What is the relationship between sciatic nerve pain and pregnancy?

 The sciatic nerve

        is one of the largest nerves in the human body, and it extends from each side from the lower part of the spine through the buttocks, to the back of the thighs and up to the feet. The sciatic nerve plays a very important vital role by connecting the spinal cord to the muscles of the legs, It also performs the sensory and motor functions of the lower extremities, and provides sensation in the back of the thigh, the lower part of the leg, and the sole of the foot.

Sciatic nerve pain and pregnancy

  Causes of sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy

        Sciatic pain usually occurs due to problems in the lumbar vertebrae in the spine, such as disc herniation, and the cause can also be changes in the bones, such as: spinal stenosis, arthritis, or degenerative disc disease, so that all cases that have been performed can lead Mention it to the occurrence of pressure on the sciatic nerve, and thus the occurrence of pain, and sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy resulting from a herniated disc is one of the uncommon cases, but there are many other common causes associated with sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy, so that sciatic nerve pain may occur As a result of the change in body shape and size during pregnancy, the cause may also be pregnancy hormones that loosen the joints in preparation for childbirth, and thus weaken and stretch the ligaments and joints of the pelvis, which leads to sciatic nerve pain, and symptoms are usually worse after weight gain that occurs in The third trimester of pregnancy, where the weight of the fetus causes excessive pressure on the sciatic nerve that passes from the bottom of the uterus to the legs, which leads to the pregnant woman feeling sciatic nerve pain.

Symptoms of sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy

Symptoms of a sciatic nerve injury include:

1. Difficulty walking, standing or sitting.
2. Feeling of sharp or burning pain.
3. Suffering from constant pain along the sciatic nerve that extends from the buttock, down the back of the thigh and the foot.
4. Occasional or constant pain on one side of the leg or buttock.
5. Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the affected foot or leg.

Treating sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy

        There are many treatment methods that can be followed when suffering from sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy, including the following:

1. Massage: A gentle massage of the lower back can help relieve inflammation and pain in the sciatic nerve.
2. Light exercises: Doing light exercises during pregnancy can help strengthen the abdominal and back muscles to reduce the risk of further back pain and the sciatic nerve associated with pregnancy, and brisk walking, riding stationary bikes, and swimming are good exercises that help relieve pressure on the nerve sciatic;
3. Stretching: Gentle back stretching exercises are a great way to relieve sciatic nerve pain. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also recommends that pregnant women avoid exercises that involve lying on their back. Because this may put pressure on the large vein that leads to the heart.
4. Medical treatment: Your doctor may recommend steroid injections to help relieve pain if you don't respond to the other home remedies mentioned earlier. Doctors may suggest more advanced treatments for sciatic nerve pain, but they're not safe during pregnancy.
5. Other treatments: There are many other treatments that may help relieve sciatic nerve pain, such as: taking over-the-counter pain relievers, such as: acetaminophen.
6. Use hot heat packs on the lower back and buttocks.
7. Avoid sitting for long periods by standing, and walking periodically.
8. Maintain a good sitting posture when using computers, by placing a pillow to support the lower back.

Risk factors for sciatic nerve pain

        Certain factors can increase the risk of developing sciatica, including:

• Occupation: Some occupations may contribute to the development of sciatic nerve injury, such as: occupations that require back wrapping, heavy lifting, or long-term driving, but so far there is no conclusive evidence of occupations related to sciatic nerve pain.
• Weight gain: Being overweight increases pressure on the spine and changes the spine, which increases the chance of developing sciatic nerve pain.
• Age: The risk of many medical conditions that lead to sciatic nerve pain increases with age, such as: herniated disc and bone spurs.
• Diabetes: Diabetes can affect the way the body uses sugar, leading to nerve damage and thus increasing the risk of sciatica.
• Sitting for long periods: The risk of infection increases in people who suffer from inactivity in their lives, and people who sit for long periods.

Diagnosis of sciatic nerve pain

        A complete history of the patient can help diagnose sciatic nerve pain, including reviewing symptoms and performing a physical examination. The straight leg raise test is an example of a physical examination that helps diagnose sciatic nerve pain. Then raise the leg slowly and straight, and the doctor notes the height at which the pain begins, and the straight leg test can help identify the affected nerves, and determine whether there is a problem in one of the discs of the vertebrae of the spine, and diagnostic tests may be performed to diagnose nerve pain. Sciatic nerve conduction velocity studies, which is an electrical study to examine the extent to which electrical impulses are transmitted through the sciatic nerve. X-rays to look for fractures in the spine.