Sciatica in full effect now

[charmcitymama]

Anyone else? I guess I'll be making some calls to find a chiropractor on Monday. What else can I do? I will be going to pre-natal yoga when I can, but, that won't be too often. Massage? Will that help? That is $$ though.

[amybw]

keep moving. walk or whatever. Keeping still makes it worse I believe. I still ahve it and my DS is 20 mths old.

Dont lean back in your desk chair or sit in recliners, etc often.

Do stretches. My chiro just suggested lying on my back, legs bent, pullng my knees up to my chest. I know that is hard when you have a belly in the way though. Do one at a time. Dont pull your knee to the outside, pull it straight up or to the opposite side.

Hope you get some relief!

:)
Amy

[charmcitymama]

Amy, After delivery of my first I did chiro for a LONG time and it did NOTHING. It was pretty severe. I finally started going to physical therapy where we did a little traction and some basic exercises. Then it moved on to doing Pilates. THAT is what helped SOOO MUCH. Gaining the strength in my abs and lower back is what I needed.

I know I need to go back to Pilates and could do some of it now. However, before my insurance was the kind they took and now it's changed. So, I could go to the classes rather then individual, but, I guess I should call.... I will be going to the Pilates classes after delivery.

[EllasMama]

I did chiro when I had bad sciatica with DD, and adjustments "cured" it. I did have relapses a few times and had to go back in, but eventually it went away entirely. I am also doing chiro this pregnancy for some sciatic pain (though not bad) and my neck, but it doesn't "hold" very well so I have to go in every week or two. I know from my non-pregnant days that adjustments don't hold when I'm not exercising and keeping my body strong (which I've not been doing the past few months). So I'd recommend a combo of moving your body, stretching, and chiropractic adjustment. And hey, massage is great if you can afford it or if your insurance pays!

Oh, and be sure to find a good chiropractor who's experienced with pregnant women. Ask your midwives or doctor and friends for a referral. Or a prenatal yoga instructor, etc.

Good luck - I feel (or have felt anyway) your pain!

Carol

[vegetalien]

i tried going to a chiro when i had sciatica with my first pregnancy. i spent an arm and a leg and it didn't make an iota of a difference. then i asked my prenatal yoga teacher what i could do, she showed me some stretches, i did them and three days later it was completely gone and never came back!!

this time around i have it again, milder so far, but i've been doing the stretches. they are helping, but this time around it keeps coming back anyway. the stretches relieve the pain but only in the short term. i had my first prenatal yoga class this evening so was able to talk to my (same) instructor again, thinking maybe i'd forgotten the stretches and wasn't doing them properly. she said the stretches work if it's a muscle issue, but if it's to do with your pelvis adjusting, then an Osteopath is what you need.

personally the idea of an osteopath sounds way less frightening to me than a chiropractor.

good luck
rowan

[ksmommy]

hi!

just lurking from the May thread and just wanted to say that I deal with sciatice from the time I find out that I am pregnant. It is one of my pregnancy "signs". For me it's hereditary, I have inhereted from my mom. I just have to live with it until after birth, it's HORRIBLE. I am gonna finally get to go to the chiro, I have been skeptical about it, but I guess I have no choice. I heard someone mentioning walking...not for me, the moreI am on my feet the worse it gets.
Hope you get to feeling better... :throb

[MellowMama]

I have it too, and I had it throughout my first pregnancy as well. It's mainly on the left side, and sometimes I move just the wrong way and it hurts so bad I want to jump out of my skin! I keep meaning to get to the chiropractor, but my insurance stopped covering it and I never seem to have "extra" money. I've seen a "pregnancy pilates" dvd for sale somewhere...I wonder if that would help?

ETA: Ksmommy, walking makes mine MUCH worse as well. Swimming is good though!