Introduction
"Congratulations" everyone says to you when you announce you are expecting. Congratulations, indeed! Lucky you, especially if you are one of the 50% to 70% of pregnant women who experiences pregnancy related back pain. Sadly, only 25% of providers recommend treatment. (Wang) One wonders why. Maybe, and rightly so, because they don't know what to do since drugs and MRI are off-limits? The tide may be turning though to help you ladies who experience back pain - and even leg pain - during pregnancy. All you need and deserve is some gentle, hands-on care to calm the nerves, in more ways than one.
Description
Cox Technic Flexion Distraction and Decompression is a gentle, non-invasive pain-relieving treatment for you. One published case described chiropractic relief as safe and effective in reducing low back pain intensity for 94% of pregnant women's pain within 4.5 days and 2 treatments. No adverse effects were reported. (Lisi)
Another study reported 69% of pregnant women reporting low back pain. The pain was described as causing sleep disturbance and impairing daily living. Risk factors for the pain were younger age and a history of pre-pregnancy back pain either while pregnant or not. (Wang)
Another published report of Cox Technic Flexion Distraction and Decompression being used to relieve back pain in a 26-year-old pregnant woman who had accompanying leg pain documents relief in just one visit. Complete resolution of the symptoms in 8 visits. (Kruse)
Pregnancy-related back pain is common, and relief for the mother-to-be is available with Cox Technic protocols.
Examination
A thorough, clinical examination that may include imaging is important to your recovery.
Lumbar Spine Exam Description
Treatment
In office, OrthoIllinois Chiropractic uses Cox Technic Flexion Distraction and Decompression to widen the canal space, drop the intradiscal pressure and increase the disc height to relieve pain.
You will welcome the Cox Technic manipulation that very gently "pulls you apart," as many patients describe the treatment or say they need. Depending on the severity of your pain and symptoms, gentler Protocol I may be applied until 50% relief of pain or more restoring Protocol II may be applied to guide your recovery.
A side note: As a pregnant patient, you can lie face down as a normal patient until you reach a point that you - and the baby! - are not comfortable. You can then lie on the side while the doctor can easily use spinal manipulation with The Cox Table, using its flexion motion to move the spine laterally (sideways) and using the lateral motion to flex the spine. The treatment is very gentle and relieving as it doesn't take too much to move the spine due to the relaxing hormones already in play during your pregnancy.
Side-lying Cox Technic
This is very gentle application of Cox Technic for pregnancy-related back pain.
Cox Technic Goal to Relieve Pain
The disc is pressing on the nerve. Note that as the disc herniation reduces, the pinched nerve is relieved.
This is an animation of the goal of Cox Technic
Flexion-Distraction and Decompression: reduced irritation of spinal elements
enough to relieve pain and help you regain your quality of life. The amount of
decrease in size of the herniated disc necessary for pain relief varies from 0%
to 100% for each individual patient.
In office adjunctive care may hasten your recovery.
At Home Care
At home you may want to avoid sitting for long periods of time, take nutritional supplements that help rebuild disc cartilage as your obstetrician concurs, do exercises that strengthen your spine, sleep on a supportive mattress, sit in an ergonomically designed chair, and modify your daily activities as needed.
Case Report
Contact OrthoIllinois Chiropractic for non-drug and non-invasive relief of your pregnancy-related back pain.