This baby is getting on my nerve- August 15, 2010
Up until a few days ago I had only ever heard the terms “sciatica” or “sciatic nerve” vaguely in conversations between people who were somebody’s great aunt or something. (Hey, maybe that will be my blog in like 40 years “Somebody’s Great Aunt”. I’m accepting tagline suggestions.)
It doesn’t really matter whether I’m walking, standing, sitting, laying down, or getting in any other positions humans assume on an average day. IT FREAKING HURTS! It’s like this shooting/pinching feeling on my left side at the top of my butt crack. (Sorry folks, I’m past being subtle.)
The nerve in question from http://health.allrefer.com/.
So, I went to baby books, and my doctor replacement the Internet, for help. From all I’ve read, this sciatic thing is pretty common. (I’m considering it a precursor to the carnage that is to come in labor.) I narrowed it down from other lower back afflictions to sciatica. I really think that’s the issue. Apparently my womb with baby is pressing down on said nerve. I’ve received several pieces of advice including….
-prenatal massage
-acupuncture
-swimming
-physical therapy
-Tylenol
Tomorrow I really am calling the doctor, with hopes I won’t have to use the word “sciatica” until I am indeed somebody’s great aunt. Don’t worry, I’ll blog all about it. That is, if I haven’t gotten on your nerves by then.
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I've got the same thing – just on my right side. And the pain goes down my leg and all the way to my ankle sometimes. The chiropractor has been a God-send for me. I only go every 3 weeks now and sometimes I have bad days of pain but for the most part, the chiropractor has done the trick. The OB was able to give me the names of some chiropractors that they knew worked with pregnant gals. But luckily, the one I had used previously did pregnant patients too. Anyway, hope you get some relief, whatever route you go!
That sounds awful!! I didn't have that problem, but I can imagine how bad that would be. I got super uncomfortable there at the end even without that! I hope the doctor helps you find some way to make it a little better!
I am logged in to the wrong google account…poop.
Hang in there! I had some sort of nerve affliction during the 2nd trimester. It was bad enough that I called the doc-on-call in the middle of the night. It went away after a week or two. I guess something shifted and the baby got off my nerve.
Worst case, there are pain meds that are safe during pregnancy. They gave me Vic.odin but I never took it.
Chiropractic care is SO helpful for this! Find one who is trained to work with pregnant moms. You may need to call around a bit. Or call your local doulas and ask for a recommendation!
Also try this – Stand with one foot on the bottom step of your stairs. Have the other foot and leg just hang down (towards the ground) Do for a minute or so. Then turn around and do on the other side.
Let me know if that doesn't make sense.
I first experienced sciatic nerve pain when I was pregnant with my daughter 28 years ago…no i'm not that old…anyway…it comes and goes to this day. Did I mention she weighed 9 lbs. 6.5 oz at birth? No need for explanation. I find the worse thing you can do is sit. It just puts more pressure on the nerve. My massage therapist really helps too. I hope you find some relief, I know from experience how uncomfortable it is.
I feel for you. My personal favorite was when Will would just randomly rub his head across my spine. I'd spontaneously and uncontrollably jump up in pain whatever I was doing. Seems like that was in the last few weeks. Pain meds are safe during pregnancy, so if they give them to you, don't worry about taking them. I was prescribed Lortab three times and had a morphine IV after I had surgery in the second trimester. Will's fine– and astonishingly relaxed and resistant to pain:) This too shall pass. And just when you forget about it, you'll get pregnant again…