About 50% of women will experience some lower back pain during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth. Sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy, however, affects only 1% of pregnant women. If you’re experiencing nerve pain, consider visiting your local chiropractor.
Your chiropractor can recommend chiropractic services and at-home options for easing your sciatic nerve pain. Read on to learn more about easing your nerve pain today!
Chiropractic Care
While you’re pregnant, your relaxin hormone levels will increase. Relaxin prepares your body for the delivery process. It helps by widening your hips and relaxing your ligaments.
As your ligaments loosen (and your belly grows), your center of gravity will begin to shift as well. This process can cause your sciatic nerve to get irritated or pinched. When a nerve is irritated, you might experience shooting pain down your buttocks and the back of your legs.
You might notice sitting or even simple movements are uncomfortable. The sharp lower back pain can even increase when you sit down. Other symptoms include:
- Numbness
- Pins and needles
- Weakness in your leg or foot
- Difficulty standing, walking, or sitting
- Sharp, burning, or shooting pain
The pain can become constant or only affect you occasionally. Instead of using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), consult your chiropractor. Chiropractic care is often the first choice for sciatic nerve pain.
Your chiropractor will help by realigning your vertebrae. They’ll ensure everything is back where it belongs. A manual adjustment can help reduce compression of the sciatic nerve.
Minimizing compression will help minimize your nerve pain symptoms.
However, your posture will constantly change during your pregnancy. Consider routine sessions with your chiropractor to maintain proper spinal alignment. Your chiropractor can also recommend complementary chiropractic services like physical therapy and massage therapy.
They might also recommend lifestyle changes that can help minimize future nerve pain.
Sciatica Stretches
Physical therapy can include sessions at your chiropractor’s office and stretches you can complete at home. These stretches can minimize sciatic pain by reducing inflammation. They can also realign your joints and muscles while improving blood flow.
Improving blood flow will ensure oxygen and nutrients travel throughout your body to help it heal and function.
Talk to a certified physical therapist to determine what exercise you can do at home. They’ll make sure you complete these movements safely and correctly.
Remember, your ligaments will loosen during your surgery. As a result, your pelvic girdle will spread easily for delivery. Consulting a certified professional will ensure you stretch safely.
Here are a few stretches you can discuss with a physical therapist.
Bound Angle Pose
This pose will help stretch your hip with your thigh externally rotated.
First, sit with your legs straight out in front of you. Raise your pelvis on a blanket if your groin or hips feel tight.
Next, bend your legs. Slowly pull your heels toward your pelvis as you lower both knees to the side. Press the soles of your feet together.
Pigeon Pose
Target your flexor muscles and hip rotator with this stretch.
Start by placing your hands and knees on the floor. Then, slide your right knee forward. Position it between your hands.
Slide your left leg bag with your foot faced up on the floor.
Child’s Pose
The wide child’s pose can help relieve your hips of weight. It also opens the spine.
Slightly part of your feet with your toes to the ground and feet upward. Face the ground. Then, stretch both arms as far as possible until you feel a stretch.
Make sure your big toes touch each other during the stretch. Try nestling your tummy between your thighs. Then, lower your face to the ground with your arms outstretched.
Modified Warrior Two Pose
Use this stretch to help your hip flexors.
Start by kneeling on the floor on your hands and knees. Then, step one foot in front of you. Keep your hip and knee at a 90-degree angle.
Start shifting your weight forward until you feel a stretch at the front of your back leg and hip.
Prenatal Massages
Consider scheduling a prenatal massage. Massage therapy can help ease any nerve pain you’re experiencing. Massages are both relaxing and therapeutic.
Try scheduling regular deep tissue massages throughout your pregnancy.
You can also pair massages with acupuncture. Acupuncture can rebalance the flow of energy throughout your body. In fact, it’s more effective at relieving sciatica pain than NSAIDs like ibuprofen.
Heat Therapy
Consider applying a heat pack to the area where you feel pain. Heat therapy can help provide temporary relief. It can also ease any soreness you’re experiencing.
Avoid applying a heat pack directly to your belly for an extended period of time. Always wrap the pack in a towel.
Magnesium
Talk to your doctor about magnesium supplementation. Magnesium is a major component in correct nerve function. It could improve sciatic nerve regeneration while decreasing inflammatory responses.
You can take magnesium supplements orally or massage it into your legs using a lotion or oil. Make sure to consult a doctor before adding new supplements to your routine to avoid interactions.
Ease Aches: Treat Sciatic Nerve Pain During Pregnancy
Learning how to treat sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy doesn’t have to add to your stress load. Instead, schedule an appointment with your local chiropractor. Chiropractic services like adjustments, physical therapy, and massage therapy can make all the difference.
Still experiencing pain after using some of these at-home tips? Visit our offices!
Request an appointment today to start easing your pain.
