Numbness, "Pins & Needles" / Sciatica (leg)

[healthy_me]

Hi there! I am currently Happily 7 weeks pregnant. At 5 weeks pregnant, I started feeling numbness, "pins and needles" feelings across my body such as my legs, arms, back, and hands. A feeling then escalated into a severe pain on my right thigh. The pain is like my muscles are being ripped! I called the Dr. and he advised me to go to ER to rule out any blood clots. At the ER, the Dr. diagnosed me with sciatica. Apparently, it was my sciatic nerve that is causing the severe pain in my right leg. However, this doesn't explain the numbness for the rest of my body? such as arms and hands? last night I started to feel a little of that numbness feeling on my right side of my stomach...so of course I am terrrified!!! I asked the OB, but he stated that he didn't know of any reason, and that it all maybe due to my stress! I need a second opinion...Why am I feeling such numbness and can it affect my baby?
...also, I am high risk and the Dr. has had me on bed rest.

[DrNavneetMD]

Hello dear,
These sensations are most likely caused by carpal tunnel syndrome. Symptoms usually affect both hands and can appear at any time, but they're more likely to begin or worsen in the second half of pregnancy when women tend to retain more fluid. The symptoms usually go away gradually after you give birth, as the swelling from pregnancy subsides. If possible, avoid any activity that requires forceful, repetitive hand movements. Although these movements may not have caused your carpal tunnel syndrome, they can make your symptoms worse.

If your job requires this kind of movement and you must continue it, consider wearing wrist or hand braces while you work.

If you're working at a computer, adjust the height of your chair so your wrists aren't bent downward as you type. Using a special ergonomic keyboard can help in some cases. Remember to take breaks to stretch your hands.

If your symptoms bother you at night, shift your sleeping position and try to prop up your arm with a pillow or two when you feel the twinges. Avoid sleeping on your hands. If you wake up with pain, try shaking your hands until the pain or numbness goes away.

If you have a lot of discomfort at night, try stabilizing your wrist in a neutral position (not bent) with a splint or brace. A neutral position allows the carpal tunnel to be slightly wider.

Practicing yoga and back extension exercises for sciatica can help relieve the pain and increase back and handstrength. You may have heard that taking extra vitamin B6 can help, but two small clinical trials have shown no immediate benefit from this treatment. Refer http://www.babycenter.com/0_carpal-tunnel-syndrome-during-pregnancy_234.bc
Best