| | | Contact Us: | | |  | TherapyXperts Mount Merrion Physiotherapy Clinic
105 Upper Trees Road
Mount Merrion
Co. Dublin |
| | Tel: 01 283 4303 |
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| You are here: Home >> Treatments >> Women's Health Issues | | | | Pregnancy Related Pain | | | Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP)
Pelvic pain and discomfort is common during and after pregnancy affecting 1 in 5 women. It is related to instability and possible malalignment of the pelvic bones, this can be caused by a combination of hormonal and mechanical changes occurring during pregnancy. These affect the integrity of the ligaments and function of the muscles in the pelvic area leading to pain. Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) is when this pain is located mainly at the front of the pelvis over the pubic bone region. It can affect your ability to walk and move pain free during pregnancy. SPD comes under the umbrella diagnosis of PGP.
Symptoms of PGP may include some or all of the following:
- Pain at the front and/or back of the pelvis
- Pain when walking, climbing stairs, turning over in bed and standing on one leg (e.g. getting dressed).
Hip Pain
Hip pain again is common during pregnancy and can cause pain and discomfort on the outside of the hips. It often can occur only at night and you can be symptom free during the day. It can cause a considerable amount of pain lying on the affected side at night and eases once pressure is taken off this side, only then to occur on the other side when you change position to get some ease. It is caused by mechanical irritation and overloading of the gluteal muscles resulting in trigger points in these muscles. Trigger points are tender points in the affected muscles that when pressure is applied to these points, referral of pain is felt elsewhere. Chartered Physiotherapists at TherapyXperts Mount Merrion treat this problem very successfully with medical acupuncture / dry needling of these trigger points.
Sciatica
Sciatica is a pain which travels along the course of a nerve coming from your lower back and running down the back of your leg as far as your ankle. This nerve is called your sciatic nerve. The growing baby causes changes in posture i.e. increased lumbar lordosis which gives the pregnant woman an increased curve in the low back region. This affects the function of the muscles that normally support the spine putting an increased strain on your lumbar joints and sciatic nerve. Similarly the baby can compress structures within the pelvis as it expands. This can all lead to irritation of the sciatic nerve resulting in pain and perhaps pins and needles and numbness in the buttock region and back of the leg. The hormones related to pregnancy also cause a laxity in the ligaments around the base of your spine - further increasing the pressure in this area.
Thoracic/Neck Pain
Neck pain and mid back pain are common during and after pregnancy. This can occur during pregnancy as a result of postural changes to accommodate the baby, an increase in breast size, poor sitting positions and rib cage expansion. Postpartum the neck and upper back region can get painful due to feeding positions and lifting techniques and not to mention the extra stresses and strains required in taking care of your new born and possibly other family members.
How will physiotherapy help?
Physiotherapy can help ease and alleviate pregnancy related symptoms. Pregnancy related symptoms, some of which are mentioned above are not normal so don’t put up with them. Chartered physiotherapists at TherapyXperts Mount Merrion are qualified and very experienced in treating these ailments. Firstly a diagnosis of what your problem is, is essential and this is ascertained by a full medical history and examination. Once a diagnosis is gained, the appropriate treatment for your problem can be implemented. This will often include all or some of the following:
- Simple postural offloading techniques and positions which can go a long way to making you more comfortable.
- Gentle therapeutic exercise is very effective when you are guided through which exercise is beneficial and which is better avoided.
- Manual techniques applied to joints, muscles and nerves around the affected region help alleviate pain and normalise function.
- Medical acupuncture and dry needling techniques applied are extremely effective and safe for treating pregnancy related pain and dysfunction and can be used through all stages of pregnancy.
- Specific maternity braces and orthopaedic supports for the lower back and pelvis can be recommended and implemented.
Everybody likes a quick fix to their problem! Some pregnant women do only need one session with a Chartered Physiotherapist in order to alleviate their symptoms. A course of treatment is recommended which can be anywhere between 1 and 6 sessions. The number of sessions required depends on a number of factors – the nature of your problem, how severe and irritable your problem is, the length of time you have had the problem, your response to treatment and your own self-management of the problem. At TherapyXperts Mount Merrion the average number of sessions required before discharge is 3, this is below the national average which is 6. However, like every pregnancy, every woman and body is different and unique.
Once a woman is familiar with the specific recommendations made by her therapist, she can incorporate them into her exercise routine and activities of daily living to maintain wellness and stay healthy during and after pregnancy. These recommendations will not only aid the pregnancy and birth but will ensure a healthier body AFTER birth, giving rise to an easier and faster recovery.
All Chartered Physiotherapists at TherapyXperts Mount Merrion are specialised in treating pregnancy related problems.
Your Chartered Physiotherapist may also recommend the following as part of your pre and post natal care:
| Pre and Post - Natal Pilates
Our fully qualified APPI Pilates instructors, who are also Chartered Physiotherapists, will take you through a safe and enjoyable stretching and strengthening programme specific to pregnant women. Numbers are small for added care and attention | | | | Click for more information | | | Acupuncture
Gentle medical acupuncture is a very effective and safe tool in reducing pain during pregnancy. All Chartered Physiotherapists at TherapyXperts Mount Merrion are trained in medical acupuncture / dry needling. | | | | Click for more information | | | Pregnancy Massage
Specific massage techniques encourage blood flow to tight muscles encouraging relaxation of both baby and you. It can assist with reduction in swollen legs and ankles and promote restful sleep. It can also help ease any pains and aches. Caroline Daly is our qualified Massage Therapist at TherapyXperts Mount Merrion. | | | | Click for more information | | | | Click here to contact us | | | | Back to Women's Health Issues |
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