Common Pregnancy aches & pains
SPD/Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction, Pelvic Girdle pain in pregnancy
This refers to the pain relating to the bony joint at the front of your pelvis. During pregnancy the joint naturally separates as you grow but can cause pain in some expectant mothers. There are a number of factors that influence SPD including; pelvic floor muscles, tight inner thigh (Adductor) muscles, joint separation, sacroiliac joint and so on. Osteopathic treatment helps to relieve the pain by releasing all the muscle tension around the joint, increasing the mobility of the surrounding joints and tightening appropriate muscles the support the pubic joint.
Rib pain in pregnancy
As your baby grows, your ribs naturally expand to make room for the growing belly. Also your baby can compress the ribs and diaphragm (breathing muscle). Osteopathic treatment is aimed at loosening the ribs, tight muscles and making as much room as possible for the baby, whilst decreasing rib pain. This can also help with reflux.
Hip pain in pregnancy
During pregnancy it is recommended you sleep on your sides. This is because the weight of the baby can compress the blood supply if you sleep on your back and for obvious bump reasons you can’t sleep on your tummy. Hip pain typically occurs at night time when sleeping on your sides. Try sleeping with a pillow under your hip to relieve the pressure. Osteopathic treatment can help relieve hip pain by loosening the hip, pelvic and lower back muscles and joints, reducing the tension on your hips. Also increasing the mobility of your hips and lower back will help ease the hip pain.
Lower Back pain in pregnancy
Lower back pain refers to your lumbar spine, in your lower back. Lower back pain in pregnancy can be caused by; the curve in your lower back (lordosis) flattening, your centre of gravity changes, the weight of your growing belly pulls from the front and the hormonal (relaxin) changes. A variety of symptoms are associated with LBP. There can be; sharp, dull, achey, stabbing, radiating pain. The easiest way to self relieve LBP is gentle movement. Osteopathic treatment can help by; improving the lumbar and thoracic spine mechanics, reducing muscle tension, improving lymphatic drainage and increasing the local blood supply.
Headaches & Migraines in pregnancy
Headaches & migraines are particularly common in the first and third trimester. This is largely due to change in your hormones. There are a variety of types of headaches; tension, cluster, cervicogenic and migraines (others too). Always tell your health professional if you are suffering from a headaches. Osteopathic treatment can help relieve headaches by improving your neck (cervical spine) mechanics, reducing muscle tension, tailored advice including; diet, exercises, stress, hydration, sleep and so on.
Sciatica in pregnancy
Sciatica refers to pain arising from the compression/squeezing of your sciatic nerve. The nerve arises in your lower back and passes through your buttocks region and into the back/posterior leg. The most common cause of sciatica is disc (little ‘pillows’ between your spinal bones) herniation (disc slips or prolapses). Luckily in pregnancy disc injuries are not common. In pregnancy Sciatica is mostly due to unstable or tight joints and muscle tension. Osteopathic treatment helps relieve Sciatica by improving the lower back (lumbar spine) mechanics, reducing muscle tension and giving tailored stretches.
CTS/Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
There are many symptoms related to CTS, including; numbness, pins and needles, weakness, pain, tingling, throbbing sensation, swollen fingers, difficulty picking up small objects. The median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel in the palm of your hand. CTS is caused by compression on the median nerve through the carpal tunnel. Risk factors for developing CTS include; being over-weight, gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension (high blood pressure) and high bloods sugars. These all can cause fluid retention which can compress the nerve.
Round ligament pain
Often described as a sharp, stabbing pain, felt on one or both sides of the lower belly. The round ligament runs from the uterus to the pubic bone and naturally during pregnancy it expands in length and diameter. Some women experience this pain, typically in the second trimester when the ligament grows. It is considered a normal part of pregnancy as it is a growing pain. To help relieve the pain you can apply heat to the area, rest, avoid sudden movements, avoid heavy lifting and try stretching your hip. Osteopathic treatment helps relieve round ligament pain by improving the hip, pelvic and lumbar spine mechanics, reducing any muscle tension, improving local lymphatic and blood flow.
Restless leg syndrome ‘Willis-Ekbom disease’
This is a sensory motor disorder, creating an uncomfortable, strong, irresistible urge to move your legs’ and an unpleasant sensation in the legs. It mostly commonly occurring during periods of rest, especially at night, when sleeping and is relieved by movement. There are potential links to low levels of iron and folate with restless legs syndrome and additional supplementation may be recommended. Please ask your health professional if this would suit you. To relieve the sensation a walk in the evening, followed by gentle stretching can help.
Tailbone pain
This refers to the sacrum and coccyx bones at the base of your spine, below your lower back. Often this pain is aggravated by sitting and direct pressure. Treatment is aimed at loosening the surrounding muscles and making sure the lumbar spine (lower back) and sacroiliac joints are moving as well as possible. Gentle stretches and exercises can be given when appropriate to relieve the pain.
Reflux
Unfortunately with the rise in progesterone hormone and the growing baby compressing your insides, reflux is very common in pregnancy. Progesterone is thought to relax the sphincter at the top of the stomach which allows the stomach/gastric acid to travel up the oesophagus creating the burning sensation. Whilst treatment can’t fix the hormone influence, treatment can help make as much room as possible, relieving the pressure. This means releasing the diaphragm, intercostal (breathing) muscles, thoracic spine and so on.
Constipation
As the intestines are a smooth muscle, relaxin can make your bowels ‘lazy’ and in turn make you constipated, which can make you prone to haemorrhoids. Ask your midwife or Obstetrician for advice around treatment options. Diet wise make sure you are eating plenty of fibre and try adding in kiwifruit. Osteopathic treatment is making sure your lower back is working as well as possible and the surrounding muscles are not too tight putting extra pressure on your bowels.
Sacroiliac joint pain
This is the joint between the sacrum (big triangle bone in the back of the pelvis) and the Ilium (part of the innominate). This joint is a shock absorber of the force to and from the lower back (lumbar spine) to the lower extremities (legs). During pregnancy, due to the Relaxin hormone and the sacroiliac joints can become hypermobile (too flexible) creatingpain. Equally they can become hypomobile (restricted).
Sleeping issues
Sleep is a vital part of our day. Whether you are pregnant, a new mum or not, sleep is essential. Quality sleep is our time overnight for our parasympathetic nervous system to do its job of ‘rest and repair’. Yet for many of us, a solid 8hours of uninterrupted, quality sleep in not happening. Whether its struggling to fall asleep, waking up wide awake at 1am, going to the bathroom multiple times, or you are uncomfortable during sleep, all these factors effect the quality of your sleep.
Shoulder pain
Sore shoulders are very common in pregnancy for a variety of reasons but you don’t need to put up with the pain! Some of the common causes of shoulder pain include; stress, poor posture, upper rib breathing pattern and the increased weight of breast tissue creating strain.