Pregnancy is a never ending group of changes. The sciatic nerve can be a great source of pain during pregnancy, but women can avoid and treat the condition with rest and patience. Women who suffer from sciatica pain during pregnancy most often report the same physical symptoms. These include pin pricks appearing in the leg, foot or lower back.
Where is the Sciatica Sciatic Nerve?
The sciatica nerve stretches from the lower back to the feet. This nerve is very sensitive to pressure which can cause pain and discomfort. The pain associated with sciatica pain during pregnancy is not a permanent pain unless a sciatica injury was present before the mother became pregnant.
Sciatica Pain and Pregnancy
The sciatic nerve often becomes slightly inflamed in order to cause sciatica pain during pregnancy. This inflammation often occurs as a result of the pressure being placed on the nerve by the growing belly. Swelling of the body from water retention can add to the discomfort of the sciatica nerve.
Pregnant women are also at a higher risk of disc damage during pregnancy. This can be due to the hormone changes in the body. As the progesterone levels in the body grow, the muscles lax in preparation for child birth and thus the discs of the spine can shift and the sciatica pain during pregnancy is born.
Most Common Symptoms of Sciatica Nerve Pain During Pregnancy
Women who suffer from sciatica pain during pregnancy most often report the same physical symptoms. These include:
- Pin pricks appearing in the leg, foot or lower back.
- Pain that shoots through the leg affecting the lower back and buttocks at times.
- Lower back pain extending to the foot and/or pelvis.
- Leg or feet numbness.
Preventing and Treating the Sciatica Pain
Sciatica pain is unique in that it takes a specific pressure in a specific spot to trigger the pain. For this reason, the pain could simply stop all on its own. If the sciatica pain during pregnancy does not relieve itself, mom needs to find relief in order to function during the day and sleep at night.
There is little to do in terms of prevention. The pain is often so erratic that the cause is unknown. Treating the condition is the best choice for a pregnant woman.
Treating sciatica pain during pregnancy is all about relieving the pressure that has caused the pain. A massage therapist is an optimal choice. They understand the exact placement of the sciatic nerve in the body and will help to relieve the pressure with additional pressure of a therapeutic nature.
Other women find help from chiropractic doctors and physical therapists and exercise. It is important for the pregnant woman to seek advice from the obstetrician before settling on a treatment. There are considerations that need to be understood before therapy can begin in some cases. Massage therapy, for instance, can only be performed if the masseuse offers a pregnancy table.
Recent treatments for sciatica pain during pregnancy have included heating pads and changes in the way the pregnant mom sits or walks. These changes are the ones most often prescribed by the obstetrician before specialist care is sought.