Pregnancy And Low Back Pain

Did you know that between 50% of all pregnant women suffer from back pain?

There are MANY reasons why back pain becomes an issue for women during their pregnancy. The first and most obvious reason is the displaced weight gain of 25-35 pounds (on average) resulting in pain in both the upper quarter (often from the increase in breast volume and weight) and lower quarter (from the growing baby). As the baby develops, an expectant mother’s center of gravity moves forward causing her to sway back, which can overload the lower region of the spine. The women most at risk for pregnancy-related back pain include those who are overweight prior to their pregnancy, those who perform physically strenuous work, and those with a history of back pain.

Another factor that can increase a woman’s risk for back pain during pregnancy is water retention. Not only does retaining water increase the load the body must carry, placing added stress on the musculoskeletal system, but water retention has also been associated with stiffer joints throughout the body, which can increase the risk for musculoskeletal pain—including back pain.

The body requires more fluid during pregnancy to maintain the health of a growing baby, and drinking water is one of the best ways to hydrate. The American Pregnancy Association (APA) reports that the body produces 50% more body fluids during pregnancy.

Fluid retention is a common complaint during pregnancy. By the third month of pregnancy, approximately 50% of women notice swelling in their hands and feet and most have significant swelling by the third trimester. Sudden and new swelling in the face, hands, and eyes accompanied by blurred vision, severe headache, painful urination, and/or the inability to urinate with abdominal pain and hypertension (>140/90) may represent a medical emergency called pre-eclampsia. This occurs later in the pregnancy, usually after the twentieth week. If this is suspected, don’t delay in obtaining emergent medical care! 

To combat fluid retention, avoid constrictive clothing around the wrists and ankles, rest with the feet elevated (especially when temperatures exceed 75-85º F / 25-30º C), use ice packs, wear comfortable shoes, and try support tights or stockings. Dietary options for reducing fluid retention includes the use of certain herbs and vitamins, and foods such as celery, onions, eggplant, garlic, parsley, mint, bananas, coconut, dandelion, melons, salmon (omega-3 fatty acids), cucumber, and more. ( by 
Through Space Coast Advanced Health you can but some of the best clinically tested and laboratory researched supplements, like Metagenics Wellness Essentials.  
Wellness Essentials Pregnancy  is formulated to provide comprehensive nutritional support for preconception through nursing. It features excellent prenatal nutrition, including omega-3 fatty acids and folate, which are critical to healthy fetal development and a smooth pregnancy.*
Benefits:


  • Prenatal multivitamin support: Advanced Prenatal provides a sciencebased combination of  vitamins and minerals, incorporating 1 mg of folate and an array of antioxidants that reflect the latest research in prenatal nutrition*
  • Fetal brain development support: Choline, an essential nutrient, is included for additional support based on current research*
  • Fetal development, heart health, mood, and overall health support: OmegaGenics®EPA - DHA 720 is a qualityguaranteed  omega-3 fatty acid fish oil manufactured and third-party tested to ensure greater purity*
  • Bone density support: Calcium/Magnesium supports bone health and may also support muscle relaxation and help ease nighttime limb movement and pregnancy-associated leg cramps*
  • <Click Here To Order>

Dr. Steve Alukonis is the only Diplomate of the American Board of Chiropractic Orthopedists in the Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral area and one of very few in the county. He has been in practice for over 25+ years right here in Cocoa Beach, Florida.



Please visit our website to learn more about what we do at Space Coast Advanced Health

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

8 Reasons why you should see a Chiropractic Orthopedist (DABCO) after an auto accident.

Image
A chiropractor who is a Diplomate of the American Board of Chiropractic Orthopedists (DABCO) has more extensive training in the subject than other chiropractors.  Chiropractic Orthopedist are committed to extensive ongoing education in the treatment and management of a wide array of orthopedic conditions that may require the use of advanced techniques. Chiropractic Orthopedists have extensive post graduate education on spine care They are trained to read MRI’s of your neck and back Advanced training in the Orthopedic and Neurological testing needed to evaluate auto injuries The Mastering of whiplash injury treatments to enhance healing Chiropractic Orthopedist’s are trained to document daily evaluations on treatments Proficient in at least 5 chiropractic techniques. This will better match up the individual and injury to the best technique, thus yielding better results Having a higher level of education, The Chiropractic Orthopedist can give expert test...
Read more

Chronic Pain and Whiplash

Image
Most sprains and strains typically take six weeks to recover, provided the patient receives proper care, which may include self-management strategies. However, something is different about a whiplash associated disorders (WAD) injury in that many patients do not recover. At the Whiplash 2017 Symposium held in Australia, Dr. Michele Sterling stated, “Whiplash associated disorders are a costly burden to Australian society. Up to 50% of people who experience a whiplash injury will never fully recover. Whiplash is resistant to treatment and no early management approach has yet been shown to prevent chronic pain. We are hoping this study will provide a promising treatment for chronic pain.” Experts in the field presented important information about the development and prevention of disorders associated with a WAD injury such as chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression after trauma. The University of North Carolina’s Dr. Samuel McLean reported that app...
Read more

Can Damaged Nerves Regenerate?

Image
First, it’s important to realize that damage can occur when enough pressure is applied to any living tissue. The anatomy of our nerves includes many micro-structures such as the blood vessels that bring needed oxygen to the several layers of the nerve. If the nerve is deprived of oxygen long enough, there can be damage to its infrastructure, similar to a heart attack damaging the heart muscle.  A pinched nerve results in symptoms that include numbness, tingling, weakness, and in some cases, burning sensations. There are three stages of nerve damage that can be simplified into mild, moderate, and severe, and the ability for nerves to regenerate depends largely on the amount of damage and the length of time that has passed before treatment is sought out. Generally speaking, it has been well reported that the nerves that make up the peripheral nervous system (the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord) have the ability to regenerate, while those within the central nervou...
Read more