Like many individuals, you may experience back pain at some point in your life. While some cases of back pain may resolve on their own, others can continue to present problems, flaring up during pregnancy. Becoming pregnant causes your body to undergo many changes, often creating additional strain on your aching back. Determining the cause of your existing back pain can help you decide if you want to get pregnant, as well as help you to identify any potential problems that may increase your pain or threaten your pregnancy.
Symptoms
Symptoms of back pain can vary greatly. Many people with this condition experience positional pain that changes during the course of the day, depending on the current activity. You may feel pressure, stinging, tingling, stabbing and aching pain, as well as areas of numbness. Becoming pregnant may increase your symptoms and aggravate the condition that causes your pain.
Causes
Back pain can originate from the bones and muscles in the spine. This type of pain can also come from internal organs. Common causes of back pain include damaged discs, spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis, skeletal irregularities, cancer and infection. Your doctor may advise not to become pregnant if you have a serious illness. Determining the cause of your pain will help your doctor choose the correct treatment and can help you decide whether you should try to get pregnant at this time.
Treatments
Even if your doctor assures you that your back pain poses no problem to future pregnancies, you may want to resolve this condition before you get pregnant. In addition to medical treatments, you may help minimize your back pain by losing weight, exercising to stretch and strengthen your muscles, changing your sleeping position or wearing a brace that supports your back.
Risks
Some conditions that cause back pain may pose a risk to your developing child, if you decide to become pregnant. Although not common causes of back pain, conditions such as cancer, reproductive disorders and neurological problems may affect your ability to carry a pregnancy to term. Avoid possible complications by ruling out serious disorders before you attempt to conceive.
Comfort Considerations
Once your doctor gives you a clean bill of health and you become pregnant, take precautions to reduce the risk of additional back pain. Practice good standing and walking posture by tucking your buttocks under and pulling your shoulders back. Avoid lifting heavy objects and lift with your legs, not your back. Sleep on your side with one or both knees bent. You may find this to be the most comfortable position during your pregnancy. Regular chiropractic adjustments and therapeutic massages may help reduce episodes of back pain and help you relax.
Photo Credit
- pain ii image by Mykola Velychko from Fotolia.com
