pelvic pain

hip and back pain during and after pregnancy

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Marnie – hip and back pain during and after pregnancy:

When I was four months pregnant, I started getting severe hip and back pain. I was as stiff as a board, no matter how much stretching I did, and I did a lot. I would get a pinched nerve near my tailbone so bad that I couldn’t lift my feet off the ground to walk. My hips felt like they were burning on fire. The mornings were the worse, when it felt like the wind got knocked out of me, my back and hips hurt so bad. I felt like I was 90 years old and there was nothing I could do about it.

I was in PT from four months pregnant until 10 months postpartum. I would feel better sometimes but it was only temporary, sometimes only half an hour, sometimes a couple of days. But nothing ever got better. Finally, a friend referred me to Tony.

Not only was Tony a kind and gentle person, he figured out what was structurally wrong with me and “fixed” it in one visit! It turns out, that during pregnancy, the hormones that let your hips open up also caused my sacrum to sort of drop down and get wedged underneath my hips and pelvis. There was no way for it to get out, until Tony and his wife teamed up and literally pulled it back out into the right place! It didn’t even hurt. I am still in shock every day that I was able to walk out of Tony’s office and not feel any pain! I will never be able to thank Tony enough for what he did for me. My life as a “90-yr old” in chronic, 24/7 pain is no longer a reality for me. I believe he works miracles!

To all the mamas out there who think that hip and back pain are just a normal part of pregnancy and giving birth, please believe me when I say, it is not normal. You can get help. You deserve to not be in so much pain!!

 

Emily: 34 Weeks Pregnant

I first came to Tony last Spring after visiting my chiropractor numerous times for my cramped neck and not feeling any relief. He was able to give me some tips and excercises that improved my neck pain in just a few visits. Because of my experience last spring I decided to go back a few weeks ago and have Tony work on my hip/ lower back area. I was 34 weeks pregnant and would cramp up so bad that I could hardly walk after laying down for a while. Again, it took just one visit to feel relief. I was amazed and slightly disappointed that I didn’t see Tony earlier in my pregnancy!! I had a chiropractor appointment scheduled for the following day. I knew I needed to explain that my hip felt much better after Tony’s adjustment. I asked that she wouldn’t adjust my hips so that it would stay in place. Unfortunately, she went right on and popped them like usual and undid the work that Tony and Amy had done. Thankfully I knew it could be fixed, so I came back to the Bare’s with the regret of seeing my chiropractor, and they were able to work their magic again. I love how they work together as a team and really truly want you to experience a pain free life. Thank you for all that you’ve done for me! I can’t express how greatful I am for your practice!

The Impact of Scar Tissue

Bare Physical Therapy abdominal surgery, back pain, constipation, heatburn, incontinence, indigestion, myofascial release, pelvic pain, scar tissue, sexual dysfunction , , , , , , ,

Scar tissue can affect your health in so many ways. It creates lines of tension that constrict circulation, lymphatics, efficiency of muscle and tendon action. Scar tissue also creates a tether that attempts to change your posture, creating a bending moment one direction or another that muscles on the opposite side of your body perpetually work to counter.

Most scars look benign but each scar is like an Iceberg, what you see is about 8%, while 92% of the scar material delves down into other tissues effecting their performance and creating the challenges listed above. Now multiply this several times over for surgical scar where multiple layers of tissue area lacerated and repaired. Scar management is a huge issue in overall health and especially in physical therapy.

Now consider abdominal surgery, the scar tissue involved is enormous and when it is untreated it begins having effects throughout the abdomen…

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  1. Vascular: the scar tissue can slow or constrict lymphatic drainage of the abdomen and lower extremities as well as increase venous pressure at all levels below the restriction. Are your feet and legs swelling? Do you have painful varicose veins?
  2. Musculoskeletal: The scar tissue can restrict the passage of nerves and muscles as they move through the abdomen to the lower extremities, this can manifest as hip pain, thigh pain and knee pain.
  3. Musculoskeletal: the pulling of scar tissue can create abnormal pressures on the spine and discs making them more likely to be symptomatic and this can manifest as back pain, hip pain or sciatica.
  4. Genitourinary: The scar tissue can affect your bladder capacity and emptying. It can also affect menstrual cycle and fertility.
  5. Gastrointestinal: One of the most common effects of abdominal scar tissue is any or all of the following: constipation, bowel irritation to specific foods, diarrhea, heartburn and indigestion.

What have you got to lose? Have your scars treated by a skilled myofascial physical therapist…in as few as 2-3 treatments you may be able to consider discontinuing medications you had resigned yourself to having to need for the rest of your life!!

LTC Tony Bare (ret), DPT, ATC, OCS
Physical Therapist/Owner
Colorado Springs, CO