I’M EXPERIENCING SCIATICA DURING PREGNANCY: WHAT ARE MY TREATMENT OPTIONS?
BY DR. JENNA LANE, M.D.
Back pain during pregnancy is common. In fact, nearly 50% to 80% of women experience back pain during pregnancy.
- You may experience back pain because your baby’s weight is adding more pressure to your pelvic region and changing your posture.
- Progesterone is a hormone that maintains pregnancy. Progesterone in combination with the hormone relaxin, relaxes the ligaments around the pelvis, which makes pregnant women more susceptible to back pain.
- You may have just entered your third trimester, and the weight of the baby adds stress to your lower back.
- Because of your growing belly and breasts causing a shift in gravity in your body, the paraspinal muscles can spasm or strain.
- Back pain during pregnancy can also be due to muscle strain, sacroiliac joint arthropathy, pelvic girdle dysfunction, or sciatica, a compression to the sciatic nerve that runs down your lower back, buttocks, legs, your feet.
For most women, actual nerve compression is a less common cause of back pain during pregnancy. Patients who are older or have a history of sciatica pain are more prone to developing sciatica.
If you are experiencing mild back pain, bring it up with your obstetrician at your next appointment. You should also seek immediate medical attention if you feel weakness or numbness in your legs or have difficulty controlling your bowel or bladder control. The vast majority of back pain can be managed effectively with conservative treatments without the need for diagnostic testing. If there are concerning symptoms, MRI or EMG testing may be necessary.
Advanced Pain Care in Austin, TX, can help you find relief for sciatica back pain. Our pain management specialists are highly trained in diagnosing and treating a variety of conditions, including sciatica during pregnancy. With personalized treatment plans and the latest medical advancements, we aim to effectively alleviate your pain, avoiding any complications. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SCIATICA IN PREGNANCY?
Sciatica pain radiates down one or both legs, causing discomfort and mobility issues. The most common symptoms include:
- Sharp shooting pain
- Tingling sensation
- Numbness
- Weakness in lower extremities
More severe symptoms of sciatica pain can include:
- Leg weakness
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
Get an accurate diagnosis of sciatica back pain with hi-tech equipment and qualified doctors at Advanced Pain Care.
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS AVAILABLE FOR BACK PAIN DURING PREGNANCY?
MEDICATIONS
You can use over-the-counter Acetaminophen for sciatica pain relief. However, after twenty weeks of pregnancy, it’s important to avoid NSAIDs, as they can decrease blood flow to the baby’s kidneys and other organs.
Depending on the severity of the pain or if it is indeed sciatica, other medications, such as gabapentin, could be prescribed. Many pain medications commonly used for the general population have not been thoroughly studied in pregnant women. This makes treating more severe cases of back pain challenging. While these common medications do not appear to cause any fetal malformations, they are less frequently prescribed due to the limited research on their use during pregnancy.
CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENTS / PHYSICAL THERAPY
Your obstetrician may recommend a chiropractor or a physical therapist who can provide noninvasive pain relief for sciatica. Some chiropractors and physical therapists specialize in treating pregnant women.
Steroids / Surgery
Your pain management doctor might occasionally consider a caudal epidural steroid injection, which can be administered under an ultrasound by a pain physician. However, this treatment is controversial for pregnant patients and requires approval from the obstetrician. The steroid may cause side effects such as increased blood pressure and glucose levels. Therefore, it is typically only administered for severe sciatica pain, with close communication between the pain physician and obstetrician.
Surgery is considered a high-risk treatment and is usually reserved for cases where individuals cannot control their bowel or bladder function or experience severe, sudden-onset leg weakness. However, such scenarios are extremely rare.
AT HOME REMEDIES
In general, you should avoid lifting, pushing, or pulling heavy objects, especially as your pregnancy progresses, to prevent muscle strain. Avoid activities that cause pain or discomfort, and if an activity becomes painful, stop immediately.
Changing your sleeping position can also be helpful. Try sleeping on your side with a pillow in between your legs. As your pregnancy progresses, placing a pillow under your belly may provide additional support and pain relief.
If you’re looking for sciatica treatment in Central Texas, Advanced Pain Care is here. Whether you need medication management, physical therapy, or interventional procedures, our team is dedicated to providing you with the best care possible. Get the right treatment plan for sciatica pain relief.
