Wife is 32 weeks pregnant and has been experiencing radiculopathy in her left leg. She experienced it with our last but much later in pregnancy and the pain is fairly debilitating. She describes it as a sharp pinch in the center of her glute that wraps around to the medial side of her left knee and down to her foot, causing occasional numbness and stiffness in both areas. Movement and load is generally uncomfortable, and she tends to hobble but is predictably getting stiff.
I would have an idea of how to approach this based on general BBM guidelines in a non-pregnancy situation – keep moving, find entry points to activity, gauge symptoms based on stability and 24h window, don’t fear loading, psycho-social factors, etc – but I’m not sure what kind of special considerations would apply for pregnancy. She hasn’t lifted seriously before and hasn’t worked out in quite a while. She’s had healthcare providers tell her it’s “SI pain”, “SI nerve pain” or general “sciatica” but I’m not sure how accurate or useful these labels are.
Is it generally safe to approach as normal? Find tolerable movement, lightly load tolerable movements, encourage movement through stationary biking or swimming, etc?
Good to know. Was concerned there may be a mechanical cause related to positioning, pregnancy-induced ligament laxity, etc, but if the pain present here is likely to be the same in nature as in regular circumstances we’ll just approach similarly, if conservatively.
I know topic old nut another thing that really helped me was prenatal massage therapy. A certified prenatal massage therapist can work wonders in relieving muscle tension and improving mobility. Additionally, learning more about the changes happening during pregnancy can be reassuring. For instance, understanding what quickening is can provide insight into the different sensations experienced during pregnancy. Here’s a great resource on that topic: Feeling your baby's first moves: What is quickening in pregnancy - Femia Health. It’s crucial to maintain a balance between staying active and resting. Sometimes, a warm bath or applying heat packs to the affected area can also help soothe the pain. Remember, every pregnancy is unique, so what works for one person might not work for another. Best of luck, and I hope your wife finds some relief soon!
I know topic old nut another thing that really helped me was prenatal massage therapy. A certified prenatal massage therapist can work wonders in relieving muscle tension and improving mobility. Additionally, learning more about the changes happening during pregnancy can be reassuring. For instance, understanding what quickening is can provide insight into the different sensations experienced during pregnancy.