Lumbosacral Nerve Root Compression by Gravid Uterus as a Cause of Sciatica in Pregnancy: Diagnosis by Exclusion
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65693/j21umas.2025.v4i1.222الكلمات المفتاحية:
Sciatica, Female, Pregnancy, MRI.الملخص
A 29-year-old pregnant woman presented with severe left sciatica for three days, which was exacerbated by standing and walking. The patient, who was 11 weeks pregnant, was considering termination of pregnancy due to the debilitating pain. The patient was referred by a neurosurgeon for a lumbar spine MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) as the analgesics did not help much. MRI of the lumbar spine did not reveal any structural abnormalities. The patient's symptoms were significantly relieved by lying on her right side for a few hours. The diagnosis was made by exclusion, as the patient's symptoms were not attributable to any identifiable spinal pathology. The patient was managed conservatively with positioning techniques, and her symptoms greatly improved. This case highlights the importance of considering compression of the lumbosacral nerve roots by the gravid uterus as a potential cause of sciatica in pregnancy, especially when other spinal pathologies have been excluded.
المراجع
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