Sciatic Nerve

Hi D.,

Try going to the Chiropractor. They have special adjustments for pregnant women. More and more pregnant women go to the chiropractor and I have heard a lot of testimonies of pregnant Mom's that go to the chiropractor actually deliver with less pain because they went.

sciatica Is VERY painful.

The only way I ever got mine healed was with chiropractic care. I know a really good woman chiropractor in Gainesville if you would like more info. Let her know you are PG so she will know what to do or not to do.

K.

Dr. Amanda Watson ###-###-####

When I was in my 14th week, my sciatic nerve was causing incredible pain. Day, night, standing, sitting... I went to the chiropractor and it offered a little bit of relief the next week or so. Then it flaired up again badly... I went and got a hot stone pre-natel massage and told the masseuse about the pain. She concentrated on the hip and lower back. I left that appointment and went straight to the chiropractor who did an adjustment. I haven't had a sciatic pain since then and my little one is 4 months old. The key is getting that nerve out from between the muscles it's pinched in.

A massage therapist got rid of mine in one session. I must say, it was a painful massage... she explained that muscles were in spasm around the nerve, so she really got in there. Well worth it though. Unfortunately she's moved to Chicago, so can't recommend anyone locally. Good luck. I know how painful that is. Oh.. and she showed me stretches to do in case it comes back. Every now and then I feel a twinge but am able to keep it at bay.

Check out a product called "Miracle Ball"

You might have heard about this before... ask your husband to iron a blouse or cloth and put it in your back when you go to sleep.. as hot as you can take it... also when you sit down on the couch to watch TV or just rest... The more often and hot you can take it.. It relieves a lot of pressure and eases the pain..
My husband used to put pillows in the dryer for 15 minutes and then put them in my back at night so I can sleep better.. Hope this helps..

Hi D.! Congratulations on your pregnancy. I'm a certified yoga instructor. I teach prenatal yoga and practiced yoga during my own pregnancies. I'm not a chiropractor, phy. ther., or doctor so I would recommend that you make sure you get full clearance by a professional before trying anything new of course (and to actually make sure it is sciatica if you have any doubt.)

I've had students with sciatica that have found much relief thru practicing some yoga postures. You are still in the early stages of your pregnancy where normally one wouldn't have too many restrictions on the poses practiced. There are several postures you can try such as 'downward facing dog', 'warrior 1 and 2', 'easy pose', 'badha konasana'. These postures and many more can be found on 'yogajournal.com' website. Click on 'poses' then select 'theraputic focus' at which point you can select 'sciatica'. Click on one of the poses it recommends. It will show you a picture of the posture, the theraputic benefits as well as the contraindications. It will also give you modifications. You typically want to stay away from the twisting poses during pregnancy so I wouldn't try these. Ideally, you might want to seek a certified prenatal yoga instructor, but if money is tight or you'd rather be in the privacy of your own home, you have this option. Also, many libraries have a wide assortment of prenatal yoga dvd's or vhs tapes available.

No matter what you decide to do, I hope you find relief so you can enjoy this beautiful time and gift from God. Feel free to contact me if you have further questions ###-###-####.

I had the same problem with BOTH of my children, with my second child it was for the entire pregnancy. The only way I got relief was by going to he chiropractor. I know it sounds crazy, but it is perfectly safe!!! Even my OB recommended going to one. Just make sure that your chiropractor is experiences with pregnant women, some aren't. Where do you live I can recommend someone for you if you want. I have one in Powder Springs. And I have a personal friend who has 2 offices, one off of Dallas Hwy and one off of Roswell Rd. Seriously...GO TO THE CHIROPRACTOR!!

Find a good chiropractor! It will be the best relief you could imagine! When calling them make sure to ask them if they are used to working on pregnant women it would be handy too if you knew ahead of time if they knew the webster technique in case you need it down the road.

Hi Deana.. I had sciatic pain with all three of my babies and the only true relief I got was going to a chiroprator. Its the only time I have ever gone, but it made a world or relief for me. Just make sure you find one who has a special table for your growing belly, and what is great about that table is when you are far into pregnancy, you are able to lay face down and all that pressure on your back is gone.(the center of the table drops out). It was heaven for me I offten fell asleep.

Chiropractor for sure! They are quite helpful. I like the ones that don't do the 'manual' adjustments. I like a more gentle approach and have the activator used on me instead.

Hi! I am a Chiropractor so I'll 2nd everyone else:) This is a VERY easy fix for us! You will find so many other benefits to chiropractic treatment during preganancy too! Find someone you are comfortable with, many offer free consultation. Best of luck!

I never had that issue but with my job that I had and being pregnant I had a massage 2x a week and it made my pregnancy so much more comfortable. When I was younger I did see a chiroprator (sp) and that helped with my back and neck pain. I do like the the 15min pillows in the dryer.

