It is estimated that more than 50% of women experience lower back pain during pregnancy or even during their postpartum phase, making it an uncomfortable predicament along with various other ongoing hormonal changes. Although there are several reasons why you might be going through a discomforting back, one evident cause is your growing body weight. This is a positive sign of good health during pregnancy but can take a toll on your body when it continues for a prolonged period.
Pain can be in the pelvic region anteriorly just above the bladder or in the whole pelvic girdle region. Pain can be bilateral, unilateral or can radiate right down to the calves and thighs. Between anterior pelvic pain and posterior pelvic pain, the former is more common amongst women.
A typical cause of lower back pain during pregnancy is when the pelvis joins the spine at the sacroiliac joint.
Alternative means of pain control, including yoga, deep breathing, and acupuncture provide good results.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
A well-developed woman enjoying a healthy pregnancy can expect to put on about 30 to 40 pounds which put additional pressure on the spine in very little time. Additionally, the weight of the baby growing inside the womb and that of the uterus exerts a force on the nerves and blood vessels in the back and pelvis resulting in lower back pain.
At the time of pregnancy, the body releases the hormones like relaxin and progesterone that make the ligaments in the pelvic area relaxed. They help the pelvis region prepare for the birthing process. The very same hormone may have some effect on the lower back region leading to pain and discomfort.
With pregnancy, your tummy starts to grow outwards automatically shifting your centre of gravity. Adjustment in posture and the way you move results in strain and lower back pain.
Emotional stress can also contribute to muscle tension in the backside that can be experienced as back spasms or back pain. During stressful stages of your pregnancy, especially your last trimester, this can increase significantly.
Calcium and vitamin D must be in a healthy range during pregnancy. Deficiency of any or both of these may become a cause of bony pain. Talk to your doctor for the necessary supplements and dietary modifications if found deficient in tests.
Although it is very common to experience low back pain in pregnancy, if it is associated with severe disabling pain and symptoms of nerve compression like tingling and numbness, you should visit an orthopaedic surgeon for a timely diagnosis.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D.
Exercise boosts flexibility and strengthens muscles. It can ease the stress on the spine. Safe exercises for back pain during pregnancy are swimming, walking and low impact cycling. You can also practice yoga under the guidance of a certified trainer. The physical therapist or doctor may recommend exercises to further strengthen the abdomen and back.
Slouching puts stress on the spine and further aggravate your back pain. To maintain good posture, use a good quality chair that provides firm support to the back. You can also lean back a little to make room for your growing belly. You may also consider wearing a support belt.
Applying a hot and cold compress to the back may be beneficial. If your doctor gives permission you can use an ice pack wrapped in a towel as a cold compress. Apply this for 20 minutes throughout the day as many times as advised by your doctor. After three days, you may be advised to switch to a heating pad but never apply heat directly to the abdomen area during your pregnancy.
Doing light stretching exercises such as yoga or postpartum pilates under expert supervision can help strengthen the pelvic muscles and back region.
Sitting or standing in one place for long hours can increase back pain, aim to move for a few minutes after every 25 minutes.
To minimise pain surrounding the pelvic region, you can cut down on activities such as running, climbing stairs and supporting your legs with the help of a footstool when sitting or with a pillow under the feet when lying down.
If your lower back pain during pregnancy does not reduce even after following these tips for a few days and if you are very stressed about the pregnancy and or delivery, seek guidance from a professional about the best way forward.
Often incorrect sleeping posture can further enhance body and back pain. To get restful and healthy sleep and wake up fresh the next day, here are a few tips on how to relieve back pain during pregnancy while sleeping:
While we have already enlightened you on what to do here is a quick look at what not to do to increase back pain:
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Aside from the do’s and don’ts mentioned above keep an eye out for radiating pain or neurological problems such as numbness or even muscle weakness which might then call for an expert consultation as these qualify under severe back pain during pregnancy. Consult your doctor to understand the right exercises for you during pregnancy.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
The human back is composed of a complex structure of muscles, spine, ligaments, tendons, and bones. It is one of the weight-bearing areas of our body. Hence, back pain is a very common problem. In general, almost everyone will experience back pain in their lifetime. It has multiple reasons for minor to major. Back pain affects any age group for different reasons. As people get older, the chances of getting back pain are increasing. Back pain can range from mild, intermittent pain, to persistent, severe, disabling pain.
The way you walk, sit or move often influences a lot of your back health. There are 24 vertebrae (small bones) which are together known as the spine. Those small bones are connected by a gel-like cushion called a vertebral disc. So, when one of them got hurt, you may feel dull, aching pain. There are some other serious reasons for back pain too. Not all back pains are the same. Hence, stay cautious when you have recurrent back pain.
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This is one of the common causes of back pain. When you sit for a long time for work or you are just lazy to move, you may suffer from back pain, stiffness, or uneasiness. When you sit for long, your back muscles may get locked due to inactivity and you feel the pain. So, just stretch your muscles whenever you get time for relaxation.
