Sciatica in Pregnancy | Causes, Symptoms and Stretches for Pain| Emma's Diary

Although sciatica in pregnancy is a less common complaint, it can be a very painful and troublesome condition if you do have it. Some of its symptoms may be confused with the more common ones associated with back and pelvic pain that are brought on by the changes your body undergoes in pregnancy.

What is sciatica?

The sciatic nerve branches out from your lower back, travels through your hips and bottom, and then down the back of each leg to your feet. The pain and sensations felt along the path of the sciatic nerve are referred to as sciatica. The condition usually affects only one side of your body. The good news is that most cases of sciatica resolve over a few weeks with lifestyle measures and home treatment.

What are the symptoms of sciatica in pregnancy?

It’s important to try to distinguish between sciatica and the more common pregnancy complaints of lower back and pelvic girdle pain (also known as symphysis pubis dysfunction), which are experienced by two-thirds and one-fifth of pregnant women, respectively.

Sciatic pain radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve and can affect your bottom, the back of your leg, your foot and toes. You may feel a burning, shooting or stabbing pain, tingling, numbness or weakness in these areas, which can feel worse when you move, cough or sneeze. Sitting for a prolonged period of time can also cause your symptoms to feel worse.

You may also have back ache, but the sensations felt in your bottom, legs or foot are usually more painful. It’s possible to also feel a mix of sensations, such as pain in one part of your leg and a pins and needs sensation or numbness in a different area of the same leg.

What causes sciatica during pregnancy?

Sciatica is not caused by pregnancy but rather the symptoms care caused by inflammation of the sciatic nerve due to something rubbing it or compressing it or rubbing on it. Causes of this include:

A slipped disk (also called a slipped disk) – the supporting cushion which lies between the bones of the spine pushes out pressing on the sciatic nerve. This is the most common symptom of sciatica.
Narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis)
A vertebral bone in your spine slips out of position (spondylolisthesis)
A back injury

Our Expert Says...

Talk to your doctor or midwife if your pain is severe and getting worse, is stopping you from doing everyday activities, or it hasn’t improved after a few weeks of trying the above self-care measures. They may be able to give you advice on specific pain-relieving exercises to try or refer you to a physiotherapist specialising in pregnant women.

Dr Shauna Fannin

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How can I treat sciatica in pregnancy?

Most people with sciatica get better within 4 to 6 weeks, but some cases may take longer to resolve.

Try the following lifestyle measures to help relieve pain:

Continue with everyday activities as much as possible
Avoid sitting or lying down for prolonged periods
Avoid lifting, pushing or pulling heavy objects
When sitting opt for a straight backed chair and keep your feet flat on the floor
Try regular back stretches (avoid jerking, bouncing or twisting movements)
Do gentle exercise (e.g. walking, swimming, yoga)
Use heat packs on the affected areas
Place a small cushion between your knees when sleeping on your side
Always check with your GP or pharmacist before you take any painkillers in pregnancy

There are also a number of sciatica stretches that can really help, including:

The reclining pigeon pose
The sitting pigeon pose
The forward pigeon pose
The knee to opposite shoulder
The sitting spinal stretch
The standing hamstring stretch
A groin and long abductor muscle stretch
The scissor hamstring stretch

How can I stop sciatica coming back?

Stretching can improve sciatic pain and increasing movements in your hips, lower back and legs can help, so be sure you don't stand for long periods of time and switch your positions throughout the day.