Pain in the @$$. Literally.

[Toposlonoshlep]

I seem to vaguely recall feeling this last pregnancy, but the explanation was the baby pressing on some nerve....which doesn't seem possible, as this time I am only 7 weeks 2 days along. I am having episodes of paralyzing shooting pains into my rectum. They are not cramps at all. Just very sharp shooting and very painful. Anyone else? Or anyone have a possible explanation?

[Thesan83]

I had shooting, terrible sciatic nerve pain early on that was centered in my left butt cheek. Not quite as early as you're describing though. Mine didn't start until about 13 weeks. In my case, I think it was caused by my retroverted uterus pressing into my back until it finally shifted forward. And then the pain went away.

So, it is possible to get sciatic pain before the baby's big enough to be physically sitting on and pinching the nerve. At least in my experience.

[womenswisdom]

Yes, sciatic pain. Chiropractic was HUGELY helpful when I had this in both my pregnancies.

[Toposlonoshlep]

Hmmmmm. That sure sounds about right. I am wondering now if I have a tilted uterus, because when I was in labor they had the most difficult  time catching my contractions on the monitor. I mean, they weren't showing up AT ALL, and that was while in labor. Something to think about...And OMG, I hope that doesn't mean this pain will get worse as the baby grows. Yikes.

[Thesan83]

My midwife told me that a tilted uterus will shift into a normal position during pregnancy and that it shouldn't present any issues. She didn't say anything about it maybe causing problems with monitoring, but...maybe.

My sciatic nerve pain went away completely at about 19 weeks. I was super glad to see it go. My midwife recommended chiropractic care to me, too. But I was too cheap to do that, so I opted instead for demanding frequent lower back/butt massages before bed. Which was actually kind of fun. And it helped a lot. If you can find someone who does prenatal massage, I hear that can work wonders as well.

[Toposlonoshlep]

Mmmmmm....butt massage sounds so good right now. I'll have to barter with DP, although as I recall, he had no issues providing butt massages in the past (I am cheap with money as well, but generous with love)...Your pain going away at 19 weeks is reassuring. It sounds like I have a chance of this getting better, not worse. Thanks!
 

Originally Posted by Thesan83 

My midwife told me that a tilted uterus will shift into a normal position during pregnancy and that it shouldn't present any issues. She didn't say anything about it maybe causing problems with monitoring, but...maybe.

My sciatic nerve pain went away completely at about 19 weeks. I was super glad to see it go. My midwife recommended chiropractic care to me, too. But I was too cheap to do that, so I opted instead for demanding frequent lower back/butt massages before bed. Which was actually kind of fun. And it helped a lot. If you can find someone who does prenatal massage, I hear that can work wonders as well.

[treehugginhippie]

Does it sound like this?: http://www.gihealth.com/html/education/proctalgiaFugax.html

[Toposlonoshlep]

Originally Posted by treehugginhippie 

Does it sound like this?: http://www.gihealth.com/html/education/proctalgiaFugax.html

Yeah, it does....But I don't experience it outside of pregnancy, so whatever it is, it is definitely triggered by either the pregnancy itself or hormones. Perhaps it is "the time of stress" that they describe?

[Abraisme]

I've had that sensation, it's always tied to gas or needing to have a bm.  Try laying on your back and massaging your belly, it might help move things around.  That and take more magnesium if you're constipated at all. 

[treehugginhippie]

Yes, I believe it is hormonal related. Women also feel it before/during or after ovulation and it's mostly non-pregnant women. I've done LOTS of reading about this in the past. I felt it a tiny bit a couple weeks ago (I'm 8 weeks now). I also felt it in labor and during a miscarriage. If you want more info, pm me.