Treating Sciatica During Pregnancy

Sciatica is caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve, a nerve that runs from the lower spine through the thigh. This sciatic nerve irritation can lead to a sharp pain in the buttocks and hips that travels down to the thighs. Sciatic pain is quite common during pregnancy. Roughly 50 to 80 percent of women experienced it at some point throughout their pregnancies. It is important to seek treatment for any type of pain experienced during pregnancy, including sciatic pain. If you are looking to find relief for your sciatic pain, our physical therapist in East Northport at Island Sports Physical Therapy is ready to help you today.

What Causes Sciatica During Pregnancy?

Sciatic pain is commonly caused by a bulging or herniated disc, spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis, or degenerative disc disease. However, sciatic pain experienced during pregnancy is rarely a result of any of these conditions. The most common catalysts for sciatica during pregnancy are usually pelvic bone pain, sacroiliac joint problems, or piriformis syndrome, a condition affecting one of the buttock muscles. These issues are often a result of an increase in hormones during pregnancy, specifically relaxin. Increased relaxin levels can cause ligaments to become stretched or loosened, particularly in the pelvic area. Additionally, the weight and positioning of the baby can put extra pressure on the hip joints, pelvis, and possibly the sciatic nerve. 

What Are The Symptoms?

There are several symptoms of sciatica during pregnancy that differ from woman to woman. Among the most commonly experienced symptoms are the following:

• Trouble walking, standing, or even sitting.
• Numbness or weakness in the leg or foot on the affected side.
• Burning or shooting pain.
• Pain along the back of the thigh through the foot, originating from the sciatic nerve.

How Can A Physical Therapist In East Northport Help? 

Because extra caution must be taken during pregnancy, some forms of treatment must be ruled out that may commonly be used to treat sciatica pain under normal circumstances. For example, electrical stimulation and ultrasound treatments can be potentially harmful to the unborn child and will not be utilized at our location for physical therapy in East Northport. Among the treatments that can be used on pregnant patients suffering from sciatica are the following:

• Applying heat or ice.
• Wearing a brace.
• Joint mobilization.
• Massages.
• Assistance with posture correction.
• Performing exercises.

Contact Our Physical Therapist in East Northport!

If you are pregnant and suffering from sciatic pain, we can give you the help you need with physical therapy in East Northport at Island Sports Physical Therapy. Our skilled team of physical therapists will work to assess your pain and develop a course of treatment that both relieves your pain and keeps your baby safe. Contact us today to get started!