Q&A: What can I do to help sciatic pain during pregnancy?

by Dr. Gerard M. DiLeo

I am having a lot of trouble with my sciatic nerve. I frequently lose feeling in not one but both my legs. I am a school teacher and I must stand in front of the class. I am 16 weeks along and I am very afraid of this problem getting much worse as I get further along. Is this common? What should I do about it? I was told by my nurse to "drink lots of fluids?" but I really can't see that helping much.

Sciatica is pressure on the Sciatic Nerve from the baby's head as you get further along, or just swelling (earlier). Yours is probably a swelling phenomenon. Miseries like this are famous and frustrating, as nothing seems to help much. What I have done in my private practice is refer patients to Physical Therapy, and I've gotten a significant response--almost 90% improve! Ask your doctor for a referral and hope you fall into that group.

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