Pain and chiropractic care during pregnancy...any btdt experiences?

[sarahsthreads]

So, I went to my OB appointment today and was (as usual) disappointed in the lack of time to discuss concerns, not to mention the lack of concern regarding my concerns. My biggest issue right now is that I have a lot of pubic pain...which I had last time, but not nearly this early (I'm only 22.5 weeks). I've done a little bit of reading about pubic symphysis disfunction and wonder if that's what I had/have and maybe that was why DD1 was malpositioned at birth and I wound up needing a c-section after two hours of pushing. My doctor basically said that there wasn't anything that could be done about it besides taking Tylenol as needed for the pain. (And I don't know about anyone else, but *I'm* convinced they only let you take Tylenol while pregnant because it. doesn't. work.)

My goal is to maximize my chances of a successful VBAC, and to do that I imagine I need to make sure this baby is positioned as perfectly as possible.

So...has anyone here experienced this? What are my options? I've read about seeing a chiropractor for this, but I've never been to one before and the whole idea makes me somewhat nervous, plus I have no idea how to find a good one or if I need a referral. Not to mention that I'm really just self-diagnosing on the internet, so for all I know that's not what I have at all. Help!

Thanks!
Sarah

[tiapam]

I went to a chiro for the first time when I was pregnant because I could barely move my neck after "throwing" it out while showering. The chiro did help tremendously. I went to a chiro who worked in the complementary medicine department of my PCP. My insurance even paid for some of it. If you can find a practice that is part of a larger medical group that might make you feel more confident about trying this. I still go to the chiro when I can.

Sorry I don't know anything about PSD. I agree about Tylenol. I take it anyway and hope for a placebo effect.

[ilovetivo]

for my pubic symphysis disfunction i saw a physical therapist (pelvic specialist), did water exercise and other gentle land exercises, slept w/ a body pillow and wore a sacroilliac belt that looked like this
http://the-therapy-connection.com/Serola-Sacroiliac-Belt/M/B000OSZC9M.htm

I didn't do chiropractic, although i was doing before and atfer pg, because the hormones loosen the joints so much that any adjustment wouldn't help. (I can understand it working for neck kinks and such though)

good luck and i hope it feels better! mine was so bad i could hardly walk.

[american_mama]

I am trying it now for the first time ever. It's my third pregnancy and I've had pubic pain this time and wondered the same thing as you. Plus, I have hip pain and a charley horse feeling in my inner thighs, all of it minor, but all of it unfamiliar.

I'm 37 weeks pregnant and have had two visits, and will probably go every week until I deliver. Both visits were relaxing and, after a few days, I think I felt some improvement on my left side (the better side). After the second visit, I think I felt some improvement on my right side (the weak one). Not tons of improvement, but then again, I wasn't in awful shape to begin with.

I also had a pregnancy massage, unrelated to the chiropractor, over the weekend (my first massage as well), so it may be the cumulative effect. This chiro recommended some basic hip strethcing exercises as well, which never occurred to me to do. Still havent' done them, though...

The massage therapist gave me some advice that is helping. I do sleep with a body pillow, but I needed to put more padding between my knees and keep that support running down my legs all the way past my toes. I was just putting a little padding between my knees without much of anything supporting the rest of my leg, and it's markedly more comfortable when my whole leg is supported from knees down. The massage therapist said don't drop my foot off the edge, but keep it supported all the way. The chiro looked a bit skeptical when I repeated that, but it's working for me.

I found the chiropractor by asking around for someone who had experience with pregnant patients. I got one recommendation and then checked the yellow pages: only she and another chiro advertised specifically that they provide prenatal/maternity care, so that made me feel even better about the choice. This website http://www.icpa4kids.org/locator/index.php also lists chiros that adjust kids and do the WEbster technique to turn breech babies, so it might be a source for finding chiros interested in pregnancy.

I have a $30 copay at every visit and insurance pays the rest. I think I can go for at least 10 sessions, maybe more.

Two other tips: if you want to try a pregnancy support belt, see if your local medical supply store carries them and you can try them on first to see if they seem helpful. Any Motherhood store sells a very basic belt. Or buy a used one for cheap off ebay. I got two for $11 total on ebay. I have used the more substantial one twice this week (everything has been this week!) and think it's so-so. Mine is this one: http://www.maternitysupport.com/clinical.htm

[Momof3Labs]

I had problems with pelvic pain in both of my pregnancies, and actually separated my pelvis during DS2's birth. I saw a chiropractor who specialized in pregnant women during DS2's pregnancy but felt like he blew off my pelvic complaints, then tried to place the blame elsewhere when I actually separated.

FWIW, my OB with DS1 blew off the pain as normal pregnancy stuff, too.

What truly helped me recover (well after the fact, unfortunately) was seeing a physical therapist who specialized in female pelvic issues. I wish that I had seen her while pregnant - she understood my body so well (and helped me understand what my body was telling me) that I feel like I would have had the best chance of avoiding a separation following her exercises and advice. If we have a third, you can bet that I'll be knocking on her door the moment that any pelvic pain hits - if it even happens a third time, given that she has already helped me resolve so many other issues that I had post-DS1's birth.

