Postpartum sciatica: Anyone else dealing with this?

I gave birth about ten days ago, and I think I’m dealing with sciatica now.
First, I was totally convinced it was just my tailbone acting up. I kept waiting for it to just go away on its own—I figured everything would eventually snap back into place after delivery—but the pain is actually getting worse. It’s spread down my right leg to the point where I can barely stand on it. My leg starts tingling at night, I can hardly manage the stairs, and getting out of bed is an absolute nightmare...

I tried calling my doctor, but she’s out all week, so I wanted to see if anyone else here has gone through this. What kind of meds, creams, or gels have you used?
(Keep in mind I’m breastfeeding, so I can't just take whatever I want)

Thanks in advance!

Honestly, you might want to just go see a really solid physical therapist to get checked out.
It sounds like you’ve probably got a pinched nerve that needs unblocking, and those pros can usually sort that stuff out in no time. 👍

Man, my sister had sciatica after she gave birth that was so bad she was literally sobbing from the pain.
She actually had two kids without making a single sound, let alone whining.
So yeah, she knew exactly how brutal that sciatica can get.
Nowadays, she can't even feel her big toe anymore because of it.

On her doctor's advice, she used Voltaren as therapy (I think it was every 4-6 hours, I can't remember exactly)... and that went on for 10 days.
She was breastfeeding. The baby was tiny.
She mentioned that to the doctor, and he just basically said, "Screw it, it won't hurt her."
And nothing happened. She was fine.

But don't go thinking I'm telling you to just go grab some Voltaren... if you're in that much pain, call 911 and ask them.

Man, I remember those postpartum pains all too well...
My muscles were basically nonexistent because I had to play it super safe during my pregnancy, so I just felt completely weak and drained...
Then one day, my back just seized up so hard I thought I was actually going to die. I called 911 and they told me to take some Voltaren along with heparin. Honestly, it actually worked...

Try to figure out if certain things make it worse—like walking too much, hitting the stairs, or doing anything specific..
Sciatica absolutely wrecked me during my pregnancy—pain shooting from my groin all the way down to mid-thigh. I honestly thought it would just vanish after giving birth (this is my first one), but this time? It just slightly lessened. If I walk too much, stay active, or carry stuff—it comes back to haunt me at night and keeps me up
Keeping a slow pace helps, but I can never seem to stick to it for more than a day or so

I haven't touched any real meds. Honestly, I've only taken Tylenol maybe two or three times when the pain was so bad I was literally in tears

My lower back was acting up a bit after I had my baby, too... though honestly, it wasn't even that bad.
I have to make sure I get some stretching in every morning just to keep it from happening again.

Can someone out there actually describe what sciatica pain feels like? I’m trying to avoid a deep dive into Google right now 😁

I’ve tried calling my doctor, but she’s nowhere to be found—probably out at the golf course or something. I tried calling my OB/GYN, but they aren't picking up either. I even called the ER just to get some advice, and they basically told me to call the pediatrician since I'm breastfeeding. So, I call the pediatrician, and they tell me to just rub some Deep relief on it. I told them, "Look, the instructions specifically say NOT to use this while nursing," and they just went, "Oh, well, I have no idea then..."
Oh my God...

It hurts so bad when I lie down; I actually had to sit upright just to breastfeed while I was in the hospital because it was the only way to manage the pain.
It hurts a little less when I'm walking, but there is absolutely no way I can put any weight on my right leg. There's zero chance I can even step up a stair without whimpering (and thank Bob I have plenty of stairs at my house)...

I took some Lupocet two days ago, but it didn't do a thing for me.

Laura Jackson56, that's just what happens when you're lugging around 27 pounds and 32 inches of extra weight everywhere you go 😬
(just saw the measurements)

Pregnancy sciatica is basically just the baby physically crushing a nerve—it usually clears up once they're out of there...
Then you just have to wait for the nerve to recover and forget it was being squashed for months on end 🙂

amberpilot14 said:Can someone please explain what sciatica pain actually feels like? I really don't want to spend my afternoon Googling it right now. 😁

For me, it started as this sharp pain right in my tailbone, and then it just bled into my right butt cheek, up my hip, and all the way down to my knee... honestly, now my whole leg is starting to go numb.

Dammit, I've got sciatica 😳—I always just assumed that was something you only dealt with when you were old 🤷

Are you using Voltaren? Maybe Ketoral would be better?

Elizabeth Bishop49, you need to get yourself to an osteopath—maybe try one of those high-end clinics in downtown Chicago—or find a solid chiropractor immediately!
I’ve dealt with absolutely brutal spinal issues myself, specifically down in the lower back, and let me tell you, there isn't a single pill, injection, or cream on the market that is actually going to fix the root of it.
Even now, while I'm pregnant, I'm still seeing my osteopath to get my spine aligned; though, if I'm being honest, the massive hormonal shifts might be making things a little more manageable than usual.
Don't sit around waiting for some doctor to write you a prescription, because that process can drag on for days while you're in pain; just go see a real professional who can actually help you out in just one or two sessions!

