How long does sciatica pain last during pregnancy

Unfortunately, many women suffer from sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy. This is most likely due to an pre-existing lumbo-pelvic problem that is exacerbated by the added physical stress of pregnancy. Even if this is your first time with sciatica pain, your problem is likely due to a pre-existing postural asymmetry.

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Hormonal Changes During Pregnancy
Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
Do You have Chiropractic Questions?
In this article

Hormonal Changes During Pregnancy

During pregnancy your body releases more of the hormone called progesterone in order to increase ligament laxity. This process helps to support the growing baby, but puts additional strain on your joints. The additional strain on asymmetrical postures will wear on the joints unevenly and create muscle tension and the unbearable sciatic pain many women experience during pregnancy.

Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy

Chiropractic care during pregnancy is increasingly more common, because of its high level of success without the use of drugs or surgery. This is important because pregnant women aim to avoid drugs and surgery as it might threaten the health of the unborn baby.

Some chiropractors are trained specifically in Webster’s Technique, which was developed address a pregnant women’s pelvis. Webster's technique focuses on adjusting the sacrum in order to better align the pelvis. In addition to helping the birthing process, Webster’s Technique may help to reduce sciatic pain during pregnancy – even as early as the first trimester!

Do You have Chiropractic Questions?

Pregnancy related Sciatica Pain isn’t the most common symptom to develop in the first trimester, but it does happen. So, what should you do if you start to develop sciatica pain first trimester? You could ignore the pain, try to work through the pain or seek gentle Chiropractic Care.

Dr. Geoff Huls is willing to schedule a free phone consultation to answer any questions you may have before you schedule your appointment. Call 520.989.3338 and ask for a free phone consultation today!

No, you are not more prone to sciatica if you are pregnant. During pregnancy, you may feel aches and pains in your pelvis and back, but these are unlikely to be related to the sciatic nerve. They are more likely to be caused by pelvic girdle pain (PGP), which is much more common and has some of the same symptoms as sciatica.

Sciatica is not caused by your baby pressing on a nerve and pregnancy doesn't put you at greater risk of damaging a disc in your spine. Heavy lifting and activities that make your whole body vibrate, such as operating machinery, are the most common triggers for sciatica (NICE 2018a).

You're unlikely to be doing the kind of heavy-duty work that causes sciatica while you're pregnant. That's another reason why it's more likely for PGP to be causing your aches and pains.

However, sitting for long periods and poor posture can lead to low back pain and sciatica (Chou 2018), so that's another good reason to stay active during pregnancy.

You will have a shooting, burning pain that comes and goes, and often affects just one side. You may feel pain in your lower back, at the back of your thigh and down the outer side of your calf to your foot and toes (NICE 2018a, Wheeler et al 2018). If you have lower back pain too, the pain down your buttock and leg usually feels worse than the lower back pain (NHS 2017, NICE 2018a).

You may also feel tingling in your leg, and numbness or pins and needles in your leg or foot. The pain may be patchy or widespread. Sciatica can be extremely wearing and cause more constant pain than PGP or back pain. Work and family life can be difficult when the pain is at its worst.

Your GP may be able to diagnose sciatica, or she may refer you to a physiotherapist (Hsu et al 2017, NICE 2018a).Your GP may suggest some simple exercises and stretches to try first (NHS 2017, 2018a), or she may refer you straight to a physiotherapist (NHS 2017).

Your physiotherapist will show you exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor, tummy muscles and back. She will also show you ways to improve your posture. She may want to keep an eye on you throughout your pregnancy to check the function of your nerves.

About half of people with acute sciatica feel better within 10 days to two weeks, and most (75 per cent) recover within four weeks to 12 weeks (NICE 2018a). But for some people the symptoms can remain for much longer (Levin et al 2017, NICE 2018a).

