During pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through amazing changes. To support her developing baby, major structures in her body will have to expand and alter. These changes can be uplifting, but many of them can also be unpleasant. Many of these symptoms appear in the first few weeks of pregnancy. But what is the source of these typical pregnancy complaints?
The simple answer is hormones, as well as the additional stress and strain that maintaining a developing baby places on Mom’s body. In this post, we’ll look at the reasons for back pain during pregnancy, as well as some safe and efficient techniques to manage the discomfort and get back pain relief throughout pregnancy.
Back Ache
Back pain is such a frequent complaint that most pregnant women simply accept it as a natural part of the process. While some discomfort is typical, hormones and changes in posture complicate most of what women experience. When an embryo adheres to the uterine wall, it tells the mother’s body to begin creating more hormones.
Relaxin is a fitting term for one of these hormones since it softens connective tissue. The uterus can extend up to 500 times its pre-pregnancy size due to this weakening. It also permits her internal organs to move upward as the baby grows, as well as her hips to broaden in preparation for delivery.
Unfortunately, all of this stretching and weight growth might have some negative consequences. Relaxin causes the abdominal muscles to extend, making it more difficult for the core muscles to support the lower back adequately.
As a result, mom’s posture alters as her center of gravity slips forward. To compensate for this change, the back muscles must work harder. When the muscles of the lower back are forced to work overtime, it results in muscular exhaustion, spinal compression, and discomfort.
Sciatica
The sciatic nerves are the body’s two longest nerves. The nerve root travels via sacral apertures, then down through the pelvis and the back of both legs. Sciatica causes one or both nerve roots to become pinched and inflamed. The most common symptom of sciatica is mild to severe pain radiating down the back of one or both legs. Sciatica patients may also suffer tingling and numbness in their lower extremities.
While this nerve can be pinched at any time, it is most frequent during pregnancy. Why does this happen? Normally, the uterus weighs only a few ounces, but during pregnancy, it can weigh up to 40 pounds. The added weight puts a lot of strain on the sciatic nerve, squeezing it against the sacrum. This pain is exacerbated by the baby’s location in the womb.
Dysfunction of the Symphysis Pubis
Pelvic discomfort is a typical pregnancy problem. However, for some people, the discomfort becomes incapacitating. The same hormone that helps the uterus to expand to accommodate a developing baby also allows the pelvis to extend before birth. The pelvis may expand excessively fast or unevenly in rare situations. When this occurs, mom may feel a sharp, shooting pain in her pelvic area. This soreness might spread to the upper thighs and perineum.
Walking or other weight-bearing activities may aggravate the pain. Patients frequently report increasing pain while elevating one leg. For example, when dressing, climbing stairs, or getting in and out of a car. In rare circumstances, the pelvic joint might separate, worsening pain.
Finding Pregnancy Back Pain Relief
Finding back pain alleviation while pregnant might be difficult. Many of the drugs and therapies prescribed by doctors for back pain are not safe to take during pregnancy. Furthermore, drugs that doctors deem safe for use during pregnancy may not be efficient at alleviating your symptoms. Depending on your situation, the following solutions may be safe and effective:
Heat and cold – Apply cold compresses to the afflicted region as directed by your doctor. Doctors recommend using the cold compress for up to 20 minutes multiple times each day for two to three days. Cold treatment lowers swelling and irritation, both of which contribute to pain and damage. Apply a warm water bottle or heating pad to the afflicted area after 2-3 days of cold to relax the muscle.
Heat also aids in the augmentation of blood flow to the afflicted region. The heat used for up to 20 minutes increases blood flow. This increase in blood flow contributes to the body’s ability to mend itself. It is not advised to apply heat to the belly when pregnant.
Maintaining a strong core throughout pregnancy can help avoid or alleviate lower back discomfort. Walking, swimming, and riding an exercise bike are all pregnancy-safe activities. While these exercises may be beneficial, they may not be sufficient to alleviate your back discomfort. Furthermore, pregnancy may limit the sorts of activity you may undertake safely. During pregnancy, you may fatigue more easily and your joints may be less stable.
If you want to start a new routine, you should do it slowly and listen to your body. Working with a professional physical therapist who specializes in prenatal treatment minimizes this risk significantly. Specific exercises might also be recommended by your clinician to aid with SPD.
Correct Posture – Maintaining a proper posture during your pregnancy might be difficult. Poor posture frequently begins before pregnancy and worsens as the baby grows. Poor posture and spinal misalignment are mutually exclusive. It’s not always apparent which came first. However, we do know that bad posture promotes spinal misalignment and that spinal misalignment causes poor posture.
To correct bad posture, physicians must also treat these misalignments. In any case, these two variables contribute to muscle strength and function imbalances. They can also cause pinched nerves, such as sciatica.
Massage and physical therapy helps to restore muscular strength and function. Chiropractic treatments aid in posture improvement by addressing spinal misalignments. These three treatments frequently work in tandem. Your doctor may also advise you to use ergonomic supports. Supports that promote good posture when sitting or sleeping are especially beneficial.
Doctors frequently advocate the use of a pregnant support belt for SPD. This may also aid in posture correction, however, it is most recognized for relieving strain on the pubic bone. Reducing pressure on the pubic bone aids in the relief of SPD-related symptoms.
Is Pregnancy Chiropractic Care Safe?
Chiropractors work to stimulate the body’s inherent ability to repair itself. This is accomplished by the use of spinal manipulation, physical therapy, and regenerative medicine. The body can regain normal function thanks to this multidisciplinary approach. Connective tissues are more flexible during pregnancy due to the hormone relaxin. This implies that physicians must be specifically trained on how to assist pregnant women.
At Primary Health Clinic Chiropractic, we believe in providing our patients with the finest treatment possible. We take every patient’s health and safety extremely seriously. Our staff, who specialize in prenatal modifications, is ready to create a care plan that properly satisfies your requirements as well as those of your growing baby.
Do you need assistance in locating pregnant back pain relief? To talk with one of our qualified physicians, call Primary Health Clinic Chiropractic at (703) 354-8111.