Pain During Pregnancy

Pregnancy isn't without its pain, and pelvic pain during pregnancy effects many women mostly in the last few months and stages of pregnancy. We are not telling you anything you do not know but pregnancy can significantly affect your body’s functioning. Even regular tasks such as sitting, walking, standing and working can be difficult when pregnant.

Pregnancy can often cause joint related pain issues both during the pregnancy and following the birth process. Due to the increased release of the hormone Relaxin, the body’s ligaments ‘loosen’ to allow delivery of the baby through the pelvic floor. However a side effect of this process is that ligaments at other joints also ‘relax’. This can cause decreased support, which in turn leads to pain.

Almost all women experience musculoskeletal discomfort during pregnancy, however, this does not mean that you just have to suffer, as no matter where your pain is, we can treat it safely and effectively.

All of our hands on techniques used are proven to be safe during pregnancy and it is possible to treat the pregnant lady in a number of comfortable positions. We do not use any machines during pregnancy, only hands on and specific effective stretching and exercise.

All of our Physiotherapists can help relieve the following conditions:

• Lower back pain (Lumbago) caused by a shift in the mother’s centre of gravity as the baby grows.
• Prolapsed disc (slipped disc) which may be triggered by awkward bending, or heavy lifting in an awkward position causing some extra pressure on the spine.
• Neck pain and headaches (tension or postural) due to changes in posture.
• Tightness and pain in the hamstrings and heel cords caused by a flattening of the feet.
• Pelvic dysfunction caused as the muscles become stressed as they try to compensate for the increased mobility and lack of stability.
• Pubis Symphysis Separation caused when there is instability and loss of alignment in the pelvis.
• Bladder leakage during pregnancy and after delivery.
• Stretching of the abdominal walls leading to back pain and difficult delivery due to ineffective abdominal contractions.
• Carpal Tunnel Symdrome, where the median nerve is compressed at the wrist, leading to pain, paresthesias, numbness and muscle weakness in the hand which may also spread to the arm, shoulder and neck. This is much more common in pregnancy.
• Fibromyalgia - causing widespread musculoskeletal pain which affects the ligaments, tendons, and muscles throughout the body. Symptoms can often increase or decrease during pregnancy.
• Arthritis – symptoms often increase or decrease during pregnancy.
• Trigeminal Neuralgia - a condition that is characterised by intermittent, shooting pain in the face.

 

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