Severe Sciatic Pain

Updated on May 18, 2008
H.S. asks from Kings Mills, OH
27 answers

I have a 6 week old son, and throughout the last 4 months of pregnancy I had 24 hour sciatic pain. After he was born, it felt 100% better. Now, over the last 48 hours it is back, but the pain is double what it was before. I've stretched out my legs and I'm getting no relief. Does anyone know of anything I can to do help myself? Last night my pain was at a 10. And it actually got me to the point where I was nausious. I had no sleep as there was no relief at any point, in any position. Please help!

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So What Happened?

I went a chiropractor today for the first time ever. I think he may have changed my life!!! I cannot believe I hadn't considered that. I was scared! But now that I realize how much help I needed, I should have gone to one years ago! I feel ALOT better after only one adjustment!

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T.B.

answers from Columbus on

You should call a Chiropractor today! He/She will MOST LIKELY help you correct whatever misalignment you have going on that is causing this.

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A.F.

answers from Indianapolis on

Try an over the counter NSAID, such as Aleve or Advil (the anti-inflammatory in these may give you some relief), some yoga stretches might help, chiropractor helps too!

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S.P.

answers from Indianapolis on

H.,
Have you tried lying on the floor with your legs up at a 90 degree angle? (PLace pillows,ottomon or something you can scooch your bottom right up to so that your knees,calves,feet are horizonatal to the floor and your thighs are perpendicular to the floor. Completely relax with your arms on the floor (fingertips towards your feet,palms up)arms at a 30 degree angle from your body.Try for at least 15 minutes a day. I sense that it will help a lot.
Blessings,
S.

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B.W.

answers from Youngstown on

Maybe try a chiropractor. I had severe sciatic pain with my second pregnancy and through pure desperation decided to give one a try. It/He actually helped me, tons! It wasn't your typical cracking that most people think of when they think of a chiropractor and although I was leary (but desperate) I was so glad I went.
Everyone has different opinions about chiropractors and I had never gone to on in the past, but it worked. I went about 6 times in the last 3 months of my pregnancy. Check your insurance, they might even cover some visits.
Good luck.

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R.H.

answers from Bloomington on

H., I would first get it checked out by a doctor to make sure that its just sciatic pain. If so, stretching at least 3 time a day and icing where sciatic pain starts at three times a day. I have a problem with this regularly do to running. I actually went to physical therapy and they gave me a lot of different exercises to work with. Slowly it has improved. Also look on the internet for sciatic pain exercises, but above all please make sure thats what you are dealing with. Sometimes what happens is that we loose our core muscles, during pregnancy, in our stomach so working with those often help.Pilates or Yoga really work in that area.

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N.L.

answers from Cleveland on

Hi H., I know someone, a male nurse who had sciatica from lifting patients for years. He couldn't lift his leg to walk any more. He is drinking Mona Vie with very high anti-inflamatory properties. It's very good for aches and pains. Mona Vie is the fastest growing privately held company in the world for a reason. The product works. Call me at ###-###-#### or ###-###-####. I can also help you get some more info. if you'd like. God Bless! I had small bouts with my sciatic nerve when I was pregnant and I know it's no fun. Hope this helps. N. L

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L.C.

answers from Dayton on

You need to go in to see your doctor about getting an anti-inflamatory. It will help over time. You need a muscle relaxer right now (skelaxin is best and it doesn't make me sleepy). Use ice packs instead of heat packs on the area that is sore and inflamed.

Massage therapy is also a beautiful thing.

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M.S.

answers from Bloomington on

go to a chiropractor. worked for me! giving birth definitely threw my pelvis and lower back out of whack, so I saw a chiropractor a few times and was good as new. i had sciatic pain during pregnancy and my chiropractor fixed it instantly with an adjustment. as soon as your nerves are not being pinched, the pain disappears!

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C.B.

answers from Cleveland on

I had severe sciatica with my first daughter. I got a massage and felt 100% better by the next day.

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M.H.

answers from Bloomington on

Definitely talk to your doctor! There are a number of things that could be going on- but seeing a physical therapist should help you get realigned and strengthened. Just seeing a chiropractor probably won't fix the underlying cause.

