If low back pain, hip pain, or sciatica is negatively effecting your pregnancy, you should know that this is (unfortunately) extremely common. Many preganant women just like you have endured low back and pelvic pain during their pregnancies that make “normal” day to day activities very difficult to perform.
Over 50% of pregnant (prenatal) women experience low back pain at some point throughout their pregnancy. Out of that group, about 1/3 of them label it as “severe low back pain.” (1) Often times this pain is felt in the small of your low back (lumbar spine), gluteal area (buttock), around your pelvic, tailbone, and the pain can even be felt going down your leg at times (sciatica).
The main reason for low back and hip pain during pregnancy is because your body is undergoing a number of changes – which you don’t need someone telling you for the 100th time!
But it’s true, you have different hormones running through your body that alter the elasticity in mobility of your joints, muscles, ligaments, nerves, and tendons! You also are carrying around excess weight that your joints and muscles are not used to and you distribute that weight in ways that can be strenuous on your low back. Your spinal biomechanics are altered when pregnant and your ability to use certain core muscles is sometimes more challenging.
Those that have low back pain when pregnant often think that the pain will just go away, but research does not typically show that to be the case. Worse yet, research shows that when low back pain is present with one pregnancy, it has a high rate of recurring with each pregnancy (2).
What are Treatment Options Low Back Pain While Pregnant?
Treatments for pregnant patients can sometimes be tricky because you have to be careful with what you put in your body and what you do to your body! This typically makes most medications and other medical therapies off-limits.
The most common diagnoses for pregnancy related low back pain are lumbar or sacroiliac sprain or strain, lumbar disc lesion (bulge), lumbar facet syndrome (joint dysfunction), and instability in the lumbar spine or hips. The good news is there are many treatment options for these conditions that are not only very effective but also completely safe for pregnant patients!
Each case of low back pain is different and that is especially true for pregnant patients. So there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach (at least there is not if you want the best and highest quality care), however the best treatment plans typically involve a variety of tools that are combined to give you great care!
Spinal manipulation (chiropractic adjustments) works great for pregnancy related low back pain! Several research studies have concluded manipulation to be safe for pregnant women (including the American Pregnancy Association). The best family chiropractors Will be able to judge when manipulation is or is not appropriate for the case in front of them.
Soft tissue therapy (massage, muscle work, myofascial release) has also been found to be very safe and effective for reducing low back pain. During pregnancy, the muscles around the hips and pelvis often become very tight and respond well to myofascial release and manual therapy.
Therapeutic rehab exercises designed to increase stability around the low back, pelvis, core muscles, and hips can work really well in certain cases of pregnancy related low back pain.
There are many great chiropractic techniques that have many benefits for pregnant ladies but remember, there is likely not one treatment alone that will cure your low back pain. It will take a combination of treatment methods to correct the underlying issue that is causing your pain. The best prenatal chiropractors will give you take home stretches and exercises to help accelerate your care and keep you out of pain!
Does St. Johns Chiropractic & Performance Treat Pregnant Patients?
Absolutely we do! Dr. Grant Speer has years of experience treating future moms both in the chiropractic setting and in the personal training setting. He has helped many great women find lasting relief from low back and pelvic pain during their pregnancies and helped give them the mobility and stability of their body needed to have the best birthing experience possible!
Aside from low back and pelvic pain, he has helped other pregnant patients recover from lightning crotch; foot, ankle, and knee pain; plantar fasciitis, headaches; abdominal pain; sports injuries; and round ligament pain! It is our goal to get you out of pain and rehabilitate your injury so that you can get back to being yourself and preparing as you get close to expanding your family!
If you know someone in the Saint Johns, Florida area (Durbin Crossing, Aberdeen, RiverTown, Julington Creek Plantation, Beachwalk, Silverleaf) who is not able to live the active lifestyle that they want because of an injury or pain and could benefit from our thorough approach and comprehensive care, please share this post with them or send them our way!
We are conveniently located just south of Jacksonville in between CR 210 and Race Track Road, near where St. Johns Parkway and Longleaf Pine intersect! Right across the street from Patriot Oaks Academy in the 32259 zip code! Only 4 minutes from Durbin Park! We are committed to offering the best chiropractic near you!
References:
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1179/106698105790825030
- Chiroup.com
