
Fibromyalgia Support Group
You're not alone in your pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can be difficult to diagnose and manage. If you're trying to cope with pain throughout your body, sleep problems, general fatigue, or other common fibromyalgia symptoms, you're in the right place. The community is here for you to talk about therapies and share your challenges.

deleted_user
I recently found out that my sciatic nerve is pinched,on top of being in the midst of a flare that looks like it will remain flared for the last 9 weeks of my pregnancy. I have been in severe amounts of pain for the last few weeks but last week it got horribly worse and fast I was unable to walk, the not being able to walk has come and gone over the last few weeks, and when I can move around it's still incredibly painful. Now, what my question is...Has anyone had the same problem, I know sciatica usually doesn't go completely away, you will probably have trouble with it again once it's happened once, but what has worked for you to help relieve the pain a little bit? And by the way, I have talked to my doc, I went to the er the first day I couldn't walk(in a wheel chair mind you)and my doc has basically told me to suck it up, which I'm fine with I'm done begging for help with all of this from any doc it just causes me more pain and grief.
Posts You May Be Interested In
-
theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
-
I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
Next, try a massage therapist that is willing to gluteal massage. There is a muscle called the piriformis that can contract and put pressure on the sciatic nerve. Massage therapists are taught were this muscle is and can work out the tightness that causes sciatica in many cases.
Moist heat is a great way to help relax tight muscles, so if it seems to be coming from tight butt muscles then heat is the way to go. But don't use dry heat as this will just add to the inflammation and won't penetrate deep enough to help relax the muscle.
Avoid standing because this will ad to the pain. Avoid laying on your back as this too ads to the pain (and is not safe in late pregnancy.) Lay on your side with your knees bent and a pillow between them.
Lastly there is a great stretch to help the tight butt muscles. Lay on your back with your knees up. Bend one leg over the other. Gently life the foot that is still on the floor, pushing your other leg up towards your chest. Push upwards until you start to feel a stretch. Don't push to the point of pain only a stretch. Then put that leg back on the floor with the knee up and repeat with the other leg. Do this gently 3-5x several times a day. It is especially good to do first thing in the morning (you can even do in bed if its firm) and at bedtime.
I don't know how I would have survived my pregnancy in 2006 without my massage therapist and chiropractor. I didn't have fibro when I had my other two children, so this one at age 41 with fibro was tough, but with the care I received it was the easiest delivery I had!
And the sciatic pain is completely gone. It is starts to flare up, I just get my massage therapist to work on the area and it always goes away. Hugs, Fern
I completely agree with Fern. Please give what she is saying some consideration! I went for chiropractic adjustments as well as physiotherapy and massage at the time and all three helped. We induced because it got so bad that it felt like I was being branded with a branding iron, only no one was taking the iron off. But, I suffer from a condition called spondylosthesis, where the small plate that joins the front half and the back half of each vertebrae is soft, like cartilege. So, my bones are slipping forward by millimeters, very small movement. In the facet joints and at L4-L5 the bones are pinching the sciatic nerve. I've had this condition forever, but the sciatic pain really started when I was pregnant for the second time. Delivering baby gave me immediate relief. I think his head was on that nerve or something. But as the spondy... worsened, the sciatica returned. The two things that help me are indeed massage, in the BUTT and chiropractics. Both of which you can do while pregnant.
Oh, a p.s. When I was in so much agony during the last 8 weeeks of pregnancy, my doctor did prescribe percocet for me. I felt terribly guilty at the time, but I shouldn't have. He is now 13, an honor student, a fantastic athlete and a lovely, normal kid.
Hope you find some relief.
Katherine
Good luck
Tam