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P.R.

answers from Indianapolis on

Been there, done that. There are muscle relaxers you can get from your physician to help with the swelling pressing on the nerve which help a lot.

You are lifting wrong and bending when you lift incorrectly. Believe me, this is not something that will go away. I still have problems occasionally and my daughter is now 28. I have learned how to pick things up etc.

Good luck,

P. R

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K.I.

answers from Indianapolis on

I had the same problem when I was pregnant. I can't give you any miracle cures but honestly when my pain levels get THAT high, one of the only things that helps me is to hop into a nice hot bath. It eases it just enough to get my bearings again. Second thing I would recommend is a heating pad. Hope you feel better soon!!

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M.S.

answers from Elkhart on

MonaVie is a juice that has helped others with sciatic pain. One lady was on her 3rd bottle & noticed her pain was completely gone. This juice has the #1 superfood known to man as the main ingredient(the acai berry) and it is known to target inflamation in the body, which is why it is effective for so many people. Let me know if you would like to try it...
____@____.com I wish you the best & pray for your healing...

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R.J.

answers from Cleveland on

H.,

I am very sorry that you are dealing with this pain. I know from personal experience how bad it can be. I lived with it at a "10" for about 5 years, until I got relief. I have to agree with the gal that told you about the chiropractor. I'd see one before I went to a medical doctor.

I walked in using a cane, and left about 3 months later without one and back to work. I will tell you that Ice Packs became my best friend. I would use bags of corn and peas (because they were flexible and would move around the painful area the best), and pack up my lower back and my rump all down my leg. I had it much much worse in my right leg, so that was where I concentrated on. And please, those shots that the doc wants to give you in your back, don't go there unless a last resort.

The pain from the shots themselves was so intense, after 4 visits and no relief I said, "no more". Now I do know a friend that did get relief, but hers wasn't after having a baby. Mine was...

I hope you believe in Chiropractic Care, it truly works amazingly well.

Good luck!

R.

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M.V.

answers from Cincinnati on

Hi H.,
You should see a dr. and possibly get an MRI. I was first sent to a pain specialist who treated me for awhile, but I eventually needed surgery. A physical therapist may also be able to help.
M. V.
Melaleuca-The Wellness Company

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C.B.

answers from Cleveland on

I would try getting on your hands and knees and rocking your hips from side to side. Also, if you can afford it or if it is covered with your insurance - go see a chiropractor. They are great during pregnancy and beyond!

Good luck!

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K.D.

answers from Toledo on

If you can get into a chiropractor, sometimes that is the best way to eliminate the pain. I had severe sciatic pain and wouldn't have survived if it weren't for my chiro. Just a suggestion.

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S.E.

answers from Cincinnati on

Hi H.,

I am a licensed massage therapist and even though I specialize in pregnancy massage, I also do regular and deep tissue massage. If I were you, I would find a massage therapist in your area and try to get in for a massage tomorrow. See if that helps, it is normally a muscular issue that is causing pressure on the sciatic nerve and causing all the pain. If you get a massage, you should feel 110% better.

Good luck!
S.

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A.B.

answers from Cleveland on

H.,

It sounds like you need a chiropractor. When I was 7 to 8 months pregnant I could hardly walk... after about 6 visits I could walk almost normal:) Insurance coverd this too. Its something to look into!! The only bummer is that the pain doesn't alleviate right away, it takes some time.

Good Luck to you,
A. B

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M.B.

answers from Lima on

Go to a chiropractor. He'll help you.

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D.K.

answers from Indianapolis on

You need to check into the EGOSCUE website. I'm a certified posture alignment & pain management specialist utilizing this method. It's non invasive, non medical and VERY MUCH COMMON SENSE. You can ask ?s on the site, pull off a couple of e-cises for your pain and a therpist (or several) will respond. You'll also get to read feedback from others who've gone thru the same or similar things.

