"Will taking pain relievers cause lower back pain for a lifetime?" Doctor explains the birth myth that expectant mothers fear most

35-year-old Xiaoyun (pseudonym) often felt backache after giving birth. Her first thought was: "I would have known better not to take pain relief!" She always thought that her backache was a sequelae of pain relief during delivery. It was not until she asked the doctor that she realized that she might have "blamed the wrong person." There are many causes of postpartum low back pain, ranging from changes in the body and ligaments during pregnancy to frequent postpartum holding of children, bending over, breastfeeding, and insufficient core muscle strength, which may increase the burden on the low back.

Dr. Wu Zhenhe from the Department of Anesthesia, National Taiwan University Branch, Hsinchu, said, "Will I continue to have low back pain after taking pain relief?" This is a common question that many expectant mothers have about pain relief during childbirth. In fact, even if pain relief delivery is not performed during delivery, low back pain may still occur after delivery. Just because pain relief delivery is performed on the waist, postpartum low back pain cannot be directly attributed to pain relief delivery.

One of the keys that is really easily overlooked actually starts during pregnancy. Dr. Wu Zhenhe pointed out that during pregnancy, the human body secretes "Relaxin" to help the pelvic ligaments and joints relax and reserve space for the fetus to be delivered. However, this physiological change will also cause the ligaments to become looser and reduce their support. When the stability around the spine and pelvis is reduced and the muscles have to bear more burden, low back pain may occur.

After the delivery is over, the test of the back is not over yet. Mothers hold their babies, bend down to change diapers, and breastfeed every day. If their posture is poor for a long time, and their muscle strength has not recovered after childbirth, it may increase the burden on their lower back, and the original discomfort may become more obvious.

How does pain relief delivery work? Doctor Wu Zhenhe explained that pain relief delivery involves administering low-concentration drugs through a flexible tube inserted into the epidural space of the spine to reduce pain during delivery. The medication only lasts for a few hours; under normal circumstances, there will be no damage to the spinal structure due to pain-reducing delivery.

Doctor Wu Zhenhe said that the timely use of pain relief during delivery can reduce pain and physical exertion during delivery. If expectant mothers have concerns about pain relief during delivery, they can discuss it with the medical team before or during delivery to understand the method of delivery and their own conditions. There is no need to worry too much because of the saying that "pain relief will definitely cause back pain in the future".

Doctor Wu Zhenhe reminds that if you experience low back discomfort after childbirth, you can do moderate core muscle exercises if your physical condition allows, and pay attention to your posture when holding the baby, breastfeeding, and bending over to reduce the burden on the low back. If the pain persists, worsens significantly, or affects daily life, it is recommended to seek medical evaluation to further clarify the cause.