You can take paracetamol, though there’s not a lot of evidence to suggest that it’s an effective painkiller for sciatica (Levin et al 2017, NICE 2018a) or low back pain (Moore et al 2015, Saragiotto et al 2016). Your doctor or pharmacist may advise about other medications, or combinations of medications, to try instead. It's best not to take ibuprofen when you're 30 weeks or more pregnant (NHS 2018b, NICE 2018b).

Other therapies you could try include acupuncture, osteopathy and chiropractic (Randall 2014), although there is a lack of evidence about how helpful they are for sciatica (Fernandez et al 2016, Ji et al 2015, Levin et al 2017, Qin et al 2015).

If you opt for a complementary therapy, make sure that you see a registered practitioner who is experienced in treating pregnant women.

With your skin protected by a flannel or cloth, apply a heat (NHS 2017, NICE 2018a) or an ice pack to the painful area to help reduce the pain. Alternating between warmth and cold helps some people (BUPA 2017).
Keep as active as possible, as this will help you to recover (BUPA 2017, NICE 2018a). As you try to do your normal activities, it's all right to feel a bit of pain, provided you pace yourself (BackCare 2010, NHS 2017, NICE 2018a). If an activity makes your pain too severe, or causes pain to last more than a couple of hours after you've stopped, try to avoid it (BackCare 2010)
Watch your posture (NHS 2017). Try not to sit for long periods (BUPA 2017, NHS 2019a). If you sit at a desk for work, ask your employer to carry out a health and safety assessment to ensure that your chair is adjustable, and you have the back support you need (HSE nd). It can help to have a bolster cushion to keep your back slightly arched.
Try not to lift anything heavy (NICE 2018a). If you do have to lift something, bend from your knees and keep your back straight (NHS 2019b, 2017). Keep the object you're lifting close to your body.
Try not to stay still for long periods. Resting in bed for longer than short periods is unlikely to help (Levin et al 2017, NICE 2018a).
Sleep on your side with a pillow or two tucked between your knees (NICE 2018a). Sleeping on your side is also best for your baby – by the third trimester, it reduces your risk of stillbirth compared to lying on your back (Gordon et al 2015, Heazell et al 2017, 2018, McCowan et al 2017, Stacey et al 2011).
Wear soft, comfortable shoes. Jarring your spine can make your pain worse.

How can I relieve pelvic pain?

Pelvic pain in pregnancy is common, but that doesn't mean it's normal. Learn how to get relief.More pregnancy videos

Some labour positions may set off sciatica pain, while others may relieve it (Wasson and Chon 2018). Ask your physiotherapist for advice. Using a birth pool can be helpful, as it will make moving around easier (RCM 2012, Shaw-Battista 2017). As with any back condition, you'll need to look after your posture (NHS 2017, NICE 2018a). When breastfeeding, try out different positions to find the one that's most comfortable for you.

Laid-back breastfeeding may help too, as your baby is supported on your body...

Try to change your baby on a changing station rather than on the floor. When you lift your baby, keep your back straight, bend your knees and avoid twisting movements.

Ask your midwife or physiotherapist about exercise classes that you can join to improve your general fitness, strength and flexibility. This will help to prevent your problem becoming a long-standing one (BUPA 2017, NHS 2017).

More tips and advice:

BackCare. 2010. Sciatica and referred pain. www.backcare.org.uk [Accessed August 2019]

Berkmann S, Fandino J. 2012. Pregnancy and childbirth after microsurgery for lumbar disc herniation. Acta Neurochirurgica 154(2): 329-34

BUPA. 2017. Lower back pain. BUPA, Health information. www.bupa.co.uk [Accessed August 2019]

Chou R. 2018. Patient education: low back pain in adults (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate. www.uptodate.com [Accessed August 2019]

Fernandez M, Ferreira ML, Refshauge KM, et al. 2016. Surgery or physical activity in the management of sciatica: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Spine J25(11):3495-3512

Gordon A, Raynes-Greenow C, Bond D, et al. 2015. Sleep position, fetal growth restriction, and late-pregnancy stillbirth. Obstet Gynecol 125(2):347-55

