Waiting for the birth of a baby is a wonderful and happy time. However, some factors cast a shadow over this period. Pain in the spine prevents the expectant mother from leading an active and fulfilling life. There are simple explanations for this unfavorable factor. Discomfort does not always arise due to pathological processes. Most often, pain in the spine during pregnancy is normal.
Spinal reaction to pregnancy
Most women experience discomfort in the lumbar and back areas during pregnancy. Some expectant mothers experience varying degrees of pain, while others experience only mild discomfort. This is due to the increasing load on the lumbar and thoracic spine.
The localization and intensity of pain depend on many factors: individual characteristics, the presence of chronic diseases, lifestyle, nutrition, and physical activity. In general, the female spine is able to withstand heavy loads without damage. This is provided by nature so that the expectant mother can safely bear and give birth to a child.
Diagnosis of back pain during pregnancy
Pregnancy is a delicate matter, and therefore, if pain occurs, it is imperative to consult a gynecologist, who accompanies the woman throughout the entire period of pregnancy. After collecting an anamnesis, if “non-gestational” causes of pain are suspected, the expectant mother will be referred to a highly specialized doctor (nephrologist, gastroenterologist, neurologist, etc.). In this case, research is prescribed:
- general blood and urine tests,
- blood biochemistry,
- hormones and various markers,
- smears and scrapings,
- gastroduodenoscopy,
- Ultrasound,
- MRI or computed tomography.
But X-ray irradiation during pregnancy is not indicated at all, and is usually replaced by tomography.
Spinal pain during pregnancy: main causes
There are many reasons why the spine hurts during pregnancy in the lumbar region. They are divided into several categories:
- mechanical type;
- due to incorrectly selected shoes;
- lifestyle related;
- hormonal origin;
- arising due to characteristics of health and physique.
Mechanical causes are associated with increased load on the spine during pregnancy. On average, a woman’s body weight increases by 10–20 kg due to the weight of the child and amniotic fluid. To maintain balance and stability, the spine bends backward. Changing the standard position negatively affects the vertebrae, intervertebral discs, muscles and joints. This causes pain and discomfort.
Choosing heavy and uncomfortable high-heeled shoes also harms the spine. During pregnancy, it is better to give preference to comfortable and/or orthopedic models. Standing for a long time can also cause pain. Poor physical fitness and weakness of the muscle corset are another factor in the appearance of discomfort in the spine.
During pregnancy, the female hormonal system changes. Relaxin relaxes the ligaments and sacroiliac joints to allow mobility of the pelvic bones. As a result of changes in the sacral region, a shift in balance and disruption of posture occurs, which causes discomfort in the lumbar region. High levels of progesterone also contribute to the appearance of pain in the spine. The hormone increases blood circulation, which can cause local swelling in the lower back.
It is impossible not to note the role of nutrition. Calcium deficiency has a bad effect not only on the health of teeth, hair and nails, but also on bones. With a lack of nutrition, spinal tissues become fragile, weak, and less dense. Therefore, you need to consume more dairy products or take special dietary supplements. It is important to exclude negative factors: smoking, drinking large quantities of tea and coffee, sweet carbonated drinks.
Back pain occurs as a result of previously acquired diseases: osteochondrosis, poor posture, scoliosis. The risk of discomfort during pregnancy is much higher if the expectant mother is overweight.
If the spine hurts between the shoulder blades during pregnancy, scoliosis may be the cause of the discomfort. Even if in normal times the curvature does not manifest itself in any way, then when carrying a child, unpleasant sensations often appear.
Pain between the shoulder blades also occurs in the following cases:
- intercostal neuralgia;
- hernia;
- osteochondrosis;
- radiculitis;
- back muscle myositis;
- damage to the ligaments of the thoracic spine;
- diseases of the heart, lungs, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract;
- high loads on this part of the back - for example, constantly wearing a heavy backpack with an uncomfortable back.
To alleviate the condition of the expectant mother, you need to contact an orthopedist, neurologist, chiropractor or exercise therapy specialist. The doctor will conduct a diagnosis, prescribe treatment, exercises and preventive measures.
Back pain in men
Although the causes of back pain are mostly the same for both sexes, there are a number of diseases that men are more susceptible to due to their lifestyle.
Such predisposing factors include:
- work that involves lifting and carrying heavy objects;
- strength sports (including various martial arts, powerlifting, etc.);
- bad habits.
As a result, diseases of the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems may occur more often in men than in women.
Specific “male” diseases that can cause back pain are various prostate pathologies.
Prostatitis is an inflammatory disease of the prostate gland. At the beginning of the disease, the pain syndrome is localized in the groin, scrotum and lower abdomen, but in the second stage and in cases where the disease has become chronic, the pain spreads to the back.
