Sciatica Pain is THE WORSE. What happens when mom just can’t do it anymore? Life begins to crumble, that’s what happens.
This post was originally written in 2014. It is now 2020, so wanted to give you an update as so many of you have read and I’ve received emails about this. I know this is a REAL issue. While I write this about mom sciatic issues – this is relatable to anyone who deals with this condition.
Sciatic Pain Triggers
I started having sciatic pain around 2001. My back has always been messed up, but can now attribute many things to what triggers it.
This post is from a mom who experiences sciatica pain. Any information is from personal experience and should not be taken as medical advice. If you have any health concerns, you should contact your doctor.
5 weeks ago, I suffered a back injury in the stupidest possible way… I bent down to tie my screaming toddler’s shoe.
We were 4 hours into a 20-hour road trip. In hindsight, we should of turned around and headed back home – but we had no idea what the future of this little back incident held – so we completed the vacation.
The trigger? Sitting funny in the car for long lengths of time. Thinking back to other scenarios that triggered my sciatic nerve are most related to posture and how I was sitting in a chair.
Yes, I am one of those who cannot sit right. I have since changed this – but for many years – this is how I sat which I am sure pissed my sciatic nerve OFF! Don’t put your feet up on the desk, on anything under your desk or sit cross-legged in your chair!
Diagnosis
Slowly I got to the point of minimal pain after 3 weeks of suffering. The diagnosis was sciatica pain. My sciatica nerve is inflamed and so are my mom nerves.
I had 10 pain-free days, then something went crazy. The pain was back, worse than ever before. It has been 5 weeks since the initial injury and can barely walk. I can’t go more than 4 hours without pain medicine. This just sucks.
The chiropractor has pretty much said he’s done and all he can do and has sent me for an MRI to determine if I should have surgery. A few nights ago, I have to make a trip to the ER for pain relief and the Morphine couldn’t knock it out. I should have known. The last sciatica pain related ER trip was when I went to the chiropractor.
Sciatica Pain is Worse Than Child Birth
I have given birth naturally to 3 kids and I have to say during my worse moments dealing with this sciatica, it was worse than child birth. The pain went on longer than labor and there was no baby. At least with child birth you get a child!
Pregnant Sciatic Issues
I had a brief issue with sciatic pain while pregnant with my third child. Talk about hell. I mean for real, as if the woes of pregnancy weren’t enough, throw in the fact you can barely walk with excruciating back pain. So glad that is over.
Sciatic Nerve Pain After Childbirth
All of this is hell, but the real hell dwells inside of me. I have read that sciatic nerve pain after childbirth is common. Make sense with all of the weirdness with pregnancy, the weight changes, you know literally creating a baby in your womb.
If you spent hours of time pushing thru contractions, with your legs spread eagle – trying to deliver a child… that sounds like you are just trying to piss off the sciatic nerve!
It’s a Nerve Issues
So I know it’s a nerve issues or the sciatic nature, hence while it’s called a sciatic nerve. I also know mine hates me.
As a mom, here I am day in and day out in agonizing pain. My kids need me. My husband needs me. And at this point I am stuck helping how I can in my office rolling chair, and that’s when I can sit.
Legs on Fire
The sciatica pain juggles itself between my lower left back, straight down my left leg landing in my foot. The best way I can describe it – is back labor, minus the baby. My leg feels like it’s on fire. Sometimes I can sit or lay in a position okay, but other times it’s absolute hell as the pain hurts no matter if I stand, sit or lay down. It hurts me to cry in front of my kids.
Like a Turtle Stuck on My Back
I’m like a turtle stuck on my back when that sciatica pain hits! Sad, but so true!
The toddlers, 2 and 4-years-old have no idea why mommy is crying, even when I try to explain to them that I am in pain and that I am not mad or sad at them. My daughter cries with me and so does my 9-year-old son. It’s not a pretty sight and I try to hide my tears whenever possible.
Asking for Help
Have I mentioned I have a huge problem with asking for help? I know I do. I’m a I CAN DO IT MYSELF kind-of-gal, but now I can’t do much of anything so help is what I have to ask for.
My 11-year-old is doing most of the work during the day, and my husband takes on all duties at night. At 11, she can now cook a meal and do dishes.
My 9-year-old is king of trash duty, as well as puppy clean-up. These are chores I’ve been trying to have them help me with for months, but now out of necessity all hands are on deck.
My husband, how I love him – but folks, with 4 kids and all the crazy our circus brings he is doing all he can do. Surviving not thriving is the best way to describe this sciatica situation.
Messy House
My husband, daughter and son are keeping the house standing up while mom is dealing with this sciatica pain. In other words, both mom and the house are a disaster.
