Postnatal Back Pain: What really causes it?
Let’s dispel the MYTH that what you’ve got is nothing serious:
“It’s just your HORMONES…and you’ll be fine soon after the baby is born.” Heard that little line before? It’s more “misinformation” that floats around.
But let me shed some light on why, if you swallow this line, it could see you suffer for many more months, even years, than is actually necessary. As in, when you’ve read what I’m about to say, you’ll soon realize that it has more to do with what the pregnancy hormones DO to your body, than the actual presence of them in your body.
It’s true – EVERY woman gets a surge of pregnancy hormones rushing round their body. But, these hormones can very quickly cause the ligaments and tendons that support your pelvic girdle and lower back, to become weak. (Less stable, etc.)
And they may confuse you more by using terms such as “lax” or “dysfunction,” but it just means that the ligaments are not giving your lower back and pelvis area the vital support that is needed throughout the pregnancy, because of these hormones either being released too early, or in excessive amounts.
The problem is, these joints fall out of their correct alignment. Not only leaving you in pain, but also with unhealthy looking posture.
Why are hormones released anyway?
Well, that baby of yours has to come out! During labor, the ligaments in your lower back and hip area are a bit softer, more supple, and less rigid, which makes for a much smoother and easier “exit” for the baby when he or she arrives.
Hormones being released is your body’s way of preparing for the birth and is normal.
But sometimes this “laxity” or “looseness” that is designed to help you, can go too far – and the “laxity” you’re now feeling means that there’s less support and more pressure on joints, nerves and muscles in your back. All are very painful when you begin to simultaneously add extra weight in the form of water + baby. The damage that is done during all of this, is the cause of the postnatal back pain you’re suffering from.
Are the hormones gone once the baby is born?
Of course not!
Is the pain gone? NOPE! (Well, not for 1 in 5 women, anyway!)
If you’re still suffering 2-3 months after your pregnancy, it’s a warning sign that your ligaments have been over stretched, joints in your back and hip have “set in the wrong position.”
Your lower back muscles are now over worked and over tight, trying hard to give you vital support. Those tight muscles are the reason why you’re also feeling tired and tense all the time. But, these damaged muscles are also your best hope of getting any significant improvement, fast.
Think about it – wouldn’t it be so much easier to do any exercise if you weren’t in so much pain?
How do we treat postnatal back pain?
Manual re-alignment is your BEST option and luckily, it’s an expert technique that our therapists are trained to do. The technique involves gentle massage, rocking and manipulation to get your pelvis and lower back joints back into the correct position.
And watch your pain begin to drop when we do it (for YOU.)
Then is the best time to go home and work on the exercises we’ll show you. And all of that is so very easy to do – it just needs the expertise from the specialist you’ll work with.
When you mix the right kind of postnatal massage, with the right kind of work on your back and hip joints, along with the best kind of exercises, you will see a significant improvement in how great you feel.
Imagine how happy your family will be at the sight of you waking up with more energy and zest as you go about life with a new spring in your step. You’ll be looking and feeling healthier than you have in months.
Does that sound like something you’d be interested in? If it does, then we need to talk ASAP.
Request a complimentary phone consultation or visit us at PhysioFitPT.com. It’s time to say goodbye to postnatal back pain!
OR
Download our FREE GUIDE: “10 Things You Were Never Told About Your Pregnant And Post Baby Body”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kim Gladfelter, MPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Women's Health Physical Therapy Specialist at PhysioFit Physical Therapy & Wellness
Kim Gladfelter is a physical therapist, Pilates instructor, educator, author, and co-founder of PhysioFit Physical Therapy & Wellness. She is known as a keen, well-rounded expert of healing through movement and women’s health specialist in the Silicon Valley area.
Kim has helped men and women of all ages to stay active and feel their best. She also writes about managing pain in her health columns, blogs and the local Los Altos Town Crier newspaper as well as reaches out to the local community, support groups, schools, libraries, and sports centers to advise and educate on body awareness and therapeutic exercise.