Pregnancy and Sciatica

Pregnancy involves a broad range of rapid changes to a woman’s physiology, including changes that can vary widely from one woman to the next.  Sciatica is a common symptom associated with pregnancy and is caused by pressure or injury to the sciatic nerve.  The common signs of sciatica are weakness, tingling, numbness and burning pain in the legs, back and buttocks.

As the fetus grows inside the mother’s womb, the uterus expands and occasionally places pressure against the sciatic nerve in the lower spinal column.  This pressure can become especially evident during the third trimester as the baby begins to shift toward the proper birthing position.  The baby can end up resting directly upon the nerve, creating significant pain.

Approximately half of all pregnant women who suffer from sciatica recover within six weeks of childbirth and almost all (90%) recover within 3 months, although there is a small percentage for whom the pain continues for much longer.

Due to the dangers of taking painkillers and other medication during pregnancy, physicians generally recommend not taking anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Ibuprofen.  Instead, there are a number of exercises and other options to help relieve the pain of sciatica before and after childbirth.

• Take frequent rests and avoid spending too much time on your feet.
• Avoid wearing heeled shoes that may jar your spine.  Soft, flat shoes may be preferable, but if they don’t help, try other types of shoes with different types of heel support.
• Avoid lifting or carrying heavy objects, but if you absolutely have to, be sure to bend from your knees and maintain a straight back.
• Place heat or ice packs on the location of the pain.  Use ice for the first couple of days and then heat after that.
• Take a warm bath.  The heat will help soothe the pain and the buoyancy will take the pressure off.
• Alternative therapy such as chiropractic care or prenatal massage (by a trained and licensed therapist) can also provide relief.
• Low impact physical activities such as swimming and prenatal yoga can help stretch the body and readjust the baby’s position, thus taking the pressure off the nerve and reducing the pain.

If the sciatica persists during labor, then the range of positions available for delivery may be limited due to the additional pain.  If you suspect that this may become an issue for you, one alternative may be to ask the hospital or other facility to make a birthing pool available for your delivery as this will provide a warm and buoyant medium for reducing the pressure and pain.

Sciatica is generally a temporary discomfort for pregnant women, one that lasts not much longer than the pregnancy itself, and can be treated naturally without risk to the baby or mother.

Dr P. Dubois, DC, CCSP.

Dr. Dubois,a Swiss physician, and a Triangle Certified Sport Chiropractor has over 20 years of experience in the treatment and prevention of disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Amongst his patients, two world champions in martial arts (gold medalists in 2005 WMJA), one carrier of the Olympic flame in 2004, and numerous soccer players, swimmers and athletes of all levels who benefited from his chiropractic care.

 

Symptoms of Sciatica

 

 

Often misunderstood to be a diagnosis, sciatica is actually the term for a collection of symptoms, the most pronounced of which is low back pain combined with pain that extends through the buttocks and down one leg. It is one of the most common forms of low back pain and, as such, is regularly treated by chiropractors.

Sciatica takes its name from the sciatic nerve, which branches out from the lower part of the back and stretches down the entire back of each leg as far as the foot. Deriving from a number of spinal nerves, the left and right sciatic nerves are the largest nerves in the human body. The compression or pinching of either sciatic nerve (or the nerves at the root of the spine) is the cause of sciatica, and this can occur as a result of a number of different medical conditions.

The pain that occurs with sciatica is the single most important factor in differentiating it from other kinds of low back pain. Although the pain may begin in the lower back, sciatica is also felt further down in the buttocks, the back of the thigh, the lower leg an even into the foot itself. The left and right sciatic nerves are rarely affected at the same time, so pain that occurs in only one leg is often a reliable indicator that someone has sciatica.

Sciatic pain is often described as shooting like electricity or burning like fire rather than a dull ache. A tingling or prickling feeling may also occur, often accompanied by numbness and/or weakness in the leg, just as when the leg ‘goes to sleep’ after you have been sitting on it for a while. A combination of pain and weakness can also be felt in the same leg. Sufferers of sciatica usually report that their pain tends to be better when they are lying down or walking and worse when standing or sitting.

The level of pain experienced in sciatica can range from moderate discomfort to severe pain, depending on the nature and severity of the underlying condition. In the worst cases, the degree of shooting pain or weakness in the leg may prevent standing and walking altogether. The frequency of symptoms may also vary from occasional through intermittent to ever present.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms then it would be wise to arrange a visit to your chiropractor. They can examine you properly to determine if you do have sciatica, what is causing it, and the appropriate treatment options for your case. Leaving a condition untreated can lead to a worsening of symptoms, so getting an early diagnosis could save you a lot of aggravation and pain.

If you have any question regarding sciatica, call us 919.484.1400

Dr. Dubois, DC, CCSP.