You can’t wait to meet your bundle of joy for lots of reasons.  You’d like to see her face, hold her and teach her about life, but at this point you’re just excited to finally  be out of pain.  Sadly, many women suffer from sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy.

Sciatic nerve pain (sciatica) is pain that starts in your low back and shoots down the back of your leg.  During pregnancy, it’s caused by irritation to the sciatic nerve from the weight of your baby, and it often occurs during the late second and third-trimesters.  Fortunately, sciatica treatment options do not require the use of drugs, and are perfectly safe for both the mother and child.

Sciatica Treatment During Pregnancy

Sciatica pain usually disappears after your baby is born, but there are some things you to do to relieve the pain while you’re counting down the days:

1.  Sciatica Treatment Through Chiropractic Therapy

Many women find relief from sciatica pain through chiropractic treatments.  Spine doctors, or chiropractors, specialize in treating nerve pain by providing motion to the affected joints and alleviating the pressure on the nerve.  This motion is applied through a chiropractic adjustment.  This adjustment is a procedure where chiropractors use their hands to apply a controlled, sudden force to a joint, often causing the joint to make a sound similar to a “pop” where gas is released and the joint releases a fluid that lubricates the joint.  This “pop” is similar to the sound made when you pop the cork of a champaign bottle, and the result is just as refreshing.

2.  Sciatica Treatment – Wear Those Cute Flats, Instead

Pregnant women should avoid wearing shoes with a heel.  Find a couple of cute pairs of flats that you can wear with jeans and to work.  Avoid any type of shoe that forces you to lean forward.  This can put extra pressure on your low back.

3.  Sciatica Treatment – Stretches and Exercises

Pelvic Tilts (also known as Cat-Cow)

Pelvic Tilts, when done regularly, can take pressure off your low back and help to relieve sciatica pain.  Position yourself on your hands and knees.  Your hands should be shoulder length apart.  Gently tuck your chin to your chest and roll your back up while you breathe in (Cat).  Then, slowly raise your chin up, relax your back, and stick out your stomach while breathing out (Cow).  Do this exercise 10-15 times in the morning and 10-15 times before you go to bed.

Hamstring Stretching
It’s best to stretch your hamstrings after you’ve warmed up your body for a minimum of 5 minutes.  You can do this by going for a short walk, first or by performing the hamstring stretch after you’ve done your pelvic tilts.  To stretch your hamstrings while you’re pregnant, stand up with your leg on a chair.  Then, slowly reach for your foot.  Try to hold the stretch for 30 seconds, and remember to breathe.  Repeat with the other leg.

Our Olathe chiropractors specialize in spine treatment – more specifically, sciatica treatment during pregnancy.  Don’t suffer with sciatica pain without trying to find a solution.  With over 100 years of combined experience, there is not a joint issue our doctors have not seen.  We can be reached at 913-764-6237.