Diario de Manejo del Dolor y Medicina

Abstracto

How to Treat Low Back Pain in Pregnancy without Using any Antiinflammatory Medications

Huang Wei Ling

Introduction: Low back pain is a common muscle-skeletal disorder affecting 80% of the population. It is very common in pregnancy, and acupuncture is a well know treatment for pregnant women searching for back pain relief.

Aim: Demonstrate that it is possible to treat low back pain in pregnancy without using anti-inflammatory medications.

Methods: M.T.F., female, 40, primiparous, 8-month pregnant. On January 30, 2013, her left leg began to hurt at the thigh near her buttocks, which made it difficult for her to walk. As it was the end of the afternoon, she assumed it was because she had not rested enough. She laid down, and when she tried to get up, she could not walk and the pain was very strong. The patient decided not to take any anti-inflammatory or pain medication, due to the pregnancy. She started a treatment with ancient medical tools, including acupuncture on January 31, 2013. In her first consultation, she entered the office with significant mobility difficulty, especially for walking. She was diagnosed with Kidney Yin and Yang deficiency and Blood deficiency, according to TCM. She then received the first session of auricular and scalp acupuncture. Due to her pain, she received scalp acupuncture seated, because she was on the third semester of pregnancy and had difficulty in laying down, on the left and right side of the scalp, using the motor are related to the lower limbs on TCM literature. On the very first session, there was significant improvement of the pain. She also received auricular acupuncture with apex ear bloodletting.

Results: After the sixth session, she practically did not feel pain anymore.

Conclusion: It is possible to treat low back pain in pregnancy without using any anti-inflammatory medication, according to this case report, preventing any harm associated with the medication use, on the baby formation.