Dear Coach Flabby,
I’m 7 months pregnant , and I’ve experienced a burning sensation in my back of my leg. It is less painful when I lay down, but I’m not able to lie down, as I’ve got tasks to complete. Are there any suggestions?
The theme for this week’s cliche is A Pound of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure. The situation you’re experiencing is not unusual. It’s a result of an expanding and active baby , as well as the changes to your body once you get pregnant.
When your pregnancy starts and grows the body releases a hormone that allows the ligaments supporting your pelvis to stretch and more flexible, in order to allow your baby to eventually escape through a quite small opening. This is great. The downside is that this hormone can affect all ligaments that hold your joints, including your lower back as well as your pelvis. This results in an unsteady base. If you are dealing with an unstable base, structures surrounding it get compressed and pinched. Pin or press the nerve at the right place and you’ll experience an intense burning discomfort throughout your leg.
Now imagine the growing child doing somersaults , and practicing Kung-Fu as they do a headstand , getting ready to go outside for the dawn.. If all that pushing and kicking is not hitting the right spot and a nerve gets squeezed or compressed and a burning sensation shoots through your leg.
If you consult your physician The treatment for your acute condition is to apply gentle heat packs, alternated with cold packs to increase an increase in blood circulation around the region couple of times per day. The reason you feel better lying down is because gravity is decreased and the pressure on the baby’s head the nerve is eased. Try warm baths or a warm pool , so you can swim and relax.
That’s the passive portion. The active part is that you need to strengthen those muscles which stabilize your lower back as well as the pelvis. Try this: Lie in the back in bed, knees bent comfortably. One hand should be placed under your lower back. You can now tuck your pelvis until your lower back presses onto your hand. Keep that position for several minutes. Relax, and then gently bend your back until your spine rises off your palm for a couple of minutes. Keep pressing down on your hand while arching upwards over it for around an hour. Here’s the trick to do this: as your low back presses onto your palm, try to tighten it up. This is the “Kagel” muscle the muscle that is supposed to stop the flow of urine. Keep it in place for 5 minutes. Try this for 30 seconds at least a couple of times daily. Do not do it so often as to increase the pain of the nerve discomfort.
Reverting to my old favorite cliche. Prevention. If you’re planning to get pregnant, it is essential to exercise muscles that stabilize the pelvis and lower back. It is important to do this to ensure that when hormones begin to weaken the ligaments, you can possess the power of your muscles of stabilization to compensate for the loss. Work these muscles regularly throughout your life in order to prevent further lower back discomfort.
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