So is this sciatica?

[greenmansions]

I have been getting such a sharp pain in my right butt cheek (for lack of a better way to describe the location :LOL ). It just jabs me out of nowhere and stops me right in my tracks.

It doesn't go down my leg or anything, it's pretty localized, but man what a bear to deal with.

I had this last pregnancy too, same place, but it wasn't as sharp a pain.

Is this sciatica? Is there anything I can do to prevent it or make it less painful?

[katja]

Ooh mama I'm having the same thing. I don't know what it is, but it's keeping me up at night.

[vegetalien]

yup, sounds like sciatica.

i have it too, although i noticed today it had disappeared completely....hopefully it's gone for good.
i had it last pregnancy too. yoga REALLY helps. there are a couple of good stretches that make a big difference. if it's really bad you can see an osteopath or a chiropractor, but chiropractor's freak me out, personally.

this is the stretch:

sit down on a chair like you normally would with both feet touchging the ground. now take the leg of the side that hurts, place that foot on top of your other knee. the bent leg should be forming a sort of triangle. that's it. now to make the stretch more intense, push down on the knee slightly, but what really helps is sticking out your tailbone a bit (like you're sticking out your bum while sitting). it only takes a slight movement to feel the stretch.

do that several times a day. you can also do the same thing lying down on your side.

good luck
rowan

[3 Little Monkeys]

definitely sounds like sciatica - I had it with all three of my previous pregnancies (and afterward too sometimes) It used to stop me dead in my tracks, sometimes it would almost knock me off my feet! I get massages from my chiropractor now and that has helped tremendously! I haven't had any pain at all so far. You can even have your dp massage it for you - the muscle just above your butt - where they would give you a shot if you were to get one - massage the heck out of that muscle and it releases pressure on the nerve thus alleviating the pain. I hope the pain goes away for you, it's so miserable!

[ChiaraRose]

This sucks!! I have it, too and I already had problems with it before I got pregnant. Everytime I gained some weight, there it was.
What helps me sooo much is water aerobics! I go almost everyday and I hadn't have any problems since. Yoga helps, too.
Good luck!

[greenmansions]

Thanks for the suggestions mamas. I tried the stretch (foot crossed over my knee) and it so far is not helping. I tried walking more and no improvement either.

The pain is getting worse. If this keeps up til February I don't know what I will do. Last night it woke me up and I couldn't even roll over to change positions to alleviate the pain. Plus I had to pee. I finally just went ahead and rolled, but it brought tears to my eyes to do it. Then I had to force myself again to stand up off the toilet, very painful too.

I will probably call my OB's office on Monday (her nurse is absolutely wonderful with suggestions and help) and see what they recommend.

Here's hoping with a little more growth, things will shift around a bit and not push on my nerve so much.