If you need help finding such a physical therapist, drop me a PM. My PT is pretty well connected across the country and is happy to talk to women and help them find a PT in their area.

[saschalicks]

I did see a chiro w/both boys and I had severe pubic pain that was relieved by see a chiro. I did see one who specializes in pregnant women and I was going twice a week the 3rd trimester. It really did save me.

[o_mom]

I would look for a PT that specializes in women and pregnancy. The one I used with DS1 for SI joint imobility was amazing. They focus on teaching you how to correct it and not rely on ongoing visits for them to fix it.

On the pain meds - mine was so bad at the end with DS1 that I was on narcotics. I can't remember which one, maybe just Tylenol III, but definately more than just Tylenol.

[lizajane]

loooooooove my chiro. he changed my life. i went while pregnant. definitley try it.

[Wife_and_mommy]

I had *super* long labors with both my kiddos due to their malposition. I would have chosen to have c-sec's both times if I'd not known better. I didn't see a chiro with dd but she was small at 6.5#. I fractured several bones in my pelvis that I didn't consider an issue until dd's birth didn't go well.

With ds I did see a chiro once/week for the last 6 weeks or so. I also had a doula which I *highly* recommend as much as seeing a chiro. DS was 8.75# and between his weight and position, it was a long road but well worth all the effort I put into making his birth an unmedicated one.



From DD ;) :
zxcvbnmadfgh jk,plqwrtyuiopz;)

[dr mom]

I had severe pelvic pain with my second pregnancy, which I suspect was caused by symphysis pubis dysfunction. I saw a wonderful chiropractor (experienced with the Webster technique) who was able to relive most of my other pregnancy-related aches and pains, as well as convincing my breech baby to turn vertex after just four visits...but the SPD never fully resolved until after delivery. My chiro also showed me some techniques that my DH could help me do at home, to help re-align the pelvis. I kept my legs together, slept with a pillow between my legs, used icepacks on the pubic symphysis, wore a maternity support belt - but nothing seemed to help, I still had pain. On the other hand, who knows how much worse it would have been if I hadn't done all that? My worst pain was turning over in bed - like being stabbed right in the crotch -

IThe most comprehensive information about SPD that I found online is here: http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/pubicpain.htm

[calv]

I was very skeptical of chiros. Sure enough as soon as I found out baby #3 was breech i freaked out. Found out about the webster method and regret not going/finding a chiro the 1st time I got preggo. I was 99% locked and the chiro told me I had sacroiliac and he did his magic. I went and saw him late in my pregnancy around 33 wks or so but felt like a new woman and could of continued being preggo for another 5 months!!!!!!!!!! he certainly isn't a bone cracker, just did very gentle adjustments, massages, etc.

Sure enough I delivered our DD and she flipped. I was a wreck about having a c-section especially when my first and 2nd delivery were very easy and super fast via vaginal. I'll never know if it was God's work, the chiros or the baby turning at the very last minute but I'm sure the webster technique didn't hurt!!!!!

I LOVELOVELOVE my chiro.

[brittone2]

I used a webster trained Chiro during my pregnancy with DD because I was having major SI pain. I am a physical therapist, and my preference would have been to see a PT, but for several reasons (mostly convenience oriented) I opted for this particular chiro.

Personally, one thing I do not like about chiros is the tendency to rely on the high velocity manipulations. I feel that more gentle mobilizations can be used and can be just as effective (you don't get that "pop" every time that way). IME, I've seen a lot of PTs rely and have good success w/ more gentle mobilizations (depending on the state they are in/scope of practice in that area, etc. some PTs do use high velocity manipulations, but IME, this is far less common to see). Not all chiros use the whole high velocity manipulation approach, but I'd say the vast majority do.

While the risk is small, with a high velocity manipulation, there is a small risk of injury. CNN just had an article up about a chiro that damaged a woman's arterial supply to her brain resulting in a stroke. It is not common, but it is possible. As a PT, I have always preferred to use more gentle mobilizations and have found them to work quite well.

So while I used a chiro, I would definitely look for a PT that has experience w/ pelvic issues in pregnancy.

[sarahsthreads]

Thanks for all the replies, it helps to know that I'm not the only one experiencing this. (Not that I'd wish it on anyone else, of course!) So PT sounds like it might be more my speed, but if my doctor won't take my pain seriously, how do I get a referral?

It's different from my last pg - then I felt it mostly when lifting one leg (putting on pants and socks) or getting in and out of the car. This time it's a lot more when I'm sitting on the floor (after all I do have a 3 yo who likes to be played with) or even just sitting in a chair without my feet being fully flat and supported on the floor (and I'm short so that happens often!) And turning over in bed, like a pp mentioned, that's awful, but it can as often as not be my lower back as the other pain.

Only 17 more weeks to go...and as it's started so much earlier I just can't wait to see how bad it is by the time I deliver if I can't get in to see a PT. :p

Sarah