Sciatica In Pregnancy: Bearing The Discomfort
Pregnancy is one very exciting journey. It is then that a woman can expect the unexpected. Pregnancy brings on a lot of things from physical to mental and to emotional aspects. It has its alarming and interesting sides too. One effect of pregnancy that needs to be given attention to is sciatica.
Sciatica in pregnancy not only occurs to pregnant women, it can also affect a lot of people in different conditions. It is not just pregnancy related medical condition but it does affect women that are pregnant.
The human anatomy bears a sciatic nerve. It runs from the lower portion of the back down to the legs and the feet. Normally, this nerve emits feelings in the leg muscles and feet. However, there are times when this sciatic nerve get inflamed due to injury or some pressures in the back. As this happens, that is when the person feels a shooting pain or medically called as sciatic pain. At some point, too much pressure on the sciatic nerve results to weakness, numbness and tingling sensations in the leg and its surrounding area.
Not all women develop sciatica in pregnancy, but most do. Sciatica however does not necessarily happen because you are pregnant, but the pressing force on the sciatic nerve does arouse sciatica providing backaches and discomfort among pregnant moms. There are some assumptions that it is the baby that presses on the nerve. This is not entirely true. Most of the time, some damaged disc in the spine triggers sciatica in pregnancy. This condition causes the tissues around the nerve to swell giving pressure to the sciatic nerve. Precise case for example is a slipped disc that is compressing the nerve. Pregnant women possess a higher risk of developing a disc injury, for one reason that they get heavier as the baby grows inside resulting to pressure and additional load for the spine. Therefore, they are prone to slipped disc or herniated disc incorporating to sciatica in pregnancy.
Many women eventually develop sciatica at some point in their pregnancy while others do not. Or it may be relatively coincidental to feel some back pains on the course of their pregnancy. Some expecting mothers complain of a tingling feeling around the back leg or some discomforting sensations in their lower back. There are even those who are experiencing pelvic pain and oftentimes mistook it for a sciatic pain.
Common symptoms and indications of sciatica in pregnancy are: pins and needle-like sensations in the affected foot or leg, or even the lower back; numbness on the feet or leg; burning sensations in the buttock, lower back, or leg; and lower back pains or around the pelvis that move down towards the foot.
Generally, sciatica in pregnancy eventually wears out on its own without any medical treatments. Sometimes, the discomfort will last for only six weeks, some either shorter than that or longer. Regular appointments with your doctor or some professional physical therapist is a great help for you to cope with the anguish and disturbing effects of sciatica in pregnancy. A therapist will provide some helpful exercises to ease the pain, and at the same time, to strengthen your pelvic, back and abdominal muscles. This will certainly be beneficial in preparing for the anticipated labor and delivery.
For some pregnant women, chiropractic care proves to be befitting for them. It helps alleviate their pain. But if the same interests you, be sure to approach a chiropractor who is well trained and experienced in dealing with prenatal clients or patients. Being pregnant does not give you any right to avail the ordinary methods of any treatments. You are definitely entitled to get the best special forms of treatments, and this certainly includes managing sciatica in pregnancy.
It is important to consult with your obstetrician and gynecologist for the apt means of relieving the irritating symptoms of sciatica. Your doctor can sure tell you the most appropriate thing to do. Getting enough rest and postural corrections may also aid in lightening the pressure on the disc, thus, relieving the symptoms, helping you to glide through the condition.
