Will My Pinched Nerve Go Away After My Pregnancy?

Pinched nerves are common, but that doesn’t make them easier to deal with. Sometimes, a nerve gets compressed temporarily, such as when your hand or foot “falls asleep.” Other times, a pinched nerve persists, causing symptoms such as:

• Sharp, aching pain
• Radiating pain
• Numbness
• Tingling or prickly sensations
• Muscle weakness
• Burning sensation

When you’re pregnant, you’re more susceptible to pinched nerves due to weight and fluid gain. The change in your shape may also throw your back out of alignment, putting extra pressure on your neck, causing a pinched nerve. You can also develop carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy, due to fluid retention around your wrist.

Even the weight of your fetus and its placenta can exert uncomfortable forces on your spine, which might lead to a pinched nerve and back or neck pain. So, when you give birth, will the pinched nerve pain go away? The answer depends on a variety of factors. 

At Addison Pain + Regenerative Medicine in Addison, Texas, our medical professionals aim to keep you comfortable both during and after your pregnancy. We provide a variety of therapies for pinched nerves. 

The following summary helps you understand your pinched nerve and how to deal with it, now and later.

Why pregnancy pinched your nerve

Unfortunately, one of the drawbacks of pregnancy is the probability of developing pinched nerves. Back pain is one of the most common late-pregnancy complaints. 

When you try to compensate for the extra weight in front, you can throw your entire spine out of alignment, putting pressure on your neck and shoulders or causing you to tense the muscles around them. That extra tension may irritate a nerve, leading to symptoms in your neck.

You may also develop a pinched nerve due to the weight gain — including fluid retention — that occurs during pregnancy. Fluid retention is often responsible for carpal tunnel syndrome in pregnancy. Anything that adds extra pressure to your nerves could lead to a pinched nerve.

How to care for your pinched nerve

You may be able to find relief with simple at-home measures that take the pressure off your nerve. Try these:

• Posture correction: stand and sit straighter
• Heating pads or ice packs to manage pain
• A pregnancy pillow to support your spine when side sleeping
• Pain-relief medication: Ask your provider which options are safe during pregnancy

You can gently massage the area. Relaxing in a warm bath or sauna may help take the pressure off your nerves.

You might try an abdominal support garment if you have a pinched nerve in your spine. These pregnancy-friendly devices help distribute your weight to alleviate pressure on your back. 

Your symptoms may resolve within a few weeks. Signs that your self-care is helping include reduced pain severity and increased mobility. 

Find professional relief

If self-care doesn’t help your pain and discomfort, we offer a number of treatments for pinched nerves. We recommend seeking treatment if your at-home care hasn’t helped within a week. 

First, we may take imaging scans to pinpoint the location of your pinched nerve. We might then recommend one or more of the following therapies:

• Massage to increase circulation to the area
• Chiropractic adjustments to realign your spine
• Trigger point injections to reduce swelling and pain
• A cervical collar to take pressure off your neck
• Rest and relaxation
• Gentle stretches
• Physical therapy

Don’t stress over nerve pain during pregnancy; get the help you need to keep yourself and your baby comfortable with pinched nerve treatment at Addison Pain + Regenerative Medicine today. Call us at 972-380-0000 or request an appointment online.