Pregnant - Sciatic nerve pain

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Jo, I have some issues with my L3-S1, it was previously just my L5-S1, and sciatica in both legs. However, I've had several falls and other issues since the pregnancy. I've had the back issue for 3 years, after I delivered my 2nd daughter.

Sylvia, I forgot about the ice. That's good advice also. I hope that you can find some kind of relief from it.
 
Please help! I am six months pregnant and experiencing excruciating pain from a pinched sciatic nerve. I had an appointment to see a physical therapist, but my insurance company just dropped my policy!! (Don't even get me started on that one...) I have a two year old daughter, whom I care for all day long, so I have to remain active. I can't even lie on the floor because she wants to jump on my belly. I'm just at the end of my rope, I don't know what to do because I cannot live with this pain, this afternoon I'm just curled up on my bed crying.
Does anyone know of anything - exercises, positions, safe medications - that might help me? The pain is in my lower back on the right side, it shoots down my buttocks and the back of my leg. I assume it is sciatic pain because I had the same problem while pregnant with my daughter and that's what my doctor said it was.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
sorry to hear about this, I went through it with my 3rd pregnancy. I had a 3-1/2yr and 1yr old at home to care for and I worked fulltime. My OB put me on vicodin for the sciatica. It didn't help much, but took the edge off a little bit. Another trick I was taught (it was great to work in a hospital LOL) is that when you are standing, put the hurt leg up on a box or stool and keep the other leg straight--that seemed to work a little bit. Unfortunatelyl, you can only do that while standing. My sciatica never improved and I still have it 2 years later. Hopefully yours goes away after delivery.
 
Thanks so much for your replies, everyone. I barely slept at all last night. I don't think I can take any drugs because I'd get addicted to them (I've had a bit of trouble with pain meRAB in the past). So lucky me - I'm stuck with all natural remedies. I also had someone else recommend the ice to me, ice for 20 minutes followed by heat for 20 minutes. The only thing I'm confused about is where? The worst of the pain is in my buttocks, right hip and back of my right thigh, but I think the pain actually originates higher than that, at my lower spine. Thanks neckpatient for the links too, I"m going to go look at those and see if I can figure it out. I just don't think I can manage this for another 12 weeks. I feel so much compassion for any of you suffering chronic back pain. Only when it hurts does it become obvious that your back is basically your entire body! Thanks again everyone, I'll let you know how it goes.
 
Hi - I just sent you the resource you need to understand where the nerve runs it will explain everything. It is really too bad there are restrictions on sharing that stuff.

If you are allowed to take ibuprofen that works really well for this inflammation in addition to the icing, the stretches, and massage that I pointed you too. I don't think I said it in my note, they told me to ice where it hurts and I also iced the beginning because mine has a herniation in the spine at the nerve root. It is most likely for you that the pregnancy is causing irriation from the pressure downstream in your pelvis. If you want to ice up top as well, look at the picture - basically in the very lowest small of your back. You can't go wrong ICE where it hurts!

I have used Biofreeze myself on my heels , but it wasn't cold enough to get to this nerve so deep in my leg - biofreeze is more for surface stuff for me.

I feel bad for you - I know how bad this hurts - it is disabling. I take major pain medications for my rotten spine and this still was putting me on the couch. Some people live with this their whole lives. If you have had it 2 years - then it is probable you might have it long term. When you can you should get it checked. Day 3 after my epidural injections - mine is finally down to a simmer, instead of loud, angry roar.

Feel better!
 
Ouch - I have it in both legs and I know the pain! This is also very common in pregnant woman. I got injections and it calmed it down a bit, there are lots of things you can do. For self care at home, it really helps to ice your butt and leg. Don't let ice bag be too cold so you don't have to use a towel in between it and you. Lay on the couch and ice - I did 30 mins on 30 off, over and over, it really helps. Mine even went all the way to my feet, I used ice all along the nerve path. My PT pointed me to a few other resources that I cannot post here, but I can PM you.
 
ibuprofen after week 30 of preganancy is usually ok but only if your doctor says it is ok. But you do need to be supervised.

