Sciatica

[VelvetQuilt]

Hi all,

I'm 25+4 wks and currently really enjoying a full on dose of sciatica. Generally it's down my left side and makes things like pushing the recliner on the sofa in with my legs, getting up, sleeping, climbing stairs and bending down very difficult and painful.

I literally cannot get comfortable when I'm sitting. Usually I'm a sucker for crossing my legs (which I find very comfortable) but have been doing my best to stop as my left leg has started to go numb with the sciatica. If I sit on my side I go numb and if I sit directly onto my bum it goes numb, to the point at which I can't feel it when I get up.

More recently (and this might be TMI!) I've started to feel in it my crotch, it feels like a cross between that aroused/engorged feeling you get and a bruise having been kicked right between your legs. Do you know what I mean? Does anyone else experience this?

I realise there's little I can do and I won't take painkillers as there's just no point. I wondered if perhaps a pregnancy massage might help or if indeed it will pass?

I've missed a few aquanatal classes of late and it's since got worse. Should I go back or wait longer?

Please help, it's making me ever so teary/agitated!

Am no expert but from what I've read the crotch thing sounds more like SPD than sciatica. I have sciatica and it is right in the middle of the butt cheeks. I suppose you might have both?! The problem is that the advice on sciatica is to keep moving, whereas the advice on SPD seems to be to rest so not really sure what you should do, other than speak to your midwife and perhaps see if you can get a physio referral?

Maybe someone who knows more about SPD will be along soon...

Hope things improve for you.

Hi Jacksmybaby,

Oh gawd-I was hoping it wouldn't be SPD. I went to see the midwife at 17wks with the these pains (although they were milder without crotch symptoms haha) and she said it was much too early for it to be SPD. Having said that, I'm 8 wks on from that now so I won't rule it out. Think I'll book an appointment on Monday.

Thank you! x

velvet i suffer with sciatica and last time i had a bad flare up, my gp advised if i felt any sort of pain/tingling in my crotch to go straight in. she basically said that with sciatica the nerves that go to that region can get trapped. are you having any probs passing urine? gp told me that if i found i needed to wee less but when i went i was weeing alot (iyswim), again to go straight in.

i have had spd in both prev pg's and it could be that but get it checked anyway.

hope you feel better soon.

x

Hi mumatron,

I'm not having any problems passing urine, I am weeing less frequently but I think that's just a normal thing? I do pee loads (in quantity) anyway so I'm not sure if that's part of it, but the numb/bruised feeling the in crotch is very much there when I get up from a seated position. Will be going to the docs on Monday to see if I can get referred.

Did you have any difficulties giving birth when you had the spd? I can just see my 1st planned birth going down the drain right now, I would hate to have to go against it because of this.

x

I feel your pain VelvetQuilt.

I've had a couple of delightful bouts of sciatica with pregnancy. Nothing more painful (child birth aside I asume)- or undignified - than having to get DP to lift me out of bed. Jokes about fork lift trucks were not appreciated at this moment.

I found paracetomol helpful to sleep through the night a bit better, trips to a lovely osteopath (much better than a chiropracter: you don't want your bones manipulated and crunched, you need your muscles, joints and bones gently coaxed into place).

Also, for immediate relief, alternating hot and cold packs for about 5 mins each was fantastic.

A bit of v gentle yoga if your so inclined can help. But your GP should make a swift referral to a physio if nothing helps.

velvet def try and get a referal for physio. i helped me with my first, but not so much with the second. will def try this time aswell. im only 13 wks but can feel it starting up already

i didnt have probs delivering my two. are you planning on a hb?

Hi mumatron,

I've got myself an appointment with the doctor for this afternoon so will press for a referral then. I just hope it's not too long a wait as I'm shuffling around everywhere. I was referred for physio a few years back as I suffer from knee joint problems and it took months to see someone, that and the exercises just didn't work and acupuncture seemed to be the only thing that helped...and it's starting to flare up again now-joy!

I would love a hb but as this is our first and we have paper thin walls I just wouldn't feel comfortable doing it all at home. I will be doing my best to stay at home as long as I possibly can though, but we'll be going to a MLU at our local hospital providing of course there are no complications in the run up and hope to give birth in a pool. I'm just so worried it'll become too painful for a pain killer free birth :-(

last time i was refered i was seen within 2 weeks, so fingers x'd you wont have too wait.

i'm not fan of hb myself, i like the rest i get in hospital lol. with 2 dc already i need 2 days of bed rest at least.

all the best velvet and i hope the pain eases soon.