Back Pain, Sciatica, and Pelvic Pain
A pregnant woman’s body goes through huge changes, including temporary changes that can cause pain and stress on the body’s structures. Back pain and pelvic pain affect up to 75% of pregnant women, even those not normally prone to it. As a pregnant belly gets heavier, the curve in the low back can become exaggerated, causing improper alignment, muscle tension, and back pain. In some cases, this tension plus the weight of the baby will aggravate the sciatic nerve, causing sciatica, which is burning pain that runs down one or both legs. Additionally, later in pregnancy, women can experience physical changes in their back and pelvis due to high levels of a hormone called relaxin, which helps loosen the pelvic ligaments in preparation for birth. These changes in the pelvis affect how you move and walk, and can also result in back or pelvic pain.
Fortunately, there are many safe remedies for pregnancy-related back and pelvic pain, including prenatal massage, gentle heat, and careful yoga or stretching. Another excellent choice is acupuncture. A Swedish study found that acupuncture helped low back pain in most women, providing significantly more relief than physical therapy among the study participants.
At TCRA, we are trained to safely and effectively ease any back pain, sciatica, or pelvic pain you experience during your pregnancy. We may also recommend stretches or other home remedies to help maintain pain relief in between the times we see you in our office. Although pregnancy inevitably causes changes in your body, there’s no need to simply put up with the pain or discomfort: contact our specialists at TCRA and get relief quickly!