Elizabeth Bishop49 said:I gave birth about 10 days ago and ever since, I think I’ve been dealing with sciatica.
At first, I was totally convinced it was just my tailbone acting up... I kept waiting for it to just pass on its own (I really thought everything would just snap back into place after delivery), but the pain is actually getting worse. Now it's spreading down my right leg and I can barely put weight on it. My leg starts tingling at night, walking up stairs is a nightmare, and honestly... getting out of bed is such a struggle...

I called my doctor, but she’s out of the office all week, so I wanted to see if anyone else has gone through this? What kind of pills, creams, or gels have you used?
(Keep in mind I'm breastfeeding, so I have to be super careful about what I take)

Thanks so much!

Maybe try lying on your back and propping yourself up with a big pillow... or even roll up a blanket and put it under your knees so your lower legs are at a 90-degree angle to your torso. Or you could lie on the floor and rest your shins on a chair seat—it does the same thing. It sounds like a nerve is being pinched somewhere, and that position should help take the pressure off...

Michelle Ramos45 said:Laura Jackson56, honestly, that sciatica is probably just coming from that 27-pound, 32-inch bundle of joy you're lugging around 😬
(just saw the measurements)

Sciatica during pregnancy usually happens because the baby is physically pressing on the nerve. It typically lets up once they're out of there...
Then you just have to wait for the nerve to recover and forget it was being squished for months on end.🙂

Hahaha. Yeah. I get it. Sometimes when I pick him up without warning, I definitely feel a sharp zap. 😛

I went to see my chiropractor just ten days after giving birth. He’d actually told me before the delivery to get there as soon as I was physically able, since women's bones tend to shift quite a bit during childbirth.

So, I actually went to see my doctor today because my lower back just totally seized up on me. Since I’m breastfeeding, she told me to stick to taking Lupocet—which isn't doing much, honestly—and using some essential oils. The pharmacist also suggested trying some horse balm.
I dealt with sciatica during my second pregnancy and the pain was absolutely brutal. It finally let up once I gave birth, but unfortunately, it’s come roaring back. It’s reached a breaking point lately—now I’ve got a stiff shoulder, lower back pain, and that sciatica shooting from my tailbone straight down my right leg. I know I have myself to blame, though—I waited way too long and just tried to tough it out. I read somewhere online that you shouldn't go too hard on massages when there's inflammation like this; it should stay pretty light.
I'm getting an MRI on my spine tomorrow, so depending on what they find, I'll probably head to a chiropractor next.

Man, I dealt with nerve inflammation about 13 years ago. It wasn't exactly sciatica, just one of those weird things...
The pain was pretty much exactly what you’re describing—just one side of my lower back shooting straight down into my leg. It actually happened twice where I tried to stand up on that leg and just collapsed because I couldn't feel it at all 😢
Nothing seemed to work; I went through piles of pills, but it was all for nothing.

The orthopedic specialist and physiotherapist? Total zeros. The guy actually had the nerve to tell me I was "inflexible"—which is hilarious considering I'd been training consistently for 8 years 😠—and then he gave me these exercises I couldn't even perform because I physically couldn't bend at the waist. 🙄
What actually helped me was seeing a bioenergy healer. Honestly, whether it was all in my head or there was something legit to it, I don't care—it worked and I felt better. 😁
My advice? Don't just rush to the ER. They'll just pump you full of an injection, and once that wears off, you're right back where you started. Find a decent specialist, get a proper exam, and let them tell you exactly what's going on and what the plan is. Guesswork won't get you anywhere.
By the way, I still deal with some issues from it. Because I had to stay so still (since the pain was so bad I couldn't move), my muscles got super weak, and now my spine takes a beating because my core isn't strong enough to support it. These days, hitting the gym is what keeps me going...

EDIT: If it's a pinched nerve, that usually gets sorted out relatively easily. If it's actual inflammation, it's going to take longer to clear up, but you need to start treatment immediately. I really don't think there's much chance of it just vanishing on its own. 😢

Here’s what one pediatrician had to say:

It’s pretty unlikely that you just suddenly developed intense rectal pain out of nowhere; it’s much more probable that some kind of tissue damage happened during delivery itself (and honestly, we can't rule out pelvic fractures either). So, instead of just popping painkillers, you really ought to get a proper diagnosis—it would be a good idea to see an orthopedist and maybe get some pelvic imaging done.
As for the meds—you're fine to take both acetaminophen and ibuprofen. The levels that end up in breast milk aren't going to be dangerous for the baby.

It hit me a few weeks back—seven months postpartum—and honestly? It’s the kind of pain I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.
I couldn't even get out of bed, let alone lift my baby without struggling.
I did four days of Voltaren injections plus seven days of Knavon pills; it passed, but I’m still not quite 100%.

Now I’m starting physical therapy, and I’ve gotta totally overhaul my routine. Otherwise, I’m stuck carrying grocery bags and a 20-pound baby up three flights of stairs every single day—plus my stroller is a 35-pound beast that I have to haul in and out of the trunk constantly. Every. Single. Day.
Crazy, right? But I know I can handle it. 🙄

The pain you're describing sounds legit, though I'd really suggest getting a full checkup just to make sure nothing went sideways after delivery.
Until then, I totally feel for you—it’s seriously scary. Hang in there, okay? You've got this. 🙂

p.s.
I'm breastfeeding too. 🙂