Back Pain is an extremely common complaint during pregnancy. Pregnancy is a magical time in a woman’s life when her body goes through a number of changes. All of these changes prepare her body to carry and birth a little bundle of joy. However, one thing that is commonly left out of the story about the miracle of life is the pain associated with these changes. Many women find themselves uncomfortable for the duration of their pregnancy due to back pain. This pain can cause everyday tasks to be more challenging while making it more difficult to get a good night of rest.
A women body is assaulted with a barrage of hormones from the time she conceives until well after birth. These hormones can wreak havoc on her spine and joints. Most pregnant women experience some level of back pain or discomfort over the course of their pregnancy. At A Family Chiropractic Clinic in Denton, Texas we sympathize with the back pain a woman experiences during this time. We want to help expecting mothers recognize what’s causing their back pain. Finding the right treatment to relieve pain requires discovering the source of the problem.
Types of Back Pain during Pregnancy
The majority of back pain associated with pregnancy takes place in the lower back. Many women find themselves experiencing lumbar back pain during pregnancy. Lumbar pain occurs in the lumbar region of your back. Other women may experience posterior pelvic pain. This pain occurs at the back of the pelvis. There are some women who have the unfortunate luck of suffering from both kinds of lower back pain at the same time.
Lumbar back pain tends to be the worst in the lower back, just above your waist. Often times this type of pain can radiate down one or both legs. It gets worse after long periods of standing or sitting. Anyone is able to experience this type of pain as it is quite common for all ages. Posterior pelvic back pain tends to be more common among pregnant women. The pain is felt lower, near the buttocks and on one or both sides of the back of the upper thighs. This pain is often accompanied by pubic bone pain. It can become worse through a number of activities including getting out of a car, walking, using stairs, or even changing positions in bed.
Another type of lower back pain pregnant women may experience is sciatica. A herniated disc in the lower spine is usually the cause. While pregnancy itself does not cause herniated discs, it is possible for women to suffer from sciatica during their pregnancy. Sciatica tends to be worse than other forms of back pain. It radiates down the leg, below the knee, and even into the foot. In severe cases it may cause numbness in the groin area and incontinence. It’s extremely important to reach out to your doctor immediately if you are feeling numbness or weakness in one or both legs, the groin, or bladder.
Other Causes of Lower Back Pain during Pregnancy
Some women experience back pain due to other reasons. For example, kidney pain also generates pain in the lower back. Kidney pain during pregnancy is usually caused by advanced urinary tract infections. The pressure from a growing baby can make it difficult to pass urine which can cause a urinary tract infection. Other symptoms include pain or discomfort while urinating, excessive urination, cramping and pain in the lower abdomen, pain in the bladder region, blood in the urine, and pain during intercourse.
If a UTI is left untreated then it can develop into a kidney infection. When the infection reaches the kidneys it becomes much more painful. Added symptoms during this stage include fever, chills, and vomiting, along with the standard UTI symptoms. The earlier a UTI is treated, the less chance of the infection reaching the kidneys. Should a kidney infection develop in a pregnant woman it’s important to seek medical attention right away.
Sometimes lower back pain during pregnancy doesn’t have any cause other than the pregnancy itself. During pregnancy a woman’s center of gravity changes to accommodate the growing baby. A hormone called relaxin is released into the body to help loosen ligaments, bones, and joints. Both of these things can cause lower back pain. A pregnant woman’s body is constantly trying to adjust to the relaxin and the new center of gravity. This makes everyday tasks more difficult and possibly painful. The spine and other joints are under excessive stress during pregnancy. The muscles of the lower back overcompensate to fight the changes and provide support.
Speaking with your doctor about pain relief methods, seeing a chiropractor, and preventative measures can help reduce the lower back pain that you may experience during pregnancy. Listening to your body can also help reduce and prevent back pain.
