When you’re pregnant, the last thing you want to endure is sciatica pain. Though it is common for you to experience leg cramps, pains, stress, nausea, and insomnia but not in your wildest dreams, you’d want to deal with persistent back pain.
Sciatic Nerve Pain Symptoms
The first symptom is pain that starts in your lower back and goes down your legs. Some other symptoms that one faces during the pregnancy phase include:
- Poor bladder control
- Severe leg pain
- Numbness and feeling of sensation in your legs
- Pain that gets worse with moving, sneezing, and coughing
- Tingling feeling in your lower extremities
If you happen to experience one of these symptoms, let your doctor know about it before the severity of sciatic nerve pain gets out of your hand. Your family healthcare professional can advise you on some safe and effective ways to relieve your pain and discomfort with over-the-counter medicines and of course, there are other super awesome treatments available.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to ease the pain with small changes like wearing an abdominal belt and low-heeled shoes. You can even apply heat to affected areas or seek treatment to deal with the discomfort and pain well.
No doubt, sciatica pain during pregnancy exists and spins your world. So, let’s have a look at some of the best ways that help you deal with this aggravated pain at ease.
1. Ease Down on a Sciatic Pain
Do you feel pain on the right side of your body? If so, try lying down on the left side. With no additional pressure being applied to the area, you can experience discomfort disappearing. You can do this exercise whenever you experience sciatic pain.
- When sitting down, place a lumbar cushion behind your lower back. By reducing pressure on the sciatic nerve and supporting your spine, the cushion helps to ease your sciatic pain.
- Buy a pregnancy support belt to relieve the pressure on your back. These garments come in various sizes, materials, shapes, and fits. You can ask your doctor to recommend the best abdominal belt for your happy pregnancy phase.
- While you’re pregnant, avoid lifting heavy objects. And, if you have to lift any bulky thing then keep your back straight, bend and then carry the stuff with your knees.
2. Tame the Sciatic Pain
Apply a warm heating pad to the affected area for 10 minutes to ease the discomfort and pain of sciatica. Keep the heating pad warm and not hot. Try to avoid using the pad for more than 10 minutes per hour.
- There is nothing a warm shower can’t fix. Aim for moderately warm water and your body temperature should not be raised more than 39 degrees Celsius for more than 10 minutes.
- Swim for 30 - 60 minutes at a time to relax your body from irritating sciatica pain. But, avoid swimming rigorously as it may strain your muscles. If you experience weakness, stop swimming.
3. Get a Doctor to Treat Your Pain
If you are going through severe sciatica pain, talk to your doctor to see if it makes sense to take over-the-counter medicines. Your healthcare professional will likely prescribe acetaminophen. To make sure you and the baby stay safe, try not to exceed the dose as suggested by your doctor.
- Lookup for a professional and licensed massage therapist for treating the area around the sciatic nerve to ease the pressure off your sciatica nerve.
- Ask your healthcare professional if physical therapy is a viable option to try during your pregnancy. During the therapy, you’ll learn stretching and strengthening exercises that will ease pressure on your sciatic nerve. If you have a high-risk pregnancy, your doctor may not recommend physical therapy.
- Consider getting acupuncture treatment to minimize your pain. It is a risk-free therapy that reduces your pain. It increases the release of endorphins in your body which reduces inflammation and makes you more resistant to pain. Try to look for an expert acupuncturist and ask them if they have any prior experience dealing with pregnant patients. This therapy can even treat other pregnancy issues such as depression, morning sickness, and sleep disorders.
There is no such real cure available to help you heal from sciatic nerve pain. However, the above-mentioned therapies and treatments can definitely help you heal faster from the extremity of sciatica.
Besides, make sure you avoid sitting for a prolonged period of time. Take a walk regularly and keep using heat packs on your lower back. Be mindful of your posture while sitting as it helps reduce tension around your sciatic nerve. Also, keep using safe remedies to keep yourself free from pain and enjoy a healthy and happy phase of pregnancy. Pregnancy may seem like a roller coaster but it is a hell of a ride you wouldn’t want to miss.