Pregnancy Sciatica
What Treatments Are Available for Pregnancy Sciatica?
There are a lot of changes going on in the body during pregnancy and unfortunately not all of these are pleasant ones. Pregnancy sciatica is one of the uncomfortable problems that can occur while pregnant.
Not all women suffer from the effects of sciatica while pregnant but for the ones that do it can range from being a mild tingling sensation to a crippling pain from the lower back and down the leg to to foot.
If it occurs it usually appears at about the 3rd month of the pregnancy and is due to various reasons.
1: The growing baby can put pressure on the sciatic nerve as it competes for space.
2: The hormone, relaxin increases and makes the joints of the pelvis relax but unfortunately it also relaxes the spine, allowing for the possibility of a slipped disc.
3: The extra weight of the growing baby can change a woman’s posture and put further stress on their back.
4: Stress. Being pregnant can be stressful at times. Suffering sciatica doesn’t help and it can become a vicious circle.
It is vitally important that pregnant women take great care of their back when lifting anything remotely heavy. The, back straight, legs bent technique will prevent many injuries and also will come in handy once the child arrives and starts to pile on the weight.
Sleeping can also be a problem for backs. It is advisable to try and sleep on your side, never on the back and to keep the legs bent a little. Use pillows between the knees and also to support the abdomen.
