Alternative Therapy for Lower Back Pain

Hi, When I was pregnant with my son, I had terrible lower back pain and a lot of times, if I got up after being seated for a long period of time (like getting up in the middle of the night), my leg would give out on me if I didn't have something like the wall or bed to lean on. My doctor prescribed physical therapy but all that did was bruise the muscles so bad that the pain was worse and I couldn't wear the pregnancy support belt. I finally went back to my chiropractor and he did wonders for me. He's the only reason I made it through my pregnancy as well as I did. An adjustment or two a week and I was practically pain-free. Good luck!

I used both massage and acupuncture, but also had a lot of success with prenantal yoga. Best of luck!

I also had lower pack pain during pregnancy and have a herniated disc. Several things that helped me: went to the chiropractor regularly, got monthly massages, did maternity yoga (sometimes went to yoga studio or used a prenatal DVD) and water aerobics.

Not sure which one helped the most. Would definitely say, try a maternity yoga DVD. Yoga helps stretch and strengthen and helps prepare you for labor. You don't have to be super flexible to do it. It's probably the cheapest option as well.

Hope this helps!

Yes! massage is awesome!! Just tell them when you make your appointment that you are pregnant and interested in a pregnancy massage. They will put you on the correct table so it is comfortable for you to be on your abdomen.
Also, since the birth of my second child in April, I have had terrible head and neck pain.I took advil for it, but like you, didn't like relying on medicine. Many people told me to go to a chiropractor. It took care of my head and neck pain almost immediately as well as some lower back pain I get occasionally. I have many friends that saw a chiropractor throughout their pregnancies, so it is very safe and effective. Just ask your doctor or friends (that see a chiropractor) for recommendations.
Hope this helps and congrats on your pregnancy!
A.

I went to a chiropractor during my pregnancy. It not only helped me feel better in my back, but it's also supposed to help with the delivery, so your bones can move freely without being pinched or whatever. :)

I have two suggestions- One, try a yoga program. You can do something as simple as getting a DVD for prenatal yoga, or you can sign up for a yoga class (make sure the instructor knows you are pregnant), or you can have a certified instructor do a personal one-on-one yoga consult with you.

The other suggestion is to look into chiropractic care for pregnancy. Though I didn't know about chiropractic care while I was pregnant, I have had amazing results in getting my back pain, neck pain, and migraines under control since I started going.

Ok, I guess I have 3 suggestions-
#3. Get a really good supportive bra. LOL. my breasts swelled to DD from barely an A during pregnancy. Splurge on an expensive bra with the proper support - it's worth it.

Having experienced this same issue with my last pregnancy, my first question to you is: Are you sure that you aren't having twins (or more)? A multiple pregnancy could cause you to experience pregnancy symptoms much earlier in your pregnancy than you would with a single pregnancy. I experienced rapid weight gain and low back pain very early (within the first 6 weeks) of my pregnancy, and now have wonderful identical twin boys.

As far as the lower back pain, I saw a massage therapist throughout my pregnancy, which helped immensely. I also went to my local medical equipment supply store and got a pregnancy support band, which helped bring the weight of my belly up off of the tendons and ligaments in my lower back and lower abdomen that were giving me so much pain as I gained weight with the pregnancy.

I hope I didn't scare you with talk of a possible multiple pregnancy, but you should speak with you doctor about all possible causes. I hope you are able to find something that helps you with your back pain. Good luck, and God bless!

Massage therapy, chiropractic, and acupuncture are all safe and effective choices during pregnancy. I've used all three through both of my pregnancies. Just make sure you find a practitioner that has extra/specialized training working with pregnant women.

Go to the chiropractor, when you do, ask them for some exercises that will help you daily at home. I went to a chiropractor every month for the entire duration of my pregnancy, they do wonders and are completely safe!

I second the advice on seeing a chiropractor!!

I have other back issues as well, but I saw a massage therapist and a chiropractor every two weeks during my pregnancy (back when I had time and could afford it). It was wonderful. The chiropractor was not able to adjust my lower back (involves twisting) but the massage was wonderful. I truly beleive I would not have made it through as comfortably as I did without the massage. So worth it. If you can get a doctor's note you might be able to get it tax free (in MN), but insurance usually does not cover it. SO WORTH IT!!!

HI G.,

Congratulations! The other responses have given you some good suggestions. Many of the changes are attributed to hormonal changes. Chiropractic and massage therapy will definitely help. Consider also the changes on the energetic level.

Energetically speaking the area that is being affected is in your lower back. There are emotional, mental, and physical correspondence to everything going on within you on all those levels.

My friend does energy healing with some incredible results. You can try it for yourself and see how you feel for a very modest fee of around $15. If you've never experienced it, it can be hard to understand how it works but we are electromagnetic in nature. Everything that happens to our body happens first on the energetic level.

The body is designed to heal itself and work harmoniously, just every now and then we need a little help keeping it on track.

If you're interested in learning more visit www.focusedenergyhealing.com

Have u heard about Aloe Heat Lotion? If not, I would like to recommend that u try using it.

D. L

find a chiropractor who knows how to work with pregnant women. this is a lifesaver. i didnt go to a chiropractor until ... 2 years after my son was born, but i regretted it. i had pain daily in my neck and shoulders that was gradually causing me pain in all parts of my back... and i really wish i had gone sooner.

pregnancy does a lot to your body. get it back into place at the chiropractors! :D good luck!

I did chiropractic and massage therapy during all three of my pregnancies it seemed to work very well for me. Just make sure you find someone that knows how to work on someone that is pregnant.
Hope all goes well.
J.

I've been experiencing really bad lower back pain with my pregnancy, too. I just started seeing a chiropractor and it seems to be helping. Per a recommendation here on Mamasource, I've been seeing Dr. Anne Langford at Langford Chiropractic in Higland Park. She specializes in women and children and seems to have a lot of experience with pregnant women. Her office also does acupuncture and massage, although I have not used either of those services.

I used chiropractic through my pregnancy and it was a lifesaver!!!!!!!! I couldn't not have gotten through the 9 months without it. Chiropractic corrects the CAUSE of the problem instead of masking the problem like medications do. It's also great for keeping your pelvis in-line so that the baby is more likely to go in the head-down possition and not breach.

Ususally the back pain that you experience early on in pregnancy has more to do with the hormone changes - hormones released during pregnancy allow ligaments in the pelvic area to soften and the joints to become looser in preparation for the birthing process of your baby; this shift in joints and loosening of ligaments may affect the support your back normally experiences. This usually subsides around week 13.

I would definitely agree about the chiropractic care. It's done wonders for me during my second pregnancy.

I would also suggest a supportive maternity pillow. I have one that wraps around me, supporting my back, my belly, and my chest. It has helped me get good sleep during two pregnancies, which always seems to make everything go better during the day.