Pelvic Pain and Persistent Post Partum Conditions with Diane Lee, PT and Chris Frederick, PT (2024)

FAQs

What causes pelvic pain after giving birth? ›

Postpartum pelvic pain affects 2-10% of women and can occur due to the stretching of the pelvic floor nerves and muscles as the baby passes through the canal, pressure on the pelvic floor due to the weight of carrying a baby throughout pregnancy, and irritation of pelvic nerves due to a C Section.

The doctor might tell you to take NSAIDs like acetaminophen or naproxen to help with pain. You may only need to take them for a little while. Use support. Your doctor may ask you to wear a brace, girdle, sling, or other device that wraps around your hips and pulls your pelvic bones together.

As physical therapists, we can see patients as early as 2-3 weeks after delivery. If you're dealing with specific post-natal symptoms (urinary incontinence, significant diastasis recti, or pelvic pain) you may want to come in closer to that 2-3 week mark, otherwise you can delay a few more weeks.

Many women experience low back or pelvic pain after a C-section. There is a 2 to 5-time increase in the incidence of low back and pelvic girdle pain in patients following cesarean delivery compared to vagin*l delivery. This can be due to a variety of factors, including scar tissue, muscle imbalances and nerve damage.

Post-partum pelvic girdle pain (PPGP) (which may include the SI joint(s)) will resolve in most women within 4 months after giving birth,⁴⁵ but 20% of women who experience this pain during and immediately after pregnancy report continuing pain two and three years postpartum.

Urinary and fecal incontinence are common symptoms of postpartum pelvic floor issues in the near term. Many women regain strength in their pelvic floor muscles within two months. Pelvic pain may persist for months or years postpartum. Symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse can emerge years later.

Back Stretches

Stretching your back can help your pelvic joints move and relieve pain from pressure on your pelvis. Step 1: Lean forward onto a table so your back is parallel to the floor. Rest your weight on your elbows and forearms. Step 2: Slowly lean backward so you feel a stretch in your back and thighs.

Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PPGP) is a common complaint affecting from 23% to 65% of pregnant women, depending on the definition used in prevalence studies. The pain often subsides after birth, but about 17% still have PGP 3 months postpartum,¹⁰ and 8.5% continue to have symptoms 2 years postpartum.

You may experience pain or discomfort for a few days following the birth because of your PGP. As a result you may need to rest in bed until the initial pain or discomfort subsides (24 - 48 hours). You may be supplied with pain relief to make you more comfortable.

Pelvic floor (Kegel) exercise

Your belly, legs, and buttocks shouldn't move. Hold the squeeze for 3 seconds. Then relax for 5 to 10 seconds. Start with 3 seconds, then add 1 second each week until you are able to squeeze for 10 seconds.

Can the pelvic floor heal on its own? ›

14) Is it possible that my pelvic floor disorder will just go away over time? It is unlikely that a pelvic floor disorder will go away on its own.

When the body heals from the procedure, it forms bands of internal scar tissue called adhesions. Adhesions can cause a host of problems if left untreated, including chronic pain, female infertility and life-threatening bowel obstructions.

The five most common etiologies of chronic pelvic pain include irritable bowel syndrome, musculoskeletal pelvic floor pain, painful bladder syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, and chronic uterine pain disorders.

When successful, patients will return to normal sporting activities in 2 to 4 months. This approach generally negates the need for a specific exercise regime and does away with the cost associated with physiotherapy consultations.

1 These pains can feel like menstrual cramps. If they are severe or associated with heavy bleeding or fever, contact a healthcare provider for an evaluation. For most people, these pains are most intense in the first week after giving birth.

Seek medical care if you have any of the following warning signs or symptoms: Heavy bleeding (more than your normal period or gets worse) Discharge, pain or redness that doesn't go away or gets worse. These could be a signs of infection in your c-section incision or episiotomy incision.