completely unrelated photo of my little silky shadow, just cause he's so cute.
just popping in to say ow, ouch and damn and offer a reasoning for my prolonged, non-new-baby-snuggling, internet absence - i seem to have a pinched nerve, severe sciatica or pelvic girdle pain which is causing delightful bolts of staggering pain up my back and through my hip with every single step or movement i make. and this started on saturday so it's been four days now of hobbling around like an overweight ninety year old who is recovering from a hip replacement, trying in vain to stretch it out (makes it worse), trying different sitting and sleeping positions (makes it worse), trying a good vigorous rub in the area that hurts like hell and yep, you guessed it, makes it worse. good times.
i'm completely fed up at this point and basically praying to go into labour, which i know is a pipe dream as i still have three weeks till my due date. THREE WEEKS, people. of this. of sincere pain not to mention frustration at not being able to get any of the errands done that i was hoping to this week, my first free week off work. i'm feeling exceptionally sorry for myself.
there has been some sewing, as i have two chairs set up in different stations in my sewing room and alternating between them is bearable for short periods. however, i don't foresee any great show and telling of this sewing, nor a shop update, as there is no way a photo shoot or any kind is happening in my current state. keep your fingers crossed for me, everybody - labour or some miracle loosening of the giant knot of pain in my lower, right hand back, i'll take either, happily.
oh I'm so sorry. I had this too both pregnant and non-pregnant and the only thing that helped me were baths. Hot, hot baths. Or showers if you can't lie down, which you pretty much can't when you're super pregnant. The baby will drop soon and all the pain will disapear--until labor.
ReplyDeleteawww...it's always something, right? :)
ReplyDeleteright there w/ ya, sister. three more weeks of this???!!! gack. i don't have the same pains you're suffering from, but i am swelling up like whoa and had to have a version last week b/c my wily little fetus decided to be breech. :P fun times.
at least it will all be over soon...right? we can take some solace in that...
Sorry to hear about your sciatica :( That really sucks. I get it every once in awhile (for about the last 8 years or so, even though I've never been pregnant) -- and yup, rubbing, massaging, and stretching just makes it worse. What I've found to be most helpful is to find a position where it doesn't hurt (usually lying flat on my back) and stay in that position. Not sitting for prolonged periods of time also helps. But even with all that, it does usually take a few days before it goes away completely. I hope it goes away soon so you can get some rest before labor!
ReplyDeleteTerrible, terrible thing to have. I got it severely at 18 weeks with Ben (he was in an unusual spot and squishing the nerve) and I had it through to 42+ weeks when he (eventually!) arrived. I had a lot of physio and tried all sorts of things, but nothing worked until he was out of his little house. Here's hoping your little one won't want to stay in there much longer!
ReplyDeletexx
Maybe you could go to an ostheopath? Take care!
ReplyDeleteacupuncture!
ReplyDeleteouch. poor leslie.
Hi Leslie,
ReplyDeleteI had a similar thing very early on with number 3 and it turned out to be pelvic displacement. I thought I would need crutches, but
2 trips to a wonderful physio in Altona beach, and the use of a pelvic belt (like a big stretchy elastic band) helped amazingly!
Good luck with everything, not long now!
Hi Leslie,
ReplyDeleteI've been reading and enjoying your post since I discovered your handy hemming jeans advice last year. I too am due in 3 weeks and am just now sitting on the couch after leaving work early with incredible sciatica (first occasion). After an extremely easy pregnancy so far it's a bit of shock. Much empathy and hope your pain (and mine) goes away soon. Love your work.
Leah
I used to try punching it - crazy I know - it just frustrated me so!
ReplyDeleteOuch! That sounds horrible. Being massively pregnant is uncomfortable enough without back pain. I hope the little one turns up sooner rather than later.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried a TENS machine? I had one for labour and it was a complete life saver, but I think they can be used for general back pain too.
Oh, I have tears in my eyes with sympathy for your pain. Sometimes at the end of a pregnancy you just wonder how your body is going to go on, and wonder if that baby will come out. But, they will eventually and completely turn your life around. Take is easy.
ReplyDeleteOh man, Leslie, that is such a rip-off!!! I'm so sorry to hear that your first week free from work has been so painful and unpleasant! Hang in there, and hopefully the mind-numbing pain will subside. We're thinking about you all of the time, and are so excited for the arrival of Little Keats!
