sciatica during pregnancy

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

 

I have a friend who is eight months pregnant and suffering from sciatica that is pretty severe. Pain is bilateral some of the time, and at times the pain is unilateral. I was wondering if anyone has any experience or suggestions for acupuncture treatment of sciatica at this stage of pregnancy. She has tried auricular with no success (administered by an MD ... I don't know what their training in Acupuncture was). I was thinking of SI3 + UB 62, UB 40, GB 30 ... the standard combos taught in schools of TCM (at least the one I attended). One concern naturally is that we do not want to induce labor at this point in time so I'm hesitant to use points in the sacrum. If anyone has any more creative ideas or experience with this type of case I'd appreciate the input.

 

Thank you,

 

Jack Gorfien MS, L.Ac.

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[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine, Jack Gorfien <panaxj> wrote:

 

> Hello all, I have a

friend who is eight months pregnant and suffering from sciatica that

is pretty severe. Pain is bilateral some of the time, and at times

the pain is unilateral. I was wondering if anyone has any experience

or suggestions for acupuncture treatment of sciatica at this stage of

pregnancy. She has tried auricular with no success (administered by

an MD ... I don't know what their training in Acupuncture was). I

was thinking of SI3 + UB 62, UB 40, GB 30 ... the standard combos

taught in schools of TCM (at least the one I attended). One concern

naturally is that we do not want to induce labor at this point in time

so I'm hesitant to use points in the sacrum. If anyone has any more

creative ideas or experience with this type of case I'd appreciate the

input. Thank you, Jack Gorfien MS, L.Ac.

 

Being a massage therapist as well as a student of chinese medicine, I

look at muscles too. <g> Does the pain run down her legs, or is it

just in her hips? If it's only in her hips a tight piriformis muscle

(under the gluteas max.) can be the cause, constricting the sciatic

nerve which runs through it. I have a client/friend with just this

problem; her pain is primarily in one hip. It can be complicated

during late pregnancy by the relaxation of joints in preparation for

birth. Some gentle massage on both hips may help relieve the pain;

also some stretches turning the foot/knee inward may relax it a

little.

 

Were you taught in school that sacral points induce labor? We are told

in massage/shiatsu/acupressure that LI4, Sp 6 and K 3 should never be

used during pregnancy along with some others on the legs and arms.

See Woman Heal Thyself, by Jeanne Blum, who advises using them when

one is *not* pregnant to relieve menstrual disorders and

irregularities, and menopausal symptoms. Nothing I've read mentioned

avoiding the lower back. Depends I suppose on which points the energy

is ascending or descending. Acupressure's Potent Points recommend Bl

48 to relieve sciatica and hip pain during pregnancy.

 

sue

[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine, " qiuser " <qiuser> wrote:

 

> is ascending or descending. Acupressure's Potent Points recommend Bl

> 48 to relieve sciatica and hip pain during pregnancy.

 

I've just found out that other acupuncture charts call this point Bl

53. Does Gach's system of point numbering differ a lot from standard

numbering?

 

sue