The toddlers don’t understand the concept of keeping a clean home, or picking up after themselves. As I look up from my computer now, I see Frito’s everywhere.
There’s a bag in the corner of the room, ripped apart and now empty. While the dogs have done a lot of the clean-up – there are bits of chips everywhere. It’s that time of year that the flies swarm in. So in addition to the chips, we have flies swarming.
The toys from the upstairs playroom have made it downstairs into the family room. And the big dump truck that the boys use for dirt collecting outside is now in the foyer.
I can’t pick any of it up. I can ask for the kids help, but shortly after picking it up – it will be replaced with another something. This is my life right now, and I am trying to accept it.
Sciatiaca Pain Relief
Here we are with an update in 2020 about sciatica pain relief. I wrote this article 6 years ago and can say that this is probably going to be a lifelong issue that I will have to deal with. That said, I have found better treatment options and ways to relieve the sciatic pain.
Sciatic Brace
When in extreme pain, i have used a sciatic brace (available on Amazon) to help support my back and apply pressure to my throbbing leg.
Yoga for Pain Relief
If I am regularly practicing yoga, my back loves me. We are back to being BFFs. I have learned though that there are yoga positions that can tremendously help when I am experiencing a sciatic inflammation.
Watch this youtube video featuring 3 yoga positions that can help with sciatic relief.
For everyday yoga, I enjoy YOGATX youtube channel.
Sciatic Massager
I don’t know about you, but when my sciatic nerve is mad – I find odd relief in hitting my back. My husband has told me that I can’t beat it up and surely that isn’t helping, but what he doesn’t know – it really does feel better.
Knock on wood – I haven’t had a sciatic episode in over a year. A friend had told me about using a sciatic massager for his relief. At first, I was puzzled but then remembered how I would pound myself on the back hard and this is exactly what the sciatic massager (available on Amazon) does.
It is made for a targeted area, which would be perfect for pounding on my lower back when in pain. This will be in the cart, in the event of another sciatic nerve flare up!
TENS Unit
Years ago, we acquired a TENS unit that cost our insurance a ton of money. Now you can get one for under $50 on Amazon! A TENS EMS unit sends electrical pulses thru the device to self adhesive conductive reusable pads. Does this help sciatica pain? Yes, it can! But honestly – sometimes it works wonders, other times it doesn’t help.
I will say, this is a device that is handy to keep around for other pains (hello period pains!)
Sciatic Pillow
As mentioned, one of the triggers for my sciatica pain is the way I sit in my chair. If you have this issue, I bought of these sciatic pillows (available on Amazon) to sit on. It does take some getting use to, as it’s not your typical chair. It’s not uncomfortable – your booty will just need to get use to it.
Pain Shame
I have listened and read a lot of Brene Brown in the last few years and the shame I feel with this issue is overwhelming. I have never thought of walking as a privilege.
Using a Wheel Chair
I have experienced odd looks as I had to use a wheel chair. As I hobble from place to place, I get stares of what is wrong with her to empathy. I refuse to use the scooter, but if things don’t get better by next week’s shopping trip I am not going to have a choice.
Something to say though, when we were on this road trip – we traveled to Washington DC. Did you know that Washington DC is the most handicap accessible city? Me neither, but the timing was perfect. I spent our time there being pushed in a wheel chair by my 10-year-old. All while my husband pushed our toddlers in the stroller.
Walking Slumped Over
The stares I get when I am walking awkwardly to pick up my child. It’s the shame that is making life difficult for me to function outside of these walls. I know, I need to get over that.
Medication
The medication is killing my brain cells. I have never been someone to take medicine regularly, with this sciatica issue – I have no choice.
The meds are making me loopy. I can’t focus or concentrate. I have dozed off twice just writing this. I know I am behind on client work, which I hate more than anything – but I can’t get my head together to do it. I don’t like letting clients down and plus, it’s our livelihood.
I am just thankful that I am not in a corporate environment at the moment with this issue and that the work I have is done from home.
Mom Just Can’t Do It
I love these kids more than anything, but truth is this mom just can’t do it anymore until this pain goes away.
Not until I am healed. Not until I am better. Mom life will not continue until I am well.
Until then, it’s a lot of prayer and grace that I am asking for. I want this to go away. I want to never forget how precious the gift of walking is. I want to chase my babies at the playground and swim with them at the pool.
I am tired of being confined to this couch and bed. I just need answers and I have to accept that those answers might not be what I want to hear.
Funny: Here’s the thing. I need to learn to blog more about my life. If I did, I would know when the last time I was severely down and out was. Like that 1 time I was like a turtle stuck on it’s back – yeah that’s me AGAIN – but this time it’s been weeks of issues.
Don’t let sciatica pain get you down. It will get better, it just takes time.
