Sciatica, please tell me it will get better!!!!!

[dizzygirl25]

I am having the most excruciating pains shooting down my butt cheek and leg. The midwife says its probably sciatica and should clear up by its self but right now that is no consolation to me as i have spent most of today and nearly all day yesterday laying down either in tears or close to tears. Please please someone tell me how long is this likely to last and how can i shift or numb the pain. Im 33 wks gone and don t think i could bear it if i had to spend the next 7wks like this. Any advice will be very welcome. Thanks x

I know your pain - I experienced the same when pregnant with dd. If you can, try to keep moving and try to get on all fours and swing your hips about a bit. Sciatica is caused by a trapped nerve, sometimes by the baby resting on the area so moving about encourages the baby to move and the nerve to become free. I also found it came and went but definately never returned after dd was born! Hope it eases for you really soon

Do the angry cat! (all fours arching back) thats what a doc told me to do and it did help a lot. I found with first pregnancy it came and went, think it depends on position of baby etc and same for this pregnancy sometimes it is really bad and others not so bad.
Also, invest in a ball, I sat on mine all the time during first pregnancy and rocking hips really helped too.
Hope it clears up, it is miserable!

I had a prolapsed disk a few months ago, and was stuck in bed with it for a week. That has cleared up, but I still get the occasional pain, from the sciatic, and surrounding nerves.
The only ways I have found to ease it, from physio sesions are :-
Hot baths, or hot water bottle on the painfull area.
Posture is really important, don't slouch on the sofa, or sit down for too long.
Try to do lots of stretching and keep active, as the muscles will seize up aound the area, causing more discomfort!!
Walking is good, and use the birthing ball.
I now swear by pilates (used to think it was for lazy people).
You kinda use your pelvic muscles, whilst doing slow, controlled stretching, it strengthens you core muscles, which should then strengthen your back (and help with birth apparently).
Look it up on the net for some exercise ideas.
As I was told - you have to help yourself!!!

My consultant prescribed me ibuprofen for sciatica last time. I don't think you can have it after about 35 weeks though. And I wouldn't take it without getting a prescription. But see your GP or consultant, if you have one, and see if you can get something for the pain.
If it's any consolation, I found it only flared up for 2/3 days at a time, then would ease off for a couple of weeks; it was never constantly bad for days and days on end.

Thanks for the help, i'll definitely be giving the stretching a go and i'll also be on the phone to the doc 1st thing in the morn. I ve got another 4 wks to go at at work and really can t afford to be off so anything that stops me whimpering every 2 mins in front of customers will be greatly appreciated! Thanks again. x

keep moving, my mum has major problems with sciatica thanks to a many times over slipped disc and she finds doing ironing really helpful (i know, weird) as the side to side movement can help free the nerve when trapped and keep movement.

the dr or midwife should be able to give you a referral to the physio who can give you more specific advice on how to manage the pain and movements/exercises that can help and what to avoid.

gd luck, hope the nerve gets untrapped soon!