Sciatic Nerve Pain During Pregnancy

Filed in archive Medical Issues on November 6, 2007

Although I count myself lucky that I didn't have the usual pregnancy symptoms like nausea and dizziness that lots of other pregnant women suffer from, I've been in pain for the past few days. My sciatic nerve is acting up.

Although it's not really unexpected (I had mild sciatica during my first pregnancy), I though it would come later, perhaps midway during the pregnancy, when I would be carrying more weight. It started out as sudden jolts of pain from my right lower back down to the thigh. It would come and go just as abruptly when I make certain moves. On the second day, though, the pain was more intense, and it was getting predictable: pretty much any move I make with my right leg would bring on the pain. Even in sleep. Ouch. A real pain in the... backside. Literally.

When I told my doctor about it, he was sympathetic, but basically said that well, it's part and parcel of being pregnant. Oh well. In the meantime, I've been making do with massaging the area, sleeping on my left side, and warm compress. It helps, but honestly, not much. Does anyone have tips on how to relieve sciatica nerve pain, without popping medications?