ReplyDeleteoh you poor love! I had sciatica but mine just radiates down my thigh and my hot water bottle became my friend
ReplyDeletejust keep counting down the days....thats what I do ...if that doesn't work remember there is spicy food, speedbumps and ahem a night with your man to bring on labour but none of them worked with my 1st pregnancy
Thinking of you during this time and sorry to read your experiencing so much discomfort. There seems to be some good ideas amongst the commenters...hoping your last three weeks return to being comfortable soon!
ReplyDeleteHi, I've been a silent reader (and admirer of your work) for awhile now, but reading of your sciatica pains I had to finally come out. First, much congrats on the pregnancy. I also had severe sciatica for both of my pregnancies, from the 2nd month onwards! Each time it was so severe I had to stop working months early and couldn't do much at home neither, so I completely sympathize. I researched and tried everything to relieve my pain, I feel like an expert now. Not all remedies work the same for everyone. I've done massage therapy (helps a bit), osteopath treatments (worked the best for me), acupuncture (relieves the pain for about a week), prenatal yoga, walking (worked for my first pregnancy, but not the second), hot water bottle, and stretching. Nothing will eliminate it completely, they will only relieve some of the pain. If you can find a good osteopath, that is what I would recommend most, followed by acupuncture. Unfortunately, at this point I wouldn't rely on getting everything done, because you just never know how you feel in this last little stretch. Just take it day by day and do only what your body allows. I really hope this helps, and wish you lots of luck. Can't wait to meet your new baby!
ReplyDeleteSorry, forgot to add that sitting will usually aggravate the sciatica pains, it's best to lie down on your side. Sorry, I know that doesn't help you with the tasks you want to complete! If you want to stretch it out, ask an osteopath how to best do the stretches.
ReplyDeleteHere I thought I was the only person who ever experienced those lightning bolts!
Good luck!
Ouch! I feel your pain. I suffered with pelvis pains in my pregnancies, mainly the first and third. I recommend seeing someone, i saw a physio last time around which helped a little.
ReplyDeleteThose last three weeks will feel like they're dragging by but once baby arrives the pregnancy will feel like it happened ages ago :)
Poor thing! When I saw your post title, I thought - fantastic, she's had the baby! But alas, not yet. Hope you find some relief!
ReplyDeleteOh I hope it gets better quicker than the three weeks for the baby to be born!
ReplyDeleteOUCHY. I feel your pain. Well I felt with both my pregnancies. Ostep helped a lot. Find someone trained in working with pregnant women. I used Diego Ortuso who is brilliant and I believe practises over in Caulfield these days. He's the man with the magic hands.
ReplyDeleteBTW I knitted a matching dog to yours as a door snake, finished it last night. Not as cute as yours but pretty cute.
that sounds really, really, really horrible. does it help to know that we miss you? i have no doubt that the last thing you want to think about is us, or the fact that dan has disappeared behind a wall of WIP catalogues....we better find him and feed him soon before he loses energy! Ben is helping out - nice chap that he is. would love to catch up for lunch perhaps next week? i can come to you, seddon or even williamstown. name is your place!
ReplyDeleteoh, ouch. That sounds absolutely horrible. And on your first week off from work. complete drats! That is totally the type of thing that would happen to me anytime I take time off or anything like that. I always get excited thinking- I can watch Martha, rachel Ray, Oprah- and they always end up being the reruns of the two shows that I ever have managed to catch.
ReplyDeleteThree weeks sounds forever when you are this uncomfortable, but it is so excitingly close!
Sciatica pain sucks - try your best to rest....maybe rent a bunch of movies? Or get a bunch of new books from the library? Magazines? Chocolate?
ReplyDeleteI will keep my fingers crossed for a swift and painless labor.
Soon....soon.....
Seems so unfair to only get the happy gas when you get admitted to hospital. Happy gas should be available pre, post and during don't you think? Good luck enduring. Just think it will be over soon and you can pinch those soft cheeks.
ReplyDeleteOh I do wish you some comfort and an imminent delivery. Looks as if you have a loving companion with plenty of sympathy looks.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, those last few weeks. I used to push a little on my belly to make the baby move around. They are so scrunched at this point, so the space is limited. Maybe she will move soon and get off that little nerve. And when you hold her, it will of been all worth it.
ReplyDeleteOh man. It is just things like this which make me fear for that last trimester. I hope things start going better for you soon!
ReplyDelete