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A.O.

answers from Indianapolis on

YOGA!!!! I had sciatic pain so bad during my pregnancy that I had to crawl instead of walk. I went to water therapy and that helped tons. Now that I am not pregnant I still have the pain sometimes and it is much worse when I am not doing yoga. There is one move that helps so much. I even showed it to another mom who had the same problem and she agreed that it helped more than anything else. Don't freak out just because I said yoga, I know some of the poses look impossible but the point is to get into the position and strech into the position. I can't remember the name of the pose, but you sit on the floor with one leg curled in front of you and the other stretched out long behind you. Then you breath and lay down over your front leg. Hold the pose and breath and you will sink into the pose. I couldn't live with out this and it also helps your lower back. I will look for the name of the pose and let you know. I have a book that I got it out of but I need to find it.

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T.O.

answers from Cincinnati on

Have you thought about going to see a chiropractor? I had great luck with one while I was pregnant and /or nursing and didn't want to take any pain pills, etc.

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J.A.

answers from Cincinnati on

I'm a licensed massage therapist and most often, sciatica pain is cause by muscles in the butt that are tight and putting pressure on the nerve. The nerve runs between two muscles so if either of them is not relaxed, that will cause problems. Good that you are stretching but without knowing what you are stretching, hard to guide you to other stretches that will help. However, if you'd like, drop me a note at ____@____.com and I'd be happy to go into much more detail to help you get to feeling better.

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D.G.

answers from Columbus on

H.,
You need to see a chiropractor, It sounds like you have a pinched nerve.Been there done that.Take the baby too.He may need a adjustment as well and many chirpractors do newborns for free.Your body is moving back into it's old position after child birth, remember when you got those awful pains as
your pregnancy advanced and it felt like some one had kicked you in your lower back and you had to pee all the time.
It does work and it is usually very pain free afterwards.

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J.N.

answers from Dayton on

Go get adjusted, it will relieve it.

jo

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E.V.

answers from Cleveland on

I can definately sympathize! I am a physical therapist, although I haven't practiced since my 3 year old was born, and I have treated people with sciatica and I have treated myself.

During pregnancy our bodies release hormones which cause our ligaments to loosen inorder for our pelvis' to expand to allow child birth. After giving birth it takes our ligaments awhile to tighten once again, therefore often allowing things to slip and cause severe sciatica. So, now your job is to strengthen your pelvic region in a good position so you no longer suffer. Here are a few exercises I highly recommend:

All exercises to be done on a hard surface (floor)

1) Lay on your back, knees bent with feet on the floor, place a ball or pillow between your knees and squeeze as hard as you can. This may be painful, but it is a very important exercise using your own muscles to pull your pelvis back into a good position. When it is in a good position, your pain level should drop. Squeeze for 10 seconds then relax.

2) Crunches - lay on your back, bring your knees together up to your chest while still keeping your back flat on the floor, arms down at your side, gently curl your neck/shoulders up off the floor reaching past your feet with your hands, then slowly lower back down. Always keep your lower back flat. Work up to 100 crunches.

3) Roll over onto your stomach, keeping your knees together. Lay in a superman position with your arms straight over your head. Now you are going to raise opposite arm and leg at the same time without arching your back, alternate slowly, work up to 50 reps(all movement should be at your shoulder and hips).

4) Still laying on your stomach - face down, keeping your back flat, raise up your legs off the floor and move them in and out with toes maintaining same distance from floor. Work up to 50 reps.

5) Buy a "Thigh Master". Do 20 reps slowly and 20 reps fast in a sitting position.

Repeat these exercises 2 - 3 times per day.
I also recommend if you continue to have problems seeing a physical therapist who has experience with sciatica. The other thing I have found to be a great tool in recouperating are pilates. With 2 kids I found it difficult to go to a pilates class, so I just ordered the Windsor Pilates tapes and they have been wonderful!

Note: When you have sciatic pain after pregnancy there is one important thing to keep in mind. Going up and down stairs, stepping up into a vehicle, putting one knee up to get up off the floor, climbing into bed by putting one knee up, stepping into a tub, all of these types of movements where one knee is moving up higher than the other can cause increased hip/sciatic pain.

Good luck! The exercises do really work!

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