Pregnancy and Sciatica

As a baby grows bigger, the sciatic nerve (which connects the legs to the spinal cord) may be pressed by the uterus. 

This cause sharp pain which usually starts in the lower portion of the back down the leg  and onto the heel. This is called sciatica or sciatic nerve pain. 

Pregnant women secrete relaxin, a hormone needed to accommodate the growing fetus in the uterus.  This is necessary to allow the head of the infant to go through the pelvis during delivery. This hormone is centralized in the pelvis, it continues to increase which makes pregnant women more sensitive to global ligamentous injuries.  Our muscles and ligaments help us in supporting the body to stand.  If one is relaxed, only one factor is working.  For pregnant women, muscle strengthening is very critical to endure long labor and post-partum rehabilitation. Sciatica during pregnancy occurs because of ever changing postures.  Sciatica pain pregnancy also happens due to the abdomen expansion which compresses the joints in the spine together.  These joints have a lot of pain generators and when pressed too closely, can cause sciatica during pregnancy.  Chiropractic adjustments are very much recommended because they are safe for sciatica pain pregnancy and is a great relief for the pain.   It works by adjusting the gap which causes sciatica in pregnancy, relieving the compressed joints. Fortunately, the effects are not only physical but there is a neurological effect that can cause spasmodic muscle to relax and helps a pregnant woman secrete natural pain killers like endorphins and enkaphalins.

Sciatica during pregnancy is first noticed while women are on their feet which make pregnant women experience difficulty in walking.  Rest is suggested always to decrease the pain experienced during pregnancy.  Another solution is applying a heating pad or hot compress to the sciatica caused by pregnancy.  There are actually a lot of sciatica exercises for pregnancy to aid in lessening the pain and simple stretching twice a day would do to help ease the pain of sciatica in pregnancy.

 

If all fails in addressing the sciatic pain during pregnancy, acetaminophen can be used as substitute.  It is better to first inquire with one’s doctor when taking in medications.  A non-steroidal medication like ibuprofen could be an option for the pain of sciatica in pregnancy. Since most physicians believe that taking in such medications during pregnancy sciatica is safe given that the patient is not over 33 weeks in pregnancy.  If the pain pregnancy sciatica persists it would be best to discuss other options with a physician.

Some women feel the pain early in pregnancy sciatica but it only connotes that it will not persist for the coming months.  The pain usually stops in sciatica late pregnancy.