Nothing makes a person feel old like back pain. The first major issue I had with my back actually occurred when I was younger, back in my late 20s. I still don’t know what caused the debilitating pain all along my back, but I’m assuming it had something to do with overworking my abdominals in an attempt to have a flat stomach. I went in for X-rays and started seeing a chiropractor. I even bought a new bed, but nothing seemed to work.
At last, I was referred to a physical therapist
She worked with me to develop a specific set of stretches and strengthening exercises to fix everything from my neck to the top of my pelvis. It was slow going, but eventually I was back to 90% of my previous back quality and mobility.
I gave birth last March, and as soon as I got home from the hospital, I began to suffer serious back pain again. At first I thought it was just a result of having spent several nights on a hospital bed and having an epidural, but when several weeks had gone by, I still wasn’t getting any relief. Well, according to the doctor, I was of “advanced maternal age” at 39, so I was probably just old now, right?
I tried to do yoga and some of the exercises I remembered from physical therapy a decade ago, but things just got worse. I was stiff all the time, my range of motion was limited in my neck, and I was constantly sore, feeling like I needed to crack my back. At last, I broke down and tried the local chiropractor in our small town.
I didn’t have high hopes — I hadn’t had a good experience with my previous chiropractor
Seeing Dr. Nolan (name has been changed) ended up being a totally different experience than seeing my original chiropractor. “It’s probably not a good sign that you found him through an ad in the ‘Dynamite Coupons’ mailer,” he said, and I had to laugh and agree.
Dr. Nolan was able to look at my X-rays and see that I had broken my tailbone, which I had completely forgotten about, since it happened in third grade on the playground. After asking me a series of questions and examining me, he figured out it was breastfeeding that was hurting my back – specifically, the way I was doing it, sitting on a bed with a few pillows behind my back. I was hunching over to feed the baby instead of lifting the baby high enough to my breast. I was also sitting automatically with one ankle under my knee, which was throwing off my alignment.
He adjusted me, which, of course, felt amazing
But he also gave me exercises that would help strengthen the muscles, so I could keep myself from going so far out of alignment again. Sitting so much with the baby had shortened my hip flexors, which was also pulling on my back muscles. Then, just lifting the baby and hauling her around, as well as holding the car seat one-handed was causing a problem. I solved that by using my baby-wearing gear and strapping my infant to my chest so I had both hands free and the weight evenly distributed.
I had to make a concerted effort to schedule time in my day for my exercises and stretches, but I knew how important it was. If I had back pain, I wasn’t as attentive as I could have been to my baby’s needs. I was more cranky and irritable with the rest of my family, and it made the sleep deprivation even worse.
The best part?
I had maxed out on my out-of-pocket for my insurance, so all of my appointments were free. Once you’ve given birth and feel able to do so, I highly recommend getting an adjustment or any treatment needed to address your aches and pains. It’s safe to say that giving birth can really mess up your back!
*Disclaimer: The advice on Mom.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
