Sciatica During Pregnancy? 3 Reasons Why Your Back Hurts

During pregnancy, your body experiences unique stresses. Your organs shift to make space for the growing child, and your muscles and bones cope with increased strain over nine months, meaning that pregnancy often comes with uncomfortable physical symptoms as well as joy and excitement for the future addition to your family.

It’s common to experience back pain when pregnant. Understanding the connection between pregnancy and the nerve compression condition known as sciatica helps you find effective strategies for pain relief.

Board-certified neurosurgeon Dr. Beejal Y. Amin knows about sciatica diagnosis and treatment, including how to handle sciatica during pregnancy. Dr. Amin supports new and existing patients from locations in Hinsdale and Woodridge, Illinois.

If back pain is making your pregnancy difficult, reach out to Dr. Amin to learn more about sciatica and sciatica symptom relief. Here are three key takeaways when it comes to sciatica pain and pregnancy.

1. The sciatic nerve: painful when compressed

Sciatica is a pain condition related to compression of the spinal sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve, one of the large nerves in your body, reaches from your lower (lumbar) spine through your pelvis, branching to run down both legs.

Pain symptoms result if the sciatic nerve experiences compression, medically known as radiculopathy. You may also experience numbness, tingling, or localized weakness due to sciatica. Symptoms affect your lower back and may seem to radiate down one or both of your legs.

Pain related to sciatica feels like shooting or stabbing. Some compare the pain to an electrical shock moving from your lower spine into your leg or legs. Pain may feel worse in your hips or buttocks, and associated muscle spasms can occur. In severe cases, sciatica can even interfere with your bowel and bladder control.

1. Sciatic nerve compression and pregnancy

Sciatica affects many adults, pregnant or not. But, during the late stages of pregnancy, shifting stresses on your pelvic region make sciatic nerve compression more likely. And that’s not the only relevant change in your body increasing your risk of radiculopathy.

Your body begins to prepare for labor and delivery toward the end of your pregnancy. The hormone relaxin loosens your pelvic ligaments to make room for childbirth. This process can shift your center of gravity, catching your sciatic nerve in a painful position.

Being out of shape or overweight increases your risk of sciatica, both during and independent of pregnancy. Wearing high-heeled shoes may also contribute to the problem. Often, sciatica issues end after labor and delivery, but the problem can also linger after giving birth.

1. Relieving pain and inflammation during pregnancy

Sciatica increases the amount of inflammation in your body, which won’t harm your growing baby but increases your stress and discomfort.

During pregnancy, Dr. Amin typically doesn’t consider surgery for sciatica. Instead, he advises you on low-impact ways to relieve your symptoms and increase your comfort. Over-the-counter pain relief and anti-inflammatory medications may be helpful – but check with Dr. Amin to ensure that medications are safe for your pregnancy.

Ice packs on your lower back and pelvis may help relieve inflammation. You may also find relief through heat therapy, a heating pad, or soaking in a hot bath, which soothes overstressed muscles.

While you should listen to your body and rest as needed in the later stages of pregnancy, gentle activity can also relieve sciatica pain. Low-impact activities like swimming or prenatal yoga may help you stretch and build strength to take pressure off your painful nerves. Talk to Dr. Amin about physical therapy approaches that can work for you.

Managing symptoms like sciatica during pregnancy gives you peace of mind and respite from stress. Contact Dr. Amin for expert sciatica support. Call now to schedule an appointment, or book your visit online.