Chiropractor During Pregnancy - Have You Seen One?

Long story, I've got an unstable pelvis. I currently see a physio and do clinical pilates but there's some debate about what causes my condition - either an underlying misalignment of the pelvis or pregnancy hormones which loosed the ligaments. Physio can help the latter but not the former.

My physio doesn't want me to see a chiro but I think it would be worth doing (I can't walk very far and am basically housebound).

However, I've never seen a chiro before and am a bit nervous about the thought of an adjustment. The very last thing I need is for my pain to get worse.

I've found a chiro who specialises in pregnancy, amongst other things, and practices the Webster Technique which is highly regarded for my condition.

So who's seen a chiro during pregnancy, what for and did it help?

I've been adjusted weekly for the last 2 years or so. I've seen so many wonderful cases of woman having chiropractic throughout their whole pregnancy and it shortens labour, pain and allows your nerve system to continue functioning at an optimal level so that your hormones and everything else stays balanced through out your pregnancy. Chiropractic is not just about aligning your spine, it is about taking the pressure off your spinal cord so that those important messages from your brain can reach every cell tissue and organ in your body. If your spine is out of alignment than those nerve signals can not get through properly. So yeah I will continue with chiro during my pregnancy for sure!!! Physios have a tendency to say "don't see a chiro" They are sort of rivals iykwim Physios are great for teaching your body to move properly and rehabilitation however they do not anything like what a chiro does. I've seen a physio in the past for different things and have found them great but as I said they do not do what a chiro does. I am also doing pilates at the physios and find the classes wonderful on the equipment etc, I started that when I 1st found out I was pregnant. I hope I have helped :p

Weekly all the way through. I didn't have any underlying conditions so it was more for spinal health and prevention.

I just felt great, and looser after each appt. They don't bodyslam you on the table...only the crap ones do. An adjustment might only be pressure on a certain point eg

I saw a chiro fortnightly to weekly throughout my third pregnancy for my unstable pelvis. I wish I'd gone to see her for my other pregnancies too! It made such a huge difference, it actually made walking bearable.

I don't know what technique she uses, but she uses one of those clicker gun thingies (very technical of me LOL) and it was very gentle.

I desperately need to go back to her, I haven't been back since DD was born and my pelvis has been a bit sore from lifting DD and DS2, etc.

I highly recommend seeing a good chiro :)

I did. I had already been seeing him for years before I first fell pg and continued seeing him through all 4 of mine. I found it to be really beneficial as he could adjust my back to counteract the changes that pg was doing to my posture etc as well as my regular adjustments. The only trouble is, if you have never seen one before you wont already have x-rays done and they ideally need to have x-rays so they can see what is going on, whether you have any disc issues etc. The thing with Chiro is, that other professions get a bit snakey about you using a chiro instead of just being happy with what they are offering you kwim? So your physio could just be protecting their own interests. I see Chiro as being complimentary to massage and other therapies and visa versa. There is no point having a massage or physio for an hr if your spine is out of alignment pulling all the muscles back out again kwim? Just as it is to have chiro when the tight muscles pull the spine out again etc. In your situation, it is certainly worth a shot if it will save you even the smallest amount of pain or discomfort.

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In your situation, it is certainly worth a shot if it will save you even the smallest amount of pain or discomfort.

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I think you're right. Thoroughly miserable about the whole situation. Just attempted multi-tasking putting on moisturiser with tears rolling down face. Not very successful :wall:

Thanks for all the positive thoughts - that's been great reassurance. Until now, the physio has been working quite well but yep, I don't understand the logic of continuing to try to stabilise the joints/muscles/whatever if I am actually out of alignment as surely that would just stabilise me in a misaligned position.

Fiona, have you had any imaging studies done on your pelvis (ie x-ray, CT)? Not that you'd do it now you are already pregnant, of course. Just curious...

No, I haven't but I did sort of pull my hip out about 8 years ago. I only saw my GP who said there wasn't anything wrong but it never seemed quite right.

I mentioned it to my physio the other day who said it might be contributing to the whole thing.

I'm hoping that a good chiro will be able to look at my gait and/or see if one leg is longer that the other to see if my alignment is off. It feels like it is.

After the tears, I'm getting feisty and have decided that I'm just going to have to find the right combination of treatment myself.

Gee, I feel for you, mate! (BTWCongrats on the pregnancy - I hadn't caught up with that :))
FWIW if it were me once bubs arrives I would get a referral for a CT and see a specialist for the amount of pain you're in. Do you experience pins and needles or numbness in your lower limbs? Or just that stabbing pain? The pain (if I remember rightly as you've described it before) sounds like your nerves could be irritated? There are some great treatments for spinal conditions around now (that I've only recently discovered thanks to my new job) including steroid injections. Might be worth investigating after bubs arrives.
I really hope you find the help you need, mate. That amount of pain must be the pits. :hug:

I saw a chiro through my last pregnancy until 19 weeks when I moved away. The adjustments are gentle but very effective, and made a huge difference to my pelvis. I thoroughly recommend you at least give it a try, it may make a huge difference to your pain levels.

T
xx

Just as another option up your sleeve Fiona, another thing you could consider in an osteopath. I saw one during pregnancy (not for any serious issues like SPD) but just to help maintain good alignment and positioning. A lot of my pilates clients have a great deal of success with ongoing osteopathy treatment along with exercises specific to their particular condition.

HTH

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I'm hoping that a good chiro will be able to look at my gait and/or see if one leg is longer that the other to see if my alignment is off. It feels like it is.

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Why can't your physio do this? Bloody hell - get thee to a chiro asap!

I started seeing a chiro at 30 weeks with Fred cause I put my pelvis out. It helped soooo much and every time I saw him fred engaged head down and then I went into labour after seeing him at 38.5 weeks. It really really helped with the pain.

Def make an appointment

I used to go to a chiro monthly years ago for general lower back pain, and then stopped for one reason or another.

Within the first 12 weeks or so of this pregnancy, I was getting the worst sciatica pain down my right leg and into my foot it was awful. At around 20 weeks I was recommended a chiro who specialised in pregnancy, bit the bullet and went in. Best thing I could have done. She said it made it more difficult to pin point by not having xrays, but did a range of tests (movements I had to do etc) scored me and we started with twice weekly and now weekly adjustments. The relief was amazingly quick, and I also think it has helped me cope alot better in general - sleep and stress wise too. She said we could go fortnightly or longer now but as we are so close to 'showtime' I want to continue to go weekly so I'm in optimum shape for birth!

Good luck if you choose to try that path....the trick will be finding a reputable chiro - hope it works out for you :)