Low back pain and sciatica during pregnancy
Low back pain is the pain that affects the lower back, that is the lower back . It is estimated that at some time during pregnancy more than half of pregnant women suffer from it, although it is more frequent to appear towards the seventh month of pregnancy. In fact it is one of the reasons why many
Low back pain is the pain that affects the lower back, that is the lower back. It is estimated that at some time during pregnancy more than half of pregnant women suffer from it, although it is more frequent to appear towards the seventh month of pregnancy. In fact it is one of the reasons why many women receive medical leave during this period. Causes of back pain and sciatica during pregnancyThe causes of low back pain and sciatica in pregnancy are multiple, but we can list the main ones: El - The growth of the uterus
inside the abdomen displaces the internal organs upwards
and back, from this way you can compress nerve plexuses, such as the sciatic.
- The baby gains more and more weight and the mother also, this overloads the maternal skeleton and it is especially noticeable in the spine, since it increases the lumbar lordosis (the curve in the lower part of the back).
- The position of the uterus and the baby make the mother change her center of gravity to maintain balance. Thus the mother separates the feet more and curves more the back in its final portion (this is called lumbar lordosis). -
The ligaments of the entire maternal skeleton are more elastic at the end of pregnancy thanks to several hormones (relaxin between them). This is necessary so that at the time of delivery the pelvis has some mobility, but before it causes an instability in the joints that have to compensate the neighboring muscles, causing contractures at different levels. Symptoms of back pain in pregnant women
The woman usually refers a continuous pain, located in the lumbar area that can radiate towards the gluteus (one side or both) or the thighs, and the most normal thing that increases in intensity as the day. Some women feel that the pain is quite acute when they wake up in the morning if they have had a bad posture to sleep.
If the pain is accompanied by muscle weakness, tingling or numbness, it is important to rule out a possible herniated disc. In this case it is necessary to go to the doctor, for a correct diagnosis, and to evaluate the different treatment options.
Treatment of sciatica or low back pain in pregnant women Treatment of sciatica or low back pain during pregnancy is important ya, since the ideal is for the woman to arrive on the day of delivery without any blockage or pain in the pelvic area, since it is fundamental for the delivery to develop smoothly that this area can move according to the needs of the mother and the baby. With what, if the treatment appears it will be symptomatic:
- Massage by a physiotherapist who knows the peculiarity of the pregnant woman. Manual therapy is very effective.
-
Local heat, whether wet or dry (electric blanket, water, bags of seeds ...).
-
Stretching
. -Pelvic Belt
, placed correctly (eye with the photographs that appear in the leaflets of these devices, as they are usually not reliable). Ask your midwife or physiotherapist how to place it. - Paracetamol 1 g every 6-8 hours.How to prevent lumbar pain in pregnancy
To prevent sciatica or lumbar pain a series of postural hygiene measures can be taken:- Walking with low-heeled shoes facilitates good posture. However, flat shoes and high heels hurt her.
- At bedtime, it is important to 'fit' the gut. Place the necessary pillows between the legs, holding the gut ...
- Perform exercise to tone the back and body in general, such as pilates or yoga. Always in centers where teachers are physiotherapists or midwives.
