In 85% of all cases at the 20th week of pregnancy, a woman complains of pain in the lumbar region. Such sensations may not be associated with the lower back itself. Pain in the back during pregnancy may be associated with pinching of the sciatic nerve. A similar phenomenon occurs due to compression of the walls of the nerve during pregnancy. Pinched the sciatic nerve during pregnancy is called sciatica in medicine.
Causes
The sciatic is the largest nerve of all the nerves of the human body, which originates from the lumbar, forming in the sacral plexus, descends under the sciatic muscles, providing movement of the lower back, thigh, lower leg and foot. The main reason for pinching the sciatic nerve during pregnancy is an increased load on the spine due to the severity of the fetus and hormonal changes during gestation.
The most difficult period for the sciatic nerve begins at 20 weeks of gestation. The climax of the test for the sciatic nerve comes at the last stage of pregnancy, when the female body prepares for childbirth. At this time, the woman’s body exhibits excessive mobility of all joints, the ligamentous apparatus acquires increased elasticity. In addition, with an increase in fetal weight, the size of the uterus increases, which puts pressure on the tissues of the sciatic nerve, on all joints and the entire spine. The entire list of changes is a new condition to which the sciatic nerve reacts. As a result, jamming of his tissues occurs.
With the normal course of pregnancy and if the woman is absolutely healthy and in shape, then such a pathology should not occur. In our time, the opposite is true. Unfortunately, every second woman has different diseases, anemia, diabetes mellitus, and every third woman is obese and has musculoskeletal problems. Therefore, pinching of the sciatic nerve during pregnancy is a very frequent phenomenon.
Main symptoms
The most basic symptom of the sciatic nerve during pregnancy is, of course, the pain that a woman can feel in the lumbar region, which subsequently gives to the legs, calves, and pelvic region. The nature of the pain felt may not be the same for all pregnant women. Someone has pain only in the region of the lower back. Someone can feel pain all over the body from the lower back to the bottom. Someone is having pain in the knee joints. It all depends on the individual characteristics of the female body, on the physical condition and the presence of concomitant diseases. True, pain has one unifying similarity. It is usually one-sided, although in rare cases, pain can occur on both sides at the same time. The stronger it is, the greater the threat of miscarriage and the higher the likelihood of premature birth.
Pinched sciatic nerve during pregnancy can cause constipation, impaired urination and even cause weakened labor. In this case, childbirth can occur with complications that can threaten the life of the child. In addition, with pinching the sciatic nerve during pregnancy, most women have a burning sensation and numbness in the lower back, in the legs. Burning and numbness can be felt so strongly that a woman is not able to stay upright for a long time, walk or sit for a long time, she often has to change her body position to reduce pressure on the walls of the sciatic nerve tissue.
Diagnostic Methods
Before proceeding with the treatment of this pathology, it is necessary to correctly diagnose pinching. After all, based on only one manifestation, it is dangerous to prescribe treatment. This is due to the fact that a symptom of pinching of the sciatic nerve may be the result of the presence of other diseases. For example, the same signs will appear in cases of an inflammatory process in the pubic joint, or it may be associated with pyelonephritis, myositis, and other diseases. Most often, your gynecologist can make an accurate diagnosis.
In rare cases, the doctor may write a referral for consultation with other specialists, a neurologist, nephrologist, urologist, infectious disease specialist and so on. Sometimes it is necessary to have an MRI. CT during pregnancy is contraindicated. But in most cases, pinching of the sciatic nerve occurs during pregnancy. Especially when it comes to a woman with a period of 20 weeks of pregnancy or more. If there is no doubt in the diagnosis, the gynecologist prescribes appropriate treatment for the sciatic nerve during pregnancy.
How is the treatment going?
Many pregnant women are interested in what to do with the sciatic nerve during pregnancy? After all, the treatment that the doctor prescribes to his ordinary patients does not suit women who are carrying a baby.
First of all, a woman cannot lie on a solid. Therefore, she is advised to sleep on even and hard mattresses. Rise from the bed carefully, do not rush and do not make any sudden movements. Gymnastics with this problem consists of only one exercise. A woman should get on all fours two to three times a day. Stand in this position for as long as you can, but at least 10 minutes. Usually this type of exercise relieves the severity of the manifested pain, numbness passes and the level of burning sensations decreases.
Bandage
In addition, during pregnancy problems, especially if the fetus is large, a woman is recommended to wear a bandage. It is also necessary for those women who, in addition to pregnancy, are diagnosed with obesity. Wearing a bandage and heels when pinching the sciatic nerve and during pregnancy are those things that are unacceptable. During sedentary work, a woman is recommended to get up every 40-45 minutes and walk for five minutes, keeping her back straight.
Food
A properly composed diet, a healthy lifestyle is also one of the methods of treating sciatic nerve infringement and prevention of its appearance. Many foods high in calcium and magnesium should be included in the food. These elements, when ingested in sufficient quantities, contribute to the strengthening of musculoskeletal tissue.
If the sciatic nerve is pinched during pregnancy, what to do and what products to consume:
- seafood;
- Uzvari;
- prunes
- beets;
- greens;
- nuts
- dried apricots;
- beans;
- dairy products - cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, kefir, but not milk.
Drug treatment
Injury to the sciatic nerve during pregnancy is rarely treated with drugs. Unless this is necessary when the woman is not able to endure severe pain. When treating the sciatic nerve, pregnant women are recommended to use topical preparations. That is, use various, grindings, compresses, ointments and gels with anesthetic and anti-inflammatory effect.
The safest means for pregnant women include all ointments, gels based on diclofenac. For instance:
- Voltaren;
- Dicloberl;
- Diklak-gel, etc.
Their use will help relieve soreness, as well as relax the muscles of the uterus, which will prevent the threat of miscarriage. Rectal-based diclofenac-based preparations have a good effect.
Attention! Any treatment, as well as the use of alternative methods, can be practiced by pregnant women with inflammation of the sciatic nerve only after consultation with the attending physician, and if the woman is allergic, then only after consultation with an allergist.
Alternative methods as another way to combat pathology
Only if there are no contraindications, treatment of inflammation of the sciatic nerve during pregnancy can women be trusted with traditional medicine methods. One of the most effective methods of treatment is carrying out water procedures using a decoction of juniper and thyme.
You can also use a warm bath with a decoction of elderberry, thyme, motherwort, chamomile, mint, pine buds, hops, tansy and others, which have a calming effect. You can also grind and make compresses from the same herbs.
Key recommendations
Recommendations for the treatment of this pathology at home:
- Do not treat joint pain with pills without a doctor's prescription.
- Any discomfort that occurs in the lumbar is a signal that you need to respond to without delay.
The best way to treat this kind of disease in a woman who is expecting a baby is to prevent pathology, which consists in movement, proper nutrition, healthy sleep and lifestyle.
One of the important tasks of a woman, if the sciatic nerve hurts during pregnancy, is to seek qualified help in time and get the necessary recommendations and treatment. This will preserve the health of the mother and the unborn baby.