lots of exercise, rest would help, and if it appeared after sitting still for a long time, going for a walk helped loads ...

It really is annoying ? with DC2 I first noticed it at around 9wks pg, and wondered how on earth such a teeny embryo could pull on a nerve to cause such discomfort!

I had this really bad - lasted about 3/4 weeks (has now disappeared, did so when I was at 36+ weeks). Dr had to put me on Diazapan and Co-codamol for the pain etc but I visited a lady who was doing pregnancy massage and it really helped I think it was the only time during those weeks that I felt a bit human.

Ohh I have every sympathy. when I was 30 odd weeks pregnant with DD I suffered badly with it. At one point I was literally pinned to the floor in agony. Far worse than the actual childbirth itself IMO!
No advice on treatment im afraid, I just had to put up with it.

Thanks for replies - it's reassuring to know some of you had it in phases, I have been torturing myself with thought it could get worse for the next 10 wks! I think perhaps I have been a bit over energetic we are trying to turn the tip of a spare bedroom into a 'big boy' room for DS1 before baby arrives and i have had flurry of nesting!

I am recovering from a slipped disk which happened in January, I am now 28wks.
This was worse than sciatic pain, and went down my legs, making my feet and toes go numb! ouch! So there is light at the end of the tunnel!
I have also had bouts of sciatic pain over the years, including during my 1st pregnancy, which did disapear in the third trimester.
The physio told me to keep moving, gentle pilates is a great way to ease and strengthen the back.
And normal advice, such as use you legs to bend and lift - not your back!!
Keep posture straight, no slouching on the couch!
Maybe see aphysio for a one off, to get an idea of stretches, exercises etc.
The gym ball is also good, as it eases the muscles surrounding the sciatic nerves!
Also, a gentle massage in the area will loosen the muscles which are probably aggravating the nerves.
Good luck, let me know how you get on.
It is more worrying when pregnant, don't know about you, but I worry that it will start again as I am giving birth? Couldn't think of anything worse?

Hi there, I had it with first pregnancy too and just starting to get it again second time round.
Mine, like others, came and went quite a bit but the things that helped me were, gym ball. I spent most evenings bouncing up and down on this and it did really ease it. And also a doc advised me to do the "angry cat" stretching exercise. Get on all fours and gently arch your back and rock your hips, this helped if I had the sharp stabbing pain, it never quite got rid of it but certainly helped.
Good luck with it, it really is miserable!