Comparative study of occurrence of postpartum low back and pelvic pain (LBPP) after normal delivery versus caesarean section (CS) following spinal anaesthesia and its rehabilitative management

Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis: Low back and pelvic pain is very commonly encountered ailment in pregnancy and post-partum in women of childbearing age group. It can account for around half of the women of childbearing age. The pathophysiology of low back pain during pregnancy and postpartum is still poorly understood. Methods: The study was to compare low backache after normal delivery and after caesarean section following spinal anaesthesia, and its persistence after pregnancy. Moreover women were educated to regain the pre-pregnancy state uneventfully. Results: Postpartum backache at 1 month incidence in our study was 49%. Remission of pain occurred in 51% at 1 month and 78% at 6 months in caesarean section group, while in the normal vaginal delivery group 55% at 1 month and 85% in the 6th month had remission of pain. Conclusions: Women who had caesarean section with spinal anaesthesia had more chances to develop low back pain than women with normal vaginal delivery. Pre-pregnancy state can be achieved by supervised exercise regime.