
The Link Between Pregnancy and Sciatica

When you’re pregnant, you go through all sorts of physical changes. One of the biggest is that your body makes room for your growing baby. This adjustment can lead to aches and pains you maybe haven’t experienced before. Sciatica pain could be one of those.
At AllCare, our team of experienced chiropractors wants you to understand the link between sciatica and pregnancy so you can get the diagnosis and care you need to find some pain relief.
What is sciatica?
Sciatica, also called sciatic nerve pain, refers to irritation or inflammation of your sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve runs from your lower back to your feet. It’s the main nerve in your leg and is the largest nerve in your body.
When your spine becomes compressed in some way, the compression can pinch your sciatic nerve and cause tingling, numbness, or shooting pain in your lower back and legs.
Sciatica is commonly caused by herniated or bulging discs in the spine or by an overgrowth of bone (bone spurs). Other causes of sciatica include having poor posture or leading a sedentary lifestyle.
Sciatica and pregnancy
When you’re pregnant, your body produces a hormone called relaxin to help loosen your ligaments and prepare your pelvis for childbirth. However, all that shifting in your body can lead to extra pressure on your spine, which in turn can lead to sciatica.
Sciatica is most common during the third trimester of pregnancy. Extra weight, water retention, and your baby’s position can all put added stress on your spine and pinch your sciatic nerve. You may feel this pain in your lower back and in one or both of your legs.
Relief for your sciatica
Sciatica can go away on its own. But if the pain becomes unbearable, treatment solutions are available.
Our team at AllCare offers chiropractic care to help relieve the pain from your sciatica. A series of joint adjustments and stretches can take some of that pressure off your sciatic nerve to give you much-needed relief.
We can also guide you on stretching exercises you can do at home to relax your tightened nerves and alleviate your pain. The use of heat and ice packs can also help.
The providers at AllCare stand ready and happy to provide expert care for any sciatic nerve pain you might be experiencing during your pregnancy. To schedule an appointment with us, call one of our convenient locations or use our online booking tool today.
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