How are back pain and posterior pelvic pain defined in pregnant women?
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How are back pain and posterior pelvic pain defined in pregnant women?
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@linsa A fair number of women have various degrees of back pain or posterior pelvic pain during pregnancy. The 2 conditions are distinguished as follows:
Back pain refers to nonradiating pain centered in the lower lumbar region
Posterior pelvic pain refers to pain that is lower and more lateral (buttock); pelvic pain also radiates to the feet in 45-65% of patients (ie, sciatica)
The presumptive cause of back and pelvic pain is the added mass of a gravid uterus in the context of relaxation of the ligaments supporting the uterus. The 3 treatment options are as follows:
Adaptive management
Mechanical support
Symptomatic therapy
The patient’s activities should be adapted so as to avoid intolerable pain, and the obstetrician should approve any analgesics.