It reduces most unnecessary stressful forces across the lumbar spine. For some patients with true biomechanical dysfunction, a non-elastic trochanteric belt may decrease pain, especially while walking. Such corseting assists in both stabilizing the pelvic joints, and shifting the weight of the fetus posteriorly, towards the back, closer to the woman's own natural center of gravity, so as to lessen the strain across the lower back structures. Lumbar supports may also be of benefit to some while seated. Pregnant women should also avoid wearing high heel shoes.
Massage therapy can also provide a degree of pain relief.
Acetaminophen for less severe cases and certain narcotic analgesics for more severe cases of back pain during pregnancy may also be prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor may also consider injection of the various muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints of the lower back region. Trigger point injections, using only a local anesthetic, may help relieve the most persistent and severest of muscle spasms while intra-articular steroid injections can help relieve the discomfort associated with inflamed and irritated joints. Although back pain is a very common complaint during pregnancy, one need not suffer in silence. Help begins with prevention.