Prolonged screen time can affect your posture and poor posture can cause back pain or increase your existing pain. Not only screen time but your standing or walking style can also affect your posture. The wrong posture increases the strain on the muscles and ligaments which results in back pain.
Injuries are the major cause of back pain in women. Injuries like overuse of muscles or sprains commonly occur due to heavy lifting or sudden movement’s causes middle or lower back pain. These muscle overuse injuries are common in pregnancy.
Many women get this condition before menstruation called premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Symptoms such as lower back pain, abdominal pain, headache, mood swings, etc.
Post Caesarean section, many females suffer from back pain. Use of a back support belt, back cushion while sitting, proper rest and nutrition during the postpartum period help to alleviate the pain and prevent long-term morbidity.
Dr. Nikhil Yadav, MBBS MD,CCEBDM
Very painful menstruation is known as dysmenorrhea. Sometimes, it can be so severe in some females. It may also cause severe abdominal pain, leg pains, hip pains. The pains are from dull to severe and last for 3-4 days.
Sciatica is caused by compression of the sciatic nerve. Sciatic nerve present in the backside of your leg travels from the lower spine to your leg. Sciatica causes burning or shock-like pain.
It is common in people when they lift overweight in improper form or sudden moves. Symptoms include pain and stiffness of muscles. Rest and if needed painkillers can ease your complaints.
Your lower back pain should ideally be settled usually in 6 weeks or less. If it is persistent and associated with symptoms like loss of sensation and tingling in the lower limbs or groin, consult a physician to identify the root cause and get timely treatment.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D. in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology
The bulging disc also known as a slipped disc occurs when the gel-like cushion bulges out and compresses neighbouring nerves. As you age, this risk increases because these discs become dehydrated and stiff. A bulging disc causes shooting pains in the back which radiates to the legs. Traumatic accidents or sudden movements can cause this problem.
Endometriosis is a gynaecological problem that causes uterus tissues to grow outside the womb. In this condition, there is chronic back pain generally flares during menses. Other symptoms include painful menstruation, pain in the genital region, and lower abdominal pain.
Certain spinal cancers and uterine cancers (like cancer of the cervix, cancer of endometriosis) can cause severe and long-standing back pain. They can be referred to as the pain of metastatic breast or lung cancer.
Many women have chronic back pain and discomfort where pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) can be a cause. It presents with lower back pain, abdominal pain, fever, and unusual vaginal discharge. PID is generally a bacterial infection that can be dangerous if untreated.
The disc can be caused due to old age, injuries, or repetitive motions. The pain can extend to the buttocks and legs from the back. The pain is usually long-standing and dull and relieved by rest.
It is also known as pyelonephritis where you may present with lower abdominal pain, back pain, and groin pain. It also includes chills with fever and frequent urination.
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Sprains and strains are one of the most frequent causes of severe back pain in females. Because women have a lower centre of gravity, they are more vulnerable to lumbar injuries. When a female’s lower back muscles or tendons are damaged, it tends to cause intense pain. Anything like lifting a heavy box, getting in a car accident, or even sleeping the wrong way can cause a sprain or strain.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka – MBBS, MD(Pediatrics)
The piriformis muscle is a large muscle located deep within the buttocks. Pain originating from the spasms of your piriformis muscle is called piriformis syndrome. This syndrome affects women more due to hormones and pregnancy-related changes in the pelvis.
The symptoms of piriformis syndrome could be an inability to sit for a long time, radiating pain from the back of your thigh to your legs and chronic pain in the buttock and hip area that worsens due to hip movement.
Incorrect posture and insufficient vitamin D levels emerge as prevalent culprits behind back pain in women. Prioritizing regular exercise for muscle strengthening holds paramount importance for individuals of all genders. Good muscle tone and correct posture can help reduce the risk of back pains to a great extent.
Dr. Arpit Verma, MBBS, MD (Pharmacology)
The sacroiliac joint is the area that connects the bottom of your spine to your pelvis. Pain radiating from this area is identified as sacroiliac joint dysfunction or sacroiliitis. These kinds of joint problems are more common causes of lower back pain.
Women have a smaller SI joint surface area than men, which results in a higher concentration of stress across the joint. Some common features of SI joint pain are lower back pain, shooting sharp pain down the thigh not going past the knee area and a dull, constant pain directly over the buttock.
Spinal osteoarthritis causes a breakdown of the fibrous cartilage in the facet joints (joints that connect your vertebrae). With the cushioning provided by cartilages, your bones may rub together, causing friction and pain.
Common symptoms of spinal osteoarthritis include back stiffness and pain in the morning and pain in your lower back area, upper back, thighs, groin and buttocks.
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Pain in the coccyx (tail area of the spine) majorly occurs due to trauma. The condition is common in women due to differences in the shape of the pelvis due to injury related to childbirth. Pain due to coccydynia can happen while sitting down, sitting on hard surfaces, standing up from a seated posture and leaning backwards partly while sitting.
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Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
