What is the Sciatic Nerve?
The sciatic nerve is the longest and thickest nerve in the human body, measuring just under an inch in width, comparative to the diameter of a finger. The sciatic nerve runs from the lower spine, through the pelvic area, and down through the hip and back of the leg. The sciatic nerve is the major nerve supplier to the legs, and it branches out to provides movement and feeling to the hip, thigh, knee, calf, ankle, foot and toes.
The sciatic nerve, in spite of its length and size, normally behaves like all other nerves; it transmits signals to and from the muscles and the brain. All movement and feeling in the legs and feet are dependent on the proper function of the sciatic nerve and its branches.
When the sciatic nerve becomes inflamed, pinched, or injured, the symptoms are known as sciatica. A troublesome sciatic nerve resulting in sciatica can cause acute pain anywhere from the lower back and hips to the feet and toes. In these severe cases, sciatica can result in a loss of feeling or reflexes, and/or weakness in the hips and legs.
Symptoms of sciatica can include pains such as cramping, burning, or shooting sensations in the hip and thigh, though the pain can extend all the way to the foot and toes. These symptoms can be aggravated by simple movements such as coughing, bending, or squatting, all of which put pressure on the sciatic nerve.
Pregnant women often suffer from sciatica as the sciatic nerve runs directly under the uterus from the spine to the legs. The developing baby puts pressure on the sciatic nerve, resulting in mounting pain through the course of the pregnancy.
Lucky me. This is exactly what has been going on. For the past 2 weeks or so, I have had trouble walking. I definitely "waddle" because I can barely walk one foot in front of the other due to the pain. It feels better to walk when I dig my thumb in to one particular part of my butt while I walk, but since people look at you funny when you do this, I try not to do it at work.
It's gotten so bad that I don't get up to get water during the day at work because A) I have to walk too far to the kitchen to get it and B) then I have to go to the bathroom all the time and it's too far.
This week, I have had 3 awful episodes. In the first one, I couldn't get off the couch and I was basically paralyzed. It was scary! The second episode happened when I was standing in Piper's closet putting stuff away and I couldn't walk out of the closet. It feels like I've been struck by lightening and I can't move my legs without screaming in pain. Josh eventually helped me down on the floor (half in the closet, half out) where I laid for about 20 minutes before I could move. The third time happened on Monday when I was at Taco Bueno (my favorite) by myself for lunch and I couldn't get up out of the booth I was sitting in. I had to sit there for about 15 minutes trying to get the feeling back in my legs. Not fun. Totally embarassing (when in public). And not cool!
I go to the doctor today for my 33 week check up. Hopefully she can recommend something to relieve the pain. If not, it's going to be a looooonnnnnnggg and painful 7 weeks...
I had that with Sydney too and it was not fun. The best relief I found was to get down on my hands and knees so she would fall forward and off of the sciatic. Of course, I would usually then wind up stuck in that position until someone came around to help me up. It's a trade-off I guess. ;)
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