Hey D., I went through this during my pregnancy and I'm dealing with it now. During my pregnancy, I was told to take more time off my feet and this time around I'm being sent to physical therapy to get strapped down and stretched!!!! I've been trying yoga and it does feel so good but I can't seem to get that pop that I need. I hope it works because I've been living with it for almost four weeks and running after a five and three year old.
Take it easy and good luck!

D.,

What really helped me when I was pregnant with back pain was seeing a chiropracter. It is really good for the pregnant body:)Ivey/O'Sullivan practice in downtown spartanburg is really good as are some of the students at sherman--it's 15 dollars a visit there. If you are interested and would like the name of an intern I am happy to provide. Good luck!

Heat helps. I had a thing called a Wuvit--it's like a small pillow with beads in it. You microwave it for a minute and it stays hot for almost 8 hours--great for when you are sitting on the couch watching tv.

i know that several people have responded to this but this is something i dealt with to the point of not being able to make a movement without being in horrible pain, like take your breath away pain. it started around 20 weeks or so. i went to a chiropractor and he was my saving grace. after about the 3rd visit i was feeling somewhat normal. i looked forward to every visit. good luck.

Find a reputable chiropractor! I visited often while I was pregnant. It really helps! At home, when it started to bother me the only place I could find comfort was the recliner. A friend used a massage therapist and she said it was wonderful!

I had Sciatica pain with 2 of my pregnacies; I took extra vit D and Potassium and that help some; I even was told to lie down flat and elevate my legs on a couple of pillows; If the baby shifts position that should help some
Take care
A.

Hi D.,

I agree, find a good chiropractor. Not only will chiropractic help your pain but it will improve your immune system and will help the baby be healthier.

God bless!

M.

I had the same problem throughout my first pregnancy. Seeing a chiropractor regularly seemed to help quite a bit. Congratulations on your pregnancy!

I went to a chirpractor the whole time I was pregnant for this pain- it helped sometimes, but not all the time...see if you can get a good one recommended in your area.
Good luck
Nikki

I went to a Chiropractor who specializes in pregnancy related pain and he showed my husband and I a stretch that helped relieve the pain during my pregnancy.

Dr. Blotner in Alpharetta specializes in pre and post natal chiropractic. I could barely walk when I found him and was pain-free later the same day! I wish I had gone sooner. He's on Old Milton and accepts insurance (I have Aetna, and he definitely works with them.

Good luck and congrats!

i can totally relate--i had the same problem when i was pregnant. I was told that it was the baby on the nerve and that when he shifted i would feel some relief. It eventually happened. Have you tried any stretching exercises--you might want to talk to your OB and a massage therapist about it. I hope you have some relief soon

There are stretches you can do to help this. A pre-natal yoga class is one route to go if you are unfamiliar with stretching. This is very common with pregnancy, and unfortunately, it is probably going to nag at you for the length of the pregnancy.
It is hard to explain, but if you sit on the floor with one leg out and one leg "indian style" under the straight leg.. you can have someone pull your arms forward and you will feel it release tension where the sciatic hurts. You may have to play around to figure out what the heck I am talking about!

D.-
I know that lots of people have already responded with this, but the only thing that worked for me was a combination of regular (weekly or so) chiropractic care and prenatal yoga. Being put on traction at the chiropractors office helped as well, and you can do that until you are 28 weeks pregnant- or until you can no longer lay on your back due to the blood vessel compression issue. Hope this helps!

Hi D.!
Congratulations on your pregnancy! I have 3 children and my 2nd child, I experienced the sciatic pain and immdediately needed relief and refused to take any pain relief (ie: ibuprofen...) I took myself in to my chiropractor and in a matter of hours, I no longer felt that tingling, annoying, sharp pain down my leg. I had him adjust me one more time to ensure that pain did not come back. Believe me, my pregnancy was very easy with all 3 children, but when I felt that sciatica pain, I knew I would be miserable if I didn't find a "natural" solution. I realize not everyone is open to chiropractic care, but if you are seeking other alternatives, I would highly suggest it. I will be glad to provide his office location (considering it is convenient to you) if you are intersted. He has been caring for me and all 3 of my children for over 10 years now. Good luck!

D.:
I am a representative of a pharmaceutical company that uses natural ingredients to makes its products. We have a section in our quick reference book on sciatic nerve and the products to take for getting relief from the pain. Call me at ###-###-####(Macon, Ga.)

I had the same problem when I was pregnant with my son who is now four. I dont remember everything I did to relieve the pain, but I do remember that laying on my side helped. My doctor also prescribed a light pain keilles. Try laying on your back with your knees up. Bring one leg over the top of the other knee for a couple of seconds then the same exercise with the other leg. repeat several times. Try to do this every time you get the pain. I ended up having to have back surgery when my son was 4mons old. I still have problems with my back to the day. If it comes to that I would not recomend the surgery, however tht is the only option I have since I have diabetes they cant give me any of the injections. Hope this helps. good luck with the rest of the pregnancy