Pregnancy and Degenerative Disc Disease in the Back

It's no surprise that the degenerative disc in his lower back can be caused by different types of physical stress, and pregnancy is no exception. The increase in weight of the spine must support during pregnancy, the fact that many pregnant women become less active as bringing a child to term, the amount of stress on the lumbar (lower) back easily exacerbate the deterioration of the spine that has already occurred, causing the collapse of one or more discs, bulging or herniated. And although it is unlikely that pregnancy will lead to DDD, can be the catalyst that asymptomatic degenerative changes in symptomatic disease.

Types of back pain suffered during pregnancy

Discomfort in the lower back or lumbar spine, is common during pregnancy and this is generally the area affected by degenerative discs. However, posterior pelvic pain during pregnancy is more common and usually can be heard around the waist and above the sacrum. The sacrum is composed of five fused bones that form a triangle, which separates the last lumbar vertebra of the coccyx, or tailbone. The sacred does not contain the intervertebral discs, causing pain in this area because of degenerative disc disease may be caused by stress transferred from the lumbar intervertebral discs as have deteriorated to the point that they are not able to absorb shock.

The causes of back pain during pregnancy

Degenerative disc disease in the lower back, as a contributing factor to back pain during pregnancy is rarely the main reason for the symptoms. The pain of the spine is usually caused by a combination of the following elements:

• Weight gain - Many women gain weight during pregnancy, because a quarter of their pre-pregnancy body weight. While a part of the weight is distributed throughout the body, a large part of the weight is concentrated in the uterus, which is expensive is directly on the lumbar spine.

• Changing the center of gravity - Weighing more around the torso, pregnant women change their gait and posture in order to keep their balance. Some women develop lordosis, which is an umbrella of the postural stability of the lumbar spine.

• muscle imbalance - changes in posture can cause the muscles around the spine to be tired, which can actually cause worse attitude. Postural changes may also lead to painful muscle cramps and muscle imbalances.

• Changes in hormone levels - During pregnancy the body produces increased levels of a protein hormone relaxin, which relaxes and soothes especially the joints of the pelvis, so it can expand when a woman in labor. Relaxin also reduces the stability of the compounds of the spine which can lead to a greater amount of stress is transferred to the intervertebral discs.

Treating back pain during pregnancy

Although many of the back pain that a pregnant woman experiences tends to decline once the baby is born, there is the possibility that the degenerative disc disease remains in the back discomfort, even after pregnancy. This is why it is so important to back pain to deal with immediately, even if you are pregnant, to tell your doctor about it and the beginning of a conservative treatment regimen that changes his attitude, changes in body mechanics , body work (light massage can, stretching, stabilization exercises o) and non-pharmacological pain management techniques.