Back pain is common during pregnancy, especially during the last trimester. It also occurs frequently following birth. In fact, back pain is so common during pregnancy that injury or misalignments may be overlooked. Many women simply think that back pain is part of the process and that there's nothing they can do about it but suffer.
You don't need to suffer! Though back pain may subside temporarily, if spinal misalignment occurred during pregnancy or labor, there may be future problems. Once the spine become misaligned, the overall health of the spine is compromised. Inflammation is the body's natural response to injury in an attempt to protect the area from further damage. Unfortunately, it can also lead to pressure, compression of nerves and further degeneration of the spinal components.
In a recent study, it was found that disorders occurring during pregnancy involving pelvic misalignment as well as dysfunction of the sacroiliac joint (joins the pelvis to the sacrum, or lowest portion of the spine). The researchers were investigating the causes of lower back pain and strain symptoms during pregnancy. Their findings support the idea of further evaluation for lower back pain during and after pregnancy.
Chiropractic care during pregnancy can help ease pregnancy symptoms and labor as well as provide evaluation for aftercare treatment should a misalignment occur.
If you or a friend is suffering from back pain (whether from pregnancy or not), give us a call!
REFERENCES
Sipko T, Grygier D, Barczyk K, Eliasz G. The Occurrence of Strain Symptoms in the Lumbosacral Region and Pelvis During Pregnancy and After Childbirth. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2010;33(5):370-377.