Sciatica in pregnancy. How to deal with pain complaints?

Persistent pain should pass as soon as the pregnant woman changes her body position. If that doesn’t help, and the pain gets worse, your doctor may consider using painkillers and anti-inflammatory ointments that are safe in pregnancy.

Sciatica – what is it?

Sciatica is a condition of unknown etiology. The hallmark of the disease is severe, radiating back pain that prevents the sufferer from performing basic activities. Contributing factors to the disease are considered to be:

• obesity,
• degenerative changes in the spine,
• damage to nerve fibers,
• discopathy,
• osteoporosis,
• diabetes,
• Cancerous tumors, causing pressure on the nerve.

Pregnancy is also a causal factor in sciatica. Treatment of pain in pregnancy is difficult due to limited therapeutic options.

Sciatica and pregnancy

Sciatica in pregnancy occurs due to several factors. One of them is the hormonal changes taking place in the female body. The impact of hormones causes a reduction in the tension of the spinal ligaments. It also causes increased mobility in the joints. This is one of the reasons for the appearance of sciatica at the beginning of pregnancy.

The weight of the mother and child is also not insignificant. The more a pregnant woman gains weight, the more likely she is to develop this ailment. In addition, the growing baby in the mother’s womb and the enlarging uterus result in pressure on the sciatic nerve during pregnancy and irritate it, so the woman feels pain. 

Some pregnant women don’t know, especially those with severe sciatica, how to deal with the ailment. Unfortunately, in the case of sciatica, pregnancy is a limitation in therapy and must be brought under control using methods that are safe for the baby.

Sciatica in pregnancy – symptoms

Although back pain is a common affliction of pregnant women, sciatica in pregnancy is very easy to identify. 

Symptoms of sciatica in pregnancy:

• pain complaints appear suddenly and are very severe,
• The pain is localized in the lower back, but radiates to the buttock, the back of the thighs, also to the foot,
• The mother-to-be may experience muscle weakness in her limbs,
• The woman has a feeling of numbness and burning,
• Limb paresis ( in some cases).

If the pregnant woman is experiencing severe sciatic back pain and labor is near, the doctor may consider a termination by cesarean section. Natural childbirth in this case would be too much strain on the spine. 

A pregnant woman with sciatica may choose to give birth in water or in a squatting position. This is possible as long as the facility has space for such a delivery and the woman does not suffer from other degenerative diseases that are not related to pregnancy.

Sciatica in pregnancy – treatment

Treatment of sciatica in pregnancy is severely limited due to the lack of painkillers that do not harm the baby. The only safe painkiller is paracetamol. It can be taken at the onset of severe pain, but only two pills a day – no more. Moms-to-be should keep in mind that some paracetamol remedies may contain caffeine (up to 130 mg in 2 pills), which can be harmful to the baby if you exceed the allowed daily dose. 

A key element in the treatment of pain is sciatica relief in pregnancy exercises. They should strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, abdominal muscles and spine. The frequency and type of treatments depends on the physiotherapist. It will certainly be possible to repeat them at home. Pregnancy belts will be useful in stabilizing the spine. They can be purchased from online or rehabilitation stores. Going to the pool or relaxing massages is a good idea.

Other options for treating sciatica symptoms in pregnancy:

• Cold or warm compresses on the painful area,
• Lying down with legs bent at 90 degrees,
• frequent lying down,
• not lifting heavy objects,
• maintaining correct posture,
• Physical activity involving frequent walks.

In some situations, when the pain is very persistent, analgesic and anti-inflammatory ointments that are safe for the child are recommended. Pregnant women must not abuse them.

A method to deal with the pain is electrostimulation. Low-frequency current will also help with labor pains.