The symptoms of Fibromyalgia include painful areas of muscle pain, fatigue and stiffness and is classified as a rheumatic condition. It especially effects the neck, upper and/or lower back and hips.
The symptoms may be intermittent – i.e. they come and go for no apparent reason and can be associated with arthritis, depression and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Of the number of Fibromyalgia cases diagnosed, 80-90% effect women, usually between the ages of 40 and 75. It is not known why, but it is suspected that this is due to hormonal factors as it seems to occur in the peri-menopausal to menopausal and post-menopausal years as estrogen levels decline.

This joint in the pelvis functions as a shock absorber between the upper body and pelvis/lower body so when it is not functioning well it can cause pain and dysfunction. It may cause low back and leg pain (similar to sciatica),  pain in one side or both sides of your buttocks, or low back pain that may radiate down the back of your leg/s (possibly down as far as your ankle or foot. It is usually after sitting or standing for long periods, bending or climbing stairs. The cause is unknown but it may be associated with a change in the joint’s pattern of movement or ability to transmit your body weight through it.

It effects more women than men, but to what extent is unknown to date. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is more likely in young to middle-aged women. It may be due to the effects of pregnancy and childbirth, during which the ligaments in the body are softened/relaxed to allow for delivery of the baby. The pelvis can also be stressed by the weight and position of the baby as the pregnancy develops. It takes a while after the delivery of the baby for the ligaments to return to normal.

A fall or accident can also damage the ligament.

The piriformis muscle can spasm and push against the sciatic nerve, causing buttock and/or leg pain, numbness or tingling, mimicking Sciatica, possibly extending down the legs to the feet. This is known as Piriformis Syndrome.

The function of the piriformis muscle is to stabilise your hip joint and rotate the thigh to enable walking and other movements.

The symptoms of chronic pain are more common and often more severe in women than men. Early treatment can help to manage the symptoms and prevent them from worsening.

It usually effects women between the ages of 40 and 60, and is 6 times more likely to affect women than men.¹

It is unknown why it affects more women but may be something to do with wider pelvis and increased angle between the pelvis and leg bone in women. The hormonal changes of pregnancy and the associated pelvic changes may have an impact on the increased frequency in women.

The cause is often unclear but it may be due to an injury or overuse. Running or other repetitive movements could cause the muscle to spasm and create the symptoms. There is increased risk in professional drivers, skiers, tennis players and long distance push bike riding.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and can affect your spine, knees, hips, fingers etc. It is a degenerative joint disease that can affect the facet joints in your spine (these connect the vertebrae or spinal bones) causing a breakdown of fibrous cartilage. The bones can then rub together as there is less cushioning which can cause the bones’ shape to change and possibly develop spurs.

It may present as back stiffness and pain after getting up in the morning and a dull ache with occasional bouts of severe pain. Spinal Osteoarthritis progresses gradually over a period of years and may initially feel like muscle aches. It affects all ages but is more common in men under 45 and women over 45 years of age. It occurs in 26% of women and 18% of men.

Treatment may include stretches, water therapy and physical therapy and is recommended over surgery. Your chiropractor can be of assistance to provide a programme of care to help manage your symptoms.

Coccydynia or tail bone pain is a relatively rare cause of chronic pain. It may come on suddenly after an impact to the area or gradually with no obvious cause. Sitting, horse riding or anything that puts pressure in the area of the tailbone causes pain. It can be painful if you’re constipated but a bowel movement can relieve the pain.

It is 5 times more common in women than men as it is less protected than in men and pregnancy may injure it.²  The baby’s head may press against the coccyx (tail bone) during child birth and there has been a study that correlates coccydynia with difficult births.³

The most common causes seem to be falls onto the area or childbirth but it can be difficult to identify the exact cause. The area is not very flexible so pressure may injure the coccyx and/or ligaments close to it.

Coccydynia can affect women of all ages but onset is often around 40 years of age. It may last a few weeks or months but can impact daily life when it is chronic. It can affect sitting, driving or bending. It may be caused by infection or a tumour in a rare number of cases.

Spondylolisthesis occurs when one of the vertebrae (spinal bones) moves forward relative to the vertebrae below it. Degenerative Spondylolisthesis usually affects the lower lumbar (low back) area.

This condition may have no symptoms at all or may cause irritation to local spinal nerve roots resulting in low back or leg pain. It may cause weakness or aching in the legs with long periods of walking or standing. It is often better when you sit down.

Women present with this condition 3 times more often than men. It may be associated with Osteoarthritis (which is more common in women) and 3 times more women present with Degenerative Spondylolisthesis. This may again be due to the female pelvis and lower bone density.⁴ Spinal ligaments and joints may be weaker as you get older, making it more difficult for the vertebrae to stay aligned well. It is more common over 50 years of age.

Compression fractures of the spine are often caused by osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) and is usually seen in women over 50 years of age. It usually involves the collapse of the front of the bone, usually after a spinal movement such as caused by sneezing or falling. It is more common in the waist area and can cause sudden, severe back pain, although there may be no symptoms at all.

It can cause loss of height or a rounded hump in the spine. It is twice as common in women as they are more likely to have osteoporosis.

If you are a woman and have sudden, intense back pain, are over 45, and at risk of osteoporosis, you should get this investigated urgently as the injury can limit mobility. Risk factors for osteoporosis include having a small frame and a personal or family history of fractures or osteoporosis.

Having an awareness about a chronic back pain condition is the first step to appropriate treatment to manage you pain and to reduce the chances of your condition worsening. Consulting your chiropractor or health professional can help identify and manage your pain.