Is this sciatica?
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=25339
Printed Date: 25 August 2025 at 2:10pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Is this sciatica?
Posted By: minik8e
Subject: Is this sciatica?
Date Posted: 19 March 2009 at 9:58pm
|
I have been getting the occasional twinges in my left buttock, or just above it, which spreads down my leg, to the extent I can't put any weight on my left leg. Tonight though, I was on the floor and couldn't move, and when DH tried to help me up and accidentally pulled my left leg, I ended up in immediate agonising pain and tears. It's slightly better now, but still showing it's presence.
It's only ever in my left leg and I'm usually stuck in one position (cast like a cow!!) until the spasms go away. I have always got it every now and then, but it seems to be coming more regularly now, and far far more painful. |
Replies:
Posted By: coldfish
Date Posted: 20 March 2009 at 9:10am
|
Hi, I'm no doctor of course but I'd say what you're describing is classic sciatica symptoms.
From my own awful experiences with it, the pain for me always originanated deep within the hip socket and the best way/area to describe it is in the buttock. And sciatic pain travels from there down the leg, depending on the severity it may only cover the buttock/hip area, or spread down the back of the thigh, until in my case my entire foot lost feeling and strength. I was worried this pregnancy with my back pain (this is my first pregnancy) because around the 14 week mark I started having odd twinges again, and even though it was bearable the thought of having another 5 or 6 months of pain terrified me. Well it wasn't the pain that terrified me, I can put up with that, but more the fact of thinking I wouldn't be able to take hardcore drugs for it and if I did seriuos damage again I can't easily have more surgery (I've already had two spinal surgeries in the past). But the good news is, the pain left me after a few weeks! I've had a few twinges this week, now into week 37, but the rest o fhe pregnancy has been fine. I've had a few various symptoms of pregnancy over its course, like back pain, cramping in legs at night, swollen feet etc but for me they last a while as though the body is adjusting to its new size/shape/position etc and then it gets used to it and then you start to feel normal again. The cause of sciatica is the sciatic nerve is being pressed. This can often be because of an inflammed disk, so it is important to rest up and try not to be superwomen and give it time to settle down so don't overdo gardening and heavy lifting or bending etc. So I hope the same happens for you, that the pain will go away on its own as your body adjusts. Other threads have talked about how others have coped, ranging from massage to accupuncture and heat pads etc. I'm not sure of the links to the threads because I'm not that good at searching/posting etc, but I'm sure others will suggest what has worked for them. ------------- 
|
Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 20 March 2009 at 9:36am
|
it does sound like sciatica but i would go to an osteo or something to check it out. i used to get sciatica randomly before my pg but it got really bad about 2 weeks ago so i went to an osteo assuming they could move baby off the nerve and all would be fine (which is normally the case) but instead i found out i have a hyper mobile iliosacral joint and they cant do anything much bout it until the baby comes out when it will return to normal. it is the exact same pain so get it checked out to be on the safe side just in case it isnt sciatica ------------- 
|
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 20 March 2009 at 9:43am
| Gah...fun. Do you have to go to an osteo or chiropractor who is specialised in pregnancy, or can any of them do? |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 20 March 2009 at 11:22am
|
Yep that sounds exactly like what I had in the last 3 weeks of pregnancy with Caden. It got so bad and to the point where every night I was on my hands and knees in tears, I remember falling off the toilet at one point cos I had an attack and it was nasty.
The only things that seemed to help was heat and a bit of panadol and stretching on my hands and knees(putting my bum in the air like). My dad suffered from this really really badly about 10 years ago, and thats the only time(apart from when his dad died) that Ive seen my dad cry. ------------- |
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 20 March 2009 at 11:37am
The best thing for me seems to be lying on my back flat out. I just can't get up again is all  And sitting on the toilet is agony because it hurts to sit, and then I can't actually get up, so I'm stuck there. I hope it doesn't mean I'm going to get it for the rest of the pregnancy, if I've got it this early
|
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 20 March 2009 at 11:45am
|
Im not sure kate, it might just come and go, but...as your uterus gets bigger then it puts more pressure on that area, thats what happened to me, Caden was a big baby and well engaged and all the pressure was hell on my nerves.
I think the best thing you could do right now is get one of those pregnancy belly/back support belts to take some pressure off the sciatica. Ive seen them on trade me. ------------- |
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 20 March 2009 at 11:52am
|
Hehee that's what I worry about Sheza - Caden was a big baby and put pressure on your nerves, and I have two of them instead LOL
I think I will have a look around for an osteo, and a belly support band, because I can't do that regularly. |
Posted By: lisa85
Date Posted: 20 March 2009 at 5:39pm
|
Yep I had the same all through my pregnancy and it still gives me grief! -------------  
TTC #3 since Jan 2010 - PCOS MC April 2010 |
Posted By: Red
Date Posted: 20 March 2009 at 6:58pm
| If you get it seen to early enough and maybe have regular osteo sessions during pregnancy it should be manageable, it is very easily treatable so don't put up with it. |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 20 March 2009 at 9:40pm
|
I think the tummy/back support thing would be a good idea kate, I mean sciatica can be helped but not fixed during pregnancy, until the problem is taken away, and thats when the babies are born(what I was told by my MW). So with some treatment and the band for support it should help you a lot.
I know how much it sucks, I was is agony for nearly 4 weeks with it, and going to the loo was awful cos sitting would make it spazz out something chronic But once he was born, it went away, so it was just the pressure of him.
Hopefully your bubba's are not TOO heavy and this wont cause you too much grief the rest of the pregnancy. ------------- |