How Chiropractic Care Helps with Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction
Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) is a condition whereby a person experiences discomfort and pain at the back or front of the pelvic joints. The condition is also known as pelvic girdle pain. SPD during pregnancy is common in women during the third trimester or earlier. It often results in chronic pain in the groin as well as in the pubis. The pain associated with SPD can make moving, twisting and walking extremely painful and it can also be related to lower back pain.
The quality of life of women suffering from SPD can be adversely affected because it can affect their family relationships, marriage, sex life, social life, and even lead to financial and employment problems. Some women are even unable to lift their babies out of the cot because they need crutches just to stand up. Others end up in wheelchairs.
SPD is not life-threatening, but it can be life-limiting. So, it is important to seek early treatment since the condition can be severely disabling. Early chiropractic care for SPD will help offer pain relief for SPD and even mitigate the risk of chronic pain.
What is SPD?
Normally, SPD ensues as part of normal changes to the function of the pelvis and the lower back. As the pregnancy develops, the way weight is transferred down through the lower back and the pelvis region changes. This, coupled with hormonal changes that cause the ligaments to be more elastic, results in the pubic joint being incapable of bearing the weight and transferring it through the pelvis when walking.
The pubic joint is known as a fibrocartilaginous joint and it connects the bones with thousands of small ligaments. Fibrocartilaginous joints are different from the more common synovial joints that allow one bone to move across another. Instead, fibrocartilaginous joints allow flexibility and torsion rather than bone translation. Once the ligaments in these joints start to soften, they can become inflamed and make movement extremely painful as the joint becomes torsioned.
Notably, this condition rarely occurs alone and often occurs as part of a failure of the entire pelvis which has three bones and joints. The two joints at the back, the sacroiliac joints, will also be involved as they will be affected by the softening of the ligaments.
Other Risk Factors of SPD
Besides the potential causes mentioned above, other risk factors of developing SPD include:
- Having large babies
- Past pelvic, sacroiliac or lower back pain
- Multiparity or more than one pregnancy
- Past trauma (obstetric trauma, car accident, etc.) that might have damaged the pelvic girdle area
Typical Symptoms of SPD
Symptoms of SPD normally vary with the severity of the condition and every woman may experience them differently. It is known that the severity of the symptoms doesn’t correlate with the degree of separation at the symphysis pubis joint, but in the presence of pain, a separation of between 5mm and 9mm is diagnostic.
Normally, the pain remains static and is felt in one place, mostly at the front of the pelvis. In other cases, however, it may start in one area and move to other parts. There’s a likelihood of experiencing multiple symptoms. These include:
- Pain across the symphysis pubis joint
- A deep burning, bruising or stabbing pain
- Lower back pain, particularly in the sacroiliac area
- Groin, hip, and lower abdominal pain
- Tenderness when touched
- Radiating pain to the inner thigh
- Reduced range of motion in the hip, with abduction (moving to the side) being particularly painful
- Shuffling/waddling gait
- Audible grinding or clicking sound coming from the pelvis
- Increased pubic pain when performing normal activities like walking, lifting or parting the legs
- Abnormal bladder function such as temporary incontinence when changing position
If you have been experiencing any of these symptoms, it may be wise to contact us and learn how chiropractic care for SPD can benefit you.
When does it start to become painful?
The pain associated with SPD often starts during early pregnancy. However, the pain becomes more severe as the pregnancy develops. Most affected women will start to experience pain during the third trimester of their pregnancy.
The pain gradually develops as the pregnancy progresses due to postural changes, the growing baby, as well as the increasingly unstable pelvis.
Chiropractic Treatment for SPD
Chiropractors will start by taking a detailed medical history of the patient and performing a full chiropractic and orthopedic examination to diagnose the problem. Chiropractic care for SPD may involve:
- Examination or treatment of the pubis symphysis and sacroiliac joints
- Ligament release techniques
- Blocking techniques by placing wedge-shaped blocks under the pelvis to relieve pressure to the pelvic joints
- Diaphragmatic release
- Work on the soft tissues (ligaments or muscles)
- Exercises for SPD
- Ultrasound and laser therapy
- Activator techniques involving non-manipulative techniques for the dysfunctional joints
- Ice application
- Pubic bone adjustment
- Supplying a pelvic joint or sacroiliac stability belt
- Treating malpositioned babies
Most women who receive chiropractic care for SPD, either after or before giving birth will experience pain relief, especially if the cause of the pain is pelvic misalignment. Chiropractic for pelvic pain aims to address the main cause of the complications rather than merely addressing the symptoms. According to chiropractic specialists, it is recommended that women with mild SPD get early treatment to prevent the condition from becoming worse later or causing problems during childbirth.
Chiropractors often see several causes of pelvic pain in pregnancy, with SPD and diastasis symphysis pubis (SPD) being two of the most common. Our chiropractic for pelvic pain is very effective for pain associated with pelvic and spinal joints and treatment is especially suitable for pregnant women because it is a safe and natural treatment. Chiropractic care for SPD does not encourage the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and painkillers in pregnancy. If you’ve been struggling with pain relief for SPD and you are a resident of Cumming, GA, we encourage you to make an appointment with our chiropractic specialist today.