Author: Dr. Jenna Lane, MD
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 adds more pressure to your pelvic area and changes your position.
- Progesterone is a hormone that maintains pregnancy. Progesterone binds to hormones relaxinloosens the ligaments around the pelvis, making pregnant women more susceptible to back pain.
- You may be entering your third trimester, and the weight of your baby can put added pressure on your lower back.
- Paravertebral muscles may become spasmed or strained due to changes in the body’s gravity due to the increasing size of the abdomen and breasts.
- Back pain during pregnancy can also be caused by muscle strains, sacroiliac joint disease, pelvic girdle dysfunction, or sciatica (pressure on the sciatic nerve along the lower back, hips, legs, and feet).
For most women, actual nerve compression is not a common cause of back pain during pregnancy. Patients who are older or have a history of sciatica are more likely to develop sciatica.
If you have mild back pain, bring it up to your obstetrician at your next appointment. You should also seek immediate medical attention if you experience weakness or numbness in your legs or difficulty controlling your bowels or bladder. Most back pain can be effectively controlled with conservative treatment without the need for diagnostic testing. If worrisome symptoms occur, an MRI or EMG test may be needed.
Pain Relief Institute of America Help with sciatica back pain relief in Austin, Texas. 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, our goal is to effectively relieve your pain and avoid any complications. Please contact us today to schedule a consultation.
What are the symptoms of sciatica during pregnancy?
Sciatica can radiate down one or both legs, causing discomfort and reduced mobility. The most common symptoms include:
- severe shooting pain
- tingling sensation
- numbness
- Weakness in lower limbs
More serious symptoms of sciatica may include:
- Weakness in the legs
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
Get an accurate diagnosis of sciatica back pain with Pain Relief Institute of America’s high-tech equipment and qualified doctors.
What are the treatments for back pain during pregnancy?
drug treatment
You can use over-the-counter medicines acetaminophen Used to relieve sciatica pain. However, after twenty weeks of pregnancy, it is important to avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs because they can reduce 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 may be used, such as Gabapentin, Can be prescribed. Many pain relievers commonly used in the general population have not been thoroughly studied in pregnant women. This makes treating more severe cases of back pain challenging. Although these common medications do not appear to cause any fetal malformations, they are rarely used because of limited research on their use during pregnancy.
Chiropractic/Physical Therapy
Your obstetrician may recommend a chiropractor or physical therapist who can provide non-invasive pain relief for sciatica. Some chiropractors and physical therapists specialize in treating pregnant women.
steroids/surgery
Your pain management doctor may sometimes consider caudal epidural steroids Injections, which can be given by a pain physician under ultrasound. However, this treatment is controversial for pregnant patients and requires obstetrician approval. Steroids may cause side effects, such as increased blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Therefore, it is typically used only to treat severe sciatica, requiring close communication between the pain physician and obstetrician.
Surgery is considered a high-risk treatment and is usually reserved for cases of inability to control bowel or bladder function or severe, sudden-onset leg weakness. However, this is extremely rare.
home remedies
In general, you should avoid lifting, pushing, or pulling heavy objects, especially during pregnancy, to prevent muscle strain. Avoid activities that cause pain or discomfort and stop immediately if the activity becomes painful.
Changing your sleeping position can also help. Try sleeping on your side with a pillow between your legs. As your pregnancy progresses, placing a pillow under your belly may provide additional support and relieve pain.
If you’re looking for sciatica treatment in Central Texas, Pain Relief Institute of America is right here. Whether you need medication management, physical therapy, or interventional surgery, our team is dedicated to providing you with the best possible care. Develop the right treatment plan for sciatica relief.
