Sciatica is pain felt in lower back and legs due to the compression of a spinal nerve root. Considered a common problem, around three million people every year have sciatica in the United States. Sciatica treatment varies from simple exercises such as stretching and yoga to more complicated techniques that require a chiropractor. Of course, the necessity of a chiropractor depends on the severity of the issue.
What does it feel like?
An inflamed or pinched sciatic nerve will result in a radiating, burning pain. While anyone can have sciatica, those most likely to experience it are those who are pregnant. For those who are pregnant, it is most common during the third trimester.
As the pregnancy continues, the pain will get worse. This pain increases because your body will produce more of a hormone called relaxin, which relaxes the ligaments in preparation for childbirth.
Loosening the ligaments in your body will cause the center of gravity to switch. This gravitational shift will pinch the sciatic nerve resulting in sharp pain from the lower back down to the legs.
If you experienced sciatica during your first pregnancy, then it is normal for you to experience it during any subsequent pregnancies, and likely it will occur earlier on in the pregnancy. While it is a sharp pain, it will not last forever, and will only cause a few minutes of discomfort before disappearing.
Pregnant women already have many problems to deal with, and sciatica only adds to the list. Contacting a licensed chiropractor can alleviate at least one of the issues facing women during pregnancies.
How Can a Chiropractor Help?
Chiropractors know a variety of ways to relieve pain and can give patients pain relief for an assortment of issues. One commonly used technique for sciatica is ice therapy, used to prevent the burning sensation.
The chiropractor will apply ice bags onto the parts of your body where you feel the most pain as well as important sections along the sciatic nerve. These ice bags will reduce inflammation and prevent the burning sensation, which normally accompanies sciatic pain.
Chiropractors can also use ultrasounds to help eliminate the pain sciatica can cause. An ultrasound will produce heat from sound waves that are capable of penetrating deep into your tissue. This heat will reduce muscle spasms, cramps, swelling, and the pain you may be feeling from sciatica.
Another form of treatment is transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, also known as TENS.
TENS is a box-shaped battery-powered device that will stimulate your muscles. Electrical currents are created and applied your lower back muscles at different intensities to stimulate them and counteract the heavy release of relaxin. Muscle stimulation will prevent the lower back pain caused by sciatica.
One of the most effective methods for reducing inflammation and pain is spinal manipulation. Since the center of gravity has been changed, the vertebrae in the spine have shifted to compensate. This treatment will put those vertebrae back into their natural positions and help with the sciatica pain. It is not a dangerous treatment, and you should not feel any pain from having your vertebrae properly aligned.
Do it Yourself Relief
Chiropractors will also give you different types of stretches to do to go along with your specific treatment. Find the proper sciatica stretches, such as using a foam roller can properly stretch your body and give pain relief.
Stretching your hip flexor, buttocks, and lower back are most helpful for people with sciatica. This stretching invigorates the muscles and forces them to be active, helping to keep the spine in its natural position, and reducing pain.
Over the counter pain relief medicine can also help, but it is only for short term relief.
Concluding Thoughts
If you believe you have sciatica, take pain relief medication, and schedule an appointment with a chiropractor to make sure you have one less thing to worry about while pregnant.
