Pelvic girdle pain syndrome in the postpartum period

Abstract

Introduction: Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is common during pregnancy and childbirth, but only a small proportion of patients experience severe and disabling pain. Objective: To analyze the factors associated with PGP in the postpartum period and the main therapeutic approaches for this condition. Methods: We report a case of PGP syndrome in the immediate postpartum period following a vaginal delivery in a primiparous woman. In the postpartum period, the woman developed disabling pelvic pain, making it impossible to walk. The question arose whether labor and the length of exposure to upright positions, which increase pressure on the pelvic girdle, may have influenced the severe pain. The patient presented symptoms suggestive of neurological injury, and the differential diagnosis required additional tests and a multidisciplinary evaluation. Several additional tests and a multidisciplinary evaluation were performed to establish the differential diagnosis of PGP. Pain management involved a combined approach, including the use of multiple medications and physical therapy. The complexity of the case and the difficulty in pain management led to a prolonged postpartum hospitalization. Conclusion: The above case demonstrates the importance of considering PCD syndrome in the differential diagnosis of other osteopathies. Treatment requires multidisciplinary management due to the complexity of the correlated factors.