Sciatica Pregnancy

Sciatica and Pregnancy – Quick Overview

Being pregnant is hard on a woman’s body and as the baby grows within a woman’s whom so does the strain on her back. The most common symptom of pregnancy is sciatica during pregnancy which is basically the back being strained because of the growing baby. This can cause uncomfortable pains down the lower back, hips and legs making it really hard for a woman to go about her daily routine and an inability to even sit comfortably. The pressure of the baby’s head pressing against the mother’s sciatic nerve can made it swell and cause the pains but there are ways of treating these symptoms.

There are a couple of great exercises that can be done to relieve the symptoms of sciatica during pregnancy that are both safe for your baby and good for you. Research has shown that women who have more tone to their muscles as well as a better diet do not suffer from sciatica as bad as women who don’t exercise enough and don’t watch what they eat before and during pregnancy. Since it’s the positioning of the baby that causes this problem, there’s no prevention of sciatica and pregnancy will only be made easier with the use of stretching exercises.

There are several ways of dealing with sciatica which includes hot and cold compressions and soft tissue massages. Pay attention to your posture during this time to prevent any major flare ups as well as a few safe exercises. Doing squats for a few minutes every day can help strengthen both the back and the legs in order to keep away those horrible pains. Lie on your back and do a few slow leg stretches to ease discomfort in your legs and help with blood circulation in the hips and back. Simply taking care of your body can help with sciatica and pregnancy.

Sciatica and Pregnancy – Symptoms and Treatment Overview

Sciatica refers to a series of symptoms experienced by pregnant women when the sciatica nerve is subjected to pressure or inflammation from a woman’s back. The condition may be experienced without any headache episodes. Nonetheless, pain will be experienced towards the back of a pregnant woman’s leg. Occasionally, continuous inflammation or pressure on the sciatica nerve may weaken the leg. In addition, this may result into tingling or numbness in the affected region. Most pregnant women who have experienced sciatica describes the event as a needle or pin sensation on the leg.

Leading causes of sciatica

There are several basic causes of sciatica during pregnancy which women must consider. The first one is the herniated disc. This is a condition experienced when the core breaks via the annulus fibrous. Herniated disc is known to be the leading cause of compression of the nerve root. The nerve root is compressed against internal section of the skeletal spinal channel. The disc usually produces an acidic substance that causes inflammation and pain.

The second one is the lumbar spinal stenosis: this is a condition that arises due to nerve compression. The associated leg pain is normally positional. One may experience the sensation when standing or strolling. The third cause is trauma: when a strong external force is subjected to the sacral spinal nerve, sciatica occurs due to instant nerve compression. The fourth cause is spondylolisthesis: this condition is defined by a vertebra slithering over an in line vertebra. The resulting feature of the slipping over of the vertebra is a sharp nerve compression, causing sciatica. The last one is spinal tumor: this is an abdominal growth that can either be malignant or non-malignant.

The basic sciatica symptoms

Sciatica can be diagnosed by the following basic symptoms: a persistent needle and pin sensation accompanied by numbness; occasional pain on the lower back; positional pain, especially when a pregnant woman is standing or walking; a stream of pain that starts from the lower back through the thigh and up to the leg; a sharp sciatic pain; a weakening experience when moving the leg; foot pain and/or pain sensation in the toes; pelvic girdle pain and occasional hip pain. These are the commonest symptoms which women with sciatica during pregnancy will experience.

The best treatment options for sciatica

Firstly, you should compose yourself whenever you wish to move from one position to another. Thus, you are not supposed to initiate any quick movements. Secondly, have your bed fixed with a firm mattress. This will help in maintaining your position in order not to tamper with the lower back. Thirdly, employ the use of heat therapy. You can achieve this by using a heating pad or a warm bath. The procedure involved is simple, just obtain a heating pad and place it on the affected area.

Fourthly, do not carry out any hard chores which might force you to lift heavy objects or bend to access a given object. Lastly, you should consult a therapist when your condition deteriorates even further. A therapist will guide you through a series of exercises which will aid in firming up abdominal, pelvic floor and back muscles effectively.

You can also engage chiropractic care and massage therapy. The two procedures are effective in reducing sciatic pain by reducing the pressure and inflammation subjected to your sciatica nerve. The above information should enlighten any pregnant woman on the concept of sciatica and pregnancy.