The localization of pain in this case can either be concentrated in the lumbosacral region or spread to the entire back. This is due to the fact that the inflammatory process affects the nerve endings, which envelop this organ in large quantities. The intensity of pain is directly related to the stage of the disease. Thus, in the acute phase, pain is characterized as acute and short-term. In the chronic form, the pain syndrome is not very pronounced and is often permanent.
In this case, a urologist makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment.
What to do to avoid spinal pain
Almost every pregnant woman experiences discomfort in the thoracic or lumbar spine. Unpleasant sensations reduce the quality of life and limit physical activity. To prevent or reduce pain, you need to follow simple recommendations:
- from the first weeks of pregnancy, monitor your weight (body weight is considered normal if your BMI is below 30 units);
- eat a nutritious and varied diet, include calcium-rich foods in your daily diet (cottage cheese, cheese, milk, yogurt, herbs, vegetables, fruits, fish);
- after 20–22 weeks of pregnancy, wear a special bandage to support the lumbar spine (the type is selected by the doctor).
It is also useful to lead an active and healthy lifestyle, move more, and engage in gentle sports.
What not to do during pregnancy to prevent back pain:
- lift and carry heavy objects;
- jump;
- pump up the press;
- do exercises with a barbell (you need to cancel intense workouts).
If a woman’s work involves heavy physical activity, then it is recommended to switch to light work (this is a right enshrined in the Russian Labor Code). It is better to choose a computer chair with a comfortable, possibly orthopedic backrest.
Causes of pain under the left shoulder blade
Pain under the left shoulder blade can be due to the following reasons:
- incorrect position while sleeping. In this case, a person wakes up with pain under the left shoulder blade and in the left shoulder. This pain usually goes away quite quickly;
- stomach ulcer. Peptic ulcer is a fairly common cause of pain under the left shoulder blade. In this case, the pain, as a rule, is aching in nature, gradually increasing, accompanied by gagging, heartburn and belching. After vomiting there is usually relief. As a rule, with a peptic ulcer, the onset of pain is associated with food intake;
- stress, panic and other psychological reasons. Psychogenic pain is described as congestion, compression, heaviness; may be accompanied by fever or a tingling sensation. Sometimes dizziness or a feeling of a lump in the throat is added. In this case, the pain is localized in the chest, and radiates under the left shoulder blade (people say “gives away”). The pain can spread wider, involving the shoulder blade itself, the neck, turning into a headache;
- heart diseases such as myocarditis, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction. A heart problem is very likely if there is pain both under the left shoulder blade and behind the sternum;
- osteochondrosis. With osteochondrosis, pain often occurs in the morning, that is, a person wakes up with pain. Patients in this case often say that the pain under the shoulder blade radiates to the arm or head;
- intercostal neuralgia;
- inflammatory lung diseases, in particular pneumonia.
This list contains the most common causes; the full list of causes of pain under the left shoulder blade is much longer.
What are the signs by which myositis can be distinguished?
You can understand whether the lower back or neck is blown by the main distinguishing sign of myositis - aching pain. At rest, a dull pain is felt, which intensifies with tension in the affected muscles. The pain may be asymmetrical - bothering only one side. At the site of localization of pain, swelling, redness and increased sensitivity of the skin may appear. There may be a feeling of numbness in the affected muscles, increased tone, and when palpating them, small compactions and a feeling of tension are sometimes detected.
Without effective treatment, signs that the lower back has blown out can persist for a long time - the disease becomes chronic with periodic exacerbations with any hypothermia and increased physical activity. In the most advanced cases, movements cause constant pain, as a result the person is forced to constantly take painkillers and limit mobility, which leads to the development of weakness and muscle atrophy.
Causes of pain under the right shoulder blade
The most common causes of pain under the right shoulder blade are:
- problems of the biliary system. Acute pain under the right shoulder blade can be observed with acute cholecystitis or cholelithiasis. The usual localization of pain in this case is in the right hypochondrium. The pain may radiate to the scapula or right shoulder. Associated symptoms are a bitter taste in the mouth, heartburn, nausea, vomiting;
- kidney diseases – nephritis, pyelonephritis. In this case, pain under the right shoulder blade is usually accompanied by pain in the lumbar region;
- liver diseases. The liver is located in close proximity to the right shoulder blade, and liver problems often lead to pain in this area;
- coronary heart disease (angina pectoris, myocardial infarction);
- osteochondrosis.
Also, pain under the right shoulder blade can be caused by other reasons, among which there are very dangerous diseases - aortic aneurysm, appendicitis and some others.