Heazell A, Li M, Budd J et al. 2017. Going-to-sleep supine is a modifiable risk factor for late stillbirth – findings from the Midlands and North of England Stillbirth Case-Control Study. BJOG online first: 20 Nov. onlinelibrary.wiley.com [Accessed August 2019]

Heazell A, Li M, Budd J, et al. 2018. Association between maternal sleep practices and late stillbirth: findings from a stillbirth case-control study. BJOG125(2):254-62. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov [Accessed August 2019]

HSE. nd. Expectant mothers – FAQs. Health and Safety Executive. www.hse.gov.uk [Accessed August 2019]

Ji M, Wang X, Chen M, et al. 2015. The efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of sciatica: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 192808 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov [Accessed August 2019]

Levin K, Hsu PS, Armon C. 2017. Acute lumbosacral radiculopathy. UpToDate 24 Apr

McCowan LME, Thompson JMD, Cronin RS, et al. 2017. Going to sleep in the supine position is a modifiable risk factor for late pregnancy stillbirth; Findings from the New Zealand multicentre stillbirth case-control study. PloS ONE 12(6):e0179396. journals.plos.org [Accessed August 2019]

Moore RA, Derry S, Wiffen PJ, et al. 2015. Overview review: Comparative efficacy of oral ibuprofen and paracetamol (acetaminophen) across acute and chronic pain conditions. Eur J Pain 19(9):1213-23. onlinelibrary.wiley.com [Accessed August 2019]

NHS. 2017. Sciatica.NHS, Health A-Z. www.nhs.uk [Accessed August 2019]

NHS. 2018a. Exercises for sciatica.NHS, Live well, Exercise. www.nhs.uk [Accessed August 2019]

NHS 2018b. Can I take ibuprofen when I'm pregnant? NHS, Common health questions, Pregnancy. www.nhs.uk [Accessed August 2019]

NHS. 2019a. How to sit correctly.NHS, Live well, Healthy body. www.nhs.uk [Accessed August 2019]

NHS. 2019b. Safe lifting techniques.NHS, Live well, Healthy body. www.nhs.uk [Accessed August 2019]

NICE. 2018a. Sciatica (lumbar radiculopathy). National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Clinical Knowledge Summaries. cks.nice.org.uk [Accessed August 2019]

NICE. 2018b. NSAIDs: prescribing issues. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Clinical Knowledge Summaries. cks.nice.org.uk [Accessed August 2019]

Qin Z, Liu X, Wu J, et al. 2015. Effectiveness of acupuncture for treating sciatica: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 425108 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.govo [Accessed August 2019]

Randall S. 2014. Osteopathy: helping pregnant women in pain. Practising Midwife 17(5): 38-41

RCM. 2012. Immersion in water for labour and birth. Royal College of Midwives, Evidence-based guidelines for midwifery-led care in labour. www.rcm.org.uk [Accessed August 2019]

Saragiotto BT, Machado GC, Ferreira ML, et al. 2016. Paracetamol for low back pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (6): CD012230. www.cochranelibrary.com [Accessed August 2019]

Shaw-Battista J. 2017. Systematic review of hydrotherapy research: does a warm bath in labor promote normal physiologic childbirth? J Perinat Neonatal Nurs 31(4):303-316. nursing.ceconnection.com [Accessed August 2019]

Stacey T, Thompson JMD, Mitchell EA, et al. 2011. Association between maternal sleep practices and risk of late stillbirth: a case-control study. BMJ 342:d3403. www.bmj.com [Accessed August 2019]

Wasson C, Chon T. 2018. A case of sciatica during labor due to an occiput posterior fetus. Cureus10(1):e2082. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov [Accessed August 2019]

Wheeler SG, Wipf JE, Staiger TO, et al. 2018. Evaluation of low back pain in adults. UpToDate12 Jun

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