Icing and my TENS machine confuses my sciatic pain, although you cant use some types of TENS in pregnancy. ask your doctor.

hope you feel better soon.
 
Hi neckpatient,
did u recently have an epidural? are u finding good pain relief from it. I have burning leg pain and wondered if you could send me on the resource.
thanks in advance
 
I went through sciatica when I was pregnant too, so I can sympathize with you Sylvia!

The chiropractor, & getting Jin Shin Jyutsu, (energetic healing work) were what got me through. I believe acupuncture & Shiatsu would also have helped - but the first two did it for me - though ongoing treatments were the key. As you well know - the baby & often the extra fluid throughout the body are all factors, not to mention having the major weight concentrated on the front of the body & that can add up to less than ideal posture too. It's all part of the package deal!

Don't sit in overly deep cushy furniture either - because aside from generally being tough to get out of anyway, with the baby on board, it usually causes more stress on the lower back. So firmer & shallowing seating actually helps! So does keeping a pillow between the legs if you're a side sleeper & you may want to have a pillow between the arms too. Those full length body pillows can be a great solution.

Back to the Chiropractor for a second - just wanted to share that I went for upwarRAB of 2 or 3 times a week in the last few weeks of pregnancy & I'm firmly convinced it helped turn my little one - as she was lying transverse for a very long time, then flipped headdown but facing forward - until I had several very gentle sessions where he worked on the sacral region (center back triangular bony section of the hips). Whether that did it, or she decided to rotate around on her own I can't be 100% sure of - but at least she was in the best position for delivery when the time came!

Get your significant other to work on your lower back & hips for you too, as that may help, as can any good deep - but slow gentle massage. Sometimes when pregnant you may be highly sensitive to how you like to worked on - so be sure you have good communication. FYI -No deep pressure to the tops of the shoulders & especially not around the ankles, though as there are some sensitive trigger points in those areas to avoid during pregnancy - until you go into labor anyway!

Good luck with your pregnancy, resolving the sciatica, & having a safe & easy delivery - as well as a strong healthy baby!
 
Hi Magpie,
u have sciatic pain for 2 years? since ur last pregnancy? altho it is common in pregnancy if it is still there in your case you would want to check you do not have a herniated/prolapsed/slipped disc in ur lurabar spine which is pressing on a nerve. how have u been coping with the pain for the last 2 years??? you must have very high pain barrier, good on ya girl :-)

Hi Sylvia, aswell as the cold pack you can try putting heat on it, I had sciatic pain due to disc prolapse and found that heat worked for me, well it eased the pain anyway. I can empathise with your pain, i have been suffering with it for a very long time but for different reasons, what your experiencing is very common during pregnancy. you mentioned you cannot lie down, i would suggest u avoid sitting as much as possible as this will aggrevate the nerve and rest as much as you can, I understand its very difficult with a young child, but do try to stand or lie down, dont sit down. hope this helps
 
while I was pregnant with my son I had severe lower back pain. I was at the point where I would just stay up all night and cry. My husband would stay up with me and rub muscle rub on my back. My doctor gave me a prescription for a device called cumfy craddle. It lifts the baby up and decreases your pain. I would recommend asking your doctor for that. Sometimes you can go into a drug store and they have them with out having a prescription. I know how you feel though and it is very painful. Good luck.
 
When I was pregnant and having trouble with my back, my docotor put me on valium as it was the safest thing he could use. It didn't take away the pain totally, but is sure took it down a few notches.

Also, try getting bio-freeze-you can find it at a good drug store. Choropractors sell it. It's a topical that you roll on and it may provide some releaf for you.-
 
I did have a double epidural for a central herniation at L5/S1 this is day 5. I had one on the right and the left on the same day. I have had many epidurals in my life, this was the first on my lurabar. It was the most painful epidurals for me but worth it. I have dropped in pain level in my legs down from a constant 8 to about a 4 now. I can sit, stand and walk and slept last night. Before the epidural I was experiencing pain all the way to my toes. The real proof is going to be how long it lasts. I have a fairly large herniation/bulge so that will continue to rub the nerve root. I think this is a pretty clear answer my pain was coming from the roots. I will let you know how it goes. I will also send you the info you requested. NP
 
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