Heavy Lifting

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Ever since Nora was born I have experienced pain in my back. Well, I guess I should say since before Nora was born because the pain started when I was pregnant. I lived with the pain for eight months hoping it would heal itself and gradually go away. It didn’t. It just got worse. My pain progressed to the point where Garrett had to be the one to put Nora in her crib and I was crying when I had to bend over or go from sitting to laying.

As I mentioned before one of my sisters is a physical therapist. While home for thanksgiving I asked her to take a look at my back.  I thought that I was just being a baby and the pain was all in my head. I wanted her to re-assure me that I was fine and then I could get the pain out of my head. It turns out I was wrong. I had apparently at some point in time (pregnancy? Or child birth?) had pulled a back muscle that had spasmed and tightened up and was pulling my spine majorly out of alignment.

I only have one spine and it has to last me for the rest of my life (and hopefully through many more children). So I made an appointment to see a physical therapist here in Jacksonville. He agreed with my sister’s assessment and also said that the right side of my back was stronger than my left side which added to the problem.

Through the course of physical therapy I also learned that I have been picking Nora up wrong. I was always hinging at the hips to lean down and pick her up (like doing a dead lift). This was putting major pressure on my lower and middle pack. I should have been squatting and using my legs to pick Nora up and put her down. I also learned that my core muscles (abdominal and inner muscles) are really weak. 

Physical Therapy involved the doctor realigning my spine, getting 20 minutes of heat therapy (while watching TV), electrotherapy, massages, stretches and exercises that target specific muscles that need to be stretched and strengthened. I am very proud to say that my pain level has decreased dramatically! And best of all I have the tools to help myself recover even more. The moral of this story is don’t ignore that back pain! Go and get help!

Have you experienced back pain since giving birth?