If you’re a woman who has gone through childbirth, you may be inclined to say there’s no other pain in the world that’s worse. However, if you’ve also experienced severe or chronic back pain, you could very well make a case that this type of pain is far worse than the pain associated with childbirth. Is back pain worse than pain during childbirth?
The Short Answer Is “Yes”
Based on a random survey of comments shared online, it appears that, in general, most people who’ve had back pain consider it worse than labor pains. Even one woman who’d given birth to thirteen children considered back pain “far worse” than the pain she’d experienced during childbirth. In light of the online comments, why is this debate not even close—even among women who’ve given birth multiple times?
Childbirth Ends at Some Point
Even when a long labor is involved, childbirth will be over at some point. Lingering back pain, on the other hand, has no definite end. It’s also not uncommon for spine-related pain to return after appearing to go away. Plus, after giving birth, you may find you have more back pain triggers from activities such as:
• Breastfeeding
• Picking up the baby
• Hunching over to change diapers
• Picking up toys and other items as the child gets older
Back Pain Doesn’t Offer Any “Rewards”
After you give birth, you’re “rewarded” with a little bundle of joy. Back pain doesn’t offer anything remotely rewarding. In fact, chronic or recurring back pain can have a big impact—in a not-so-good way—on many aspects of your life. For instance, lingering back pain may:
• Make it difficult to perform work-related tasks
• Prevent you from doing certain activities you enjoy
• Affect how you walk, play sports, or go about your daily routine
• Contribute to underlying mental health issues such as increased anxiety and depression
Epidurals Usually Ease Pain During Childbirth
Typically, efforts are made to ease the pain of childbirth as much as possible. This process usually involves an epidural injection to numb the lower back area. However, this doesn’t mean back pain can’t also be successfully managed. You might experience noticeable improvements with:
• Epidural or nerve block injections
• Therapeutic exercises and massage therapy
• Mindful meditation and similar techniques
• Chiropractic adjustments
Depending on the cause of your back pain, your spine specialist may recommend one of a variety of surgical procedures, including back fusion alternatives. Los Angeles residents with severe back pain should see a spinal health specialist as soon as possible for prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Back Pain Is Sometimes Worsened or Caused by Childbirth
Sometimes existing issues with spine pain are aggravated or worsened during pregnancy, often due to the way a growing baby places extra pressure on the lower spine, especially around the tailbone. Other times, the childbirth process contributes to new issues with back pain that didn’t exist before. It’s estimated that 25 percent of women have what’s termed “back labor,” referring to the lower back discomfort experienced during childbirth.
Your opinion on this subject will likely depend on whether you have a history of chronic back pain and how you’ve responded to treatment. It’s entirely possible to have spine-related pain that was unbearable at first and much more tolerable after successful pain management efforts or surgery. On the flip side, there are also times when back pain is still a daily annoyance even after surgery.
No matter what causes severe back pain, it can often be successfully managed or even relieved entirely with the help of an experienced Los Angeles spine surgeon. At The Spine Institute, our physicians have decades of combined experience diagnosing and treating back and neck pain. If you’re experiencing severe, sudden, or lingering pain in your back or neck, call one of our friendly representatives today at 310-828-7757 to schedule a consultation.