Postpartum Sciatica : Prevention, Causes And Its Treatment

Pregnancy and motherhood are joys beyond compare. These much-treasured moments are anxiously awaited and cherished for life. Yet these few months spent caring for your unborn child can cause a lot of distress. Dr Shweta Wadhwa and Dr Garima Trehan, specialised spine physiotherapists, QI Spine Clinic, elaborate on postpartum sciatica, and share ways to help you deal with the problem

- Shweta Wadhwa and Dr Garima Trehan

Sciatica is described as pain radiating along the course of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is one of the longest nerves in our body. It starts from the back and runs down to our feet, divided into branches. Postpartum sciatica can be one of the residual effects of giving birth. While most women experience back pain relief after the birth, some begin to experience symptoms for the first time or suffer an escalation of pre-existing pain after delivery.

There are several reasons that can cause Postpartum Sciatica:

1. Hormonal Changes: At the time of delivery, the relaxin hormone is released which causes laxity of joints, ligaments, muscles, and structures which stabilise the spine, especially the pelvic region. This can result in a backache because joints, muscles and other structures are not strong enough to support the spine and pelvis.

2. Bad Posture: Adopting a bad posture, especially while feeding, can hamper the back immensely and lead to the development of sciatica.

3. Weakened Abdominal Muscles: During pregnancy, the growing size of the uterus can weaken the abdominal muscles which can result in backache. Moreover, especially after a C-section, the abdominal muscles get weaker and cannot provide the proper support to the spine, thus resulting in a backache, eventually leading to sciatica.