As the principal chiropractor in a clinic that has a specialty in prenatal and postnatal care, one of the more common questions we receive from patients who are looking for relief from misaligned pelvis symptoms is 'What does a misaligned pelvis feel like?'. Usually it's from patients who've recently given birth but pelvic misalignment is more common than people think, so we've put together this article and lists to help answer that question more in depth.

Identifying Misaligned Pelvis Pain

In my practice, I've found that a misaligned pelvis can be a challenging condition to identify from a patient perspective. Often the symptoms don't seem related since the pelvis affects so many interconnected parts of the body and can cause pain in seemingly unrelated areas like the lower back or cause leg muscle weakness.

Lower Back Pain and Stiffness

One of the most common signs of a misaligned pelvis is persistent lower back pain and stiffness. Our practice sees many patients with persistent lower back pain and after an assessment we often find the cause isn’t the back itself but actually a misaligned pelvis. This happens when your pelvis isn't 'sitting' evenly in a neutral position for your skeletal frame, and puts extra strain on surrounding muscles and joints as they try to compensate. Luckily there are several treatment options available for lower back pain from a misaligned or anterior/posterior pelvic tilt.     

• Posture Correction - Simply improving your poor posture can help realign the pelvis and relieve pressure on the lower back. Don't slouch or slump when sitting and see if that helps.

• Core Strengthening Exercises - By strengthening the muscles in your abdomen and lower back, you can provide better support to the pelvis and improve overall stability.

• Stretching Exercises - Targeted stretching can also be helpful in relieving lower back pain and stiffness caused by a misaligned or tilted pelvis. These stretches isolate the tight muscles that may be contributing to the problem to increase flexibility and reducing overall discomfort.

• Massage or Manual Therapy - Massage and manual therapy can provide relief similar to stretching by loosening tight muscles and improving blood flow to the affected area. This is especially helpful for patients with limited mobility or similar conditions that make stretching impractical. Chiropractic adjustments are also another complimentary therapy in addition to massage and manual therapy.

It's important to consult with your chiropractor or physical therapist to determine the best course of action for your specific situation. They can provide guidance on the appropriate exercises, massage techniques, and chiropractic adjustments to address your lower back pain, anterior pelvic tilt or stiffness effectively.

Hip Pain and Discomfort

In cases of pelvic misalignment, it's common for my patients to experience hip pain and general discomfort around your pelvis and hip area. Hip pain is a common symptom of a misaligned pelvis in chiropractic patients and can be caused by hip joint inflammation, hip muscle tightness, hip joint degeneration, hip joint instability, and hip joint misalignment. We'll take a look at each cause individually.

• Hip Joint Inflammation - When the pelvis is misaligned or has an anterior pelvic tilt, it can put extra pressure on the hip joint, leading to inflammation and pain. This anterior pelvic tilt or even lateral pelvic tilt in some cases, makes it difficult to perform activities that involve hip movement, such as walking or standing for long intervals.

• Hip Muscle or Hip Flexor Tightness - When the pelvis is misaligned, it can cause the muscles around the hip joint to tighten and become tense. This can result in hip pain and discomfort, making it challenging to move the hip joint freely as the muscles have been stressed.

• Hip Joint Degeneration - Over time, a misaligned pelvis can also contribute to hip joint degeneration. The misalignment puts uneven pressure on the hip joint, causing wear and tear that can lead to degenerative changes like uneven cartilage wear and eventually hip pain.

• Hip Joint Instability - In some cases, a misaligned pelvis can also cause hip joint instability. This means that the hip joint isn’t properly supported and can move excessively, leading to pain and discomfort.

Leg Pain or Weakness

Leg pain or weakness can be an important indication of a misaligned pelvis and is a common condition I see patients for. Many times symptoms will be in one leg or will shift between the legs depending on the activity. A misaligned pelvis or a posterior pelvic tilt can cause these symptoms and are often due to uneven weight distribution on one leg or the other.

• Numbness and Tingling - Numbness and tingling or 'pins and needles' can occur in the thighs, calves, or feet. This sensation is caused by nerve compression due to the misaligned pelvis and can be very uncomfortable.

• Difficulty Walking - When your pelvis is misaligned or has a lateral pelvic tilt, it can affect your gait and balance, making it challenging to walk or maintain a steady stride. You may experience instability or a feeling of weakness in your legs, making it difficult to walk for extended periods.

• Muscle Spasms - Often another symptom of a misaligned pelvis or a type of pelvic tilt. The imbalance caused by the misalignment can lead to muscle tension and spasms in the legs. Patients often describe the feeling as 'their legs gave out'. This can result in pain and discomfort, making it hard to perform everyday activities and lead to more dangerous injuries like falls or tripping.

• Knee Pain - The misalignment can put extra stress on the knee joint, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling. Often patients develop knee pain through unevenly distributing or shifting their weight while walking and standing because of the misaligned pelvis. If left untreated, this can lead to more severe issues such as arthritis, cartilage damage, or even ligament tears.

• Foot and Ankle Problems - A misaligned pelvis can also affect the alignment of your feet, leading to issues such as flat feet, plantar fasciitis, ankle instability, and chronic pain in the feet. This is especially true for patients with a history of ankle and foot issues or past injuries.

If you're experiencing leg pain, weakness, or any of the symptoms mentioned, it's important to get professional advice and not ignore the symptoms. At ChiroHer, we specialize in identifying and treating conditions like a misaligned pelvis and can assess your situation and determine if your discomfort is due to pelvic misalignment or another underlying issue. Schedule a free consultation today.

Pelvic Instability and Imbalance

Pelvic instability (when the ligaments that support the pelvis become loose or injured) and imbalance can have significant effects on your overall posture and movement from the misalignment of your pelvis. We often see patients unaware that their daily discomfort comes from their pelvis. When your pelvis is misaligned, it can lead to habits of slouching and walking with an uneven gait. These seemingly small alignment issues can result in discomfort, pain, and ultimately limitations in your daily activities.

• Body Balance - Pelvic misalignment can disrupt the balance of your body, causing you to compensate by adopting unnatural positions and movements. This can lead to changes in posture like tilting of the hips, uneven leg length, and a misaligned spine. As a result, like a posterior pelvic tilt, you may experience pain in your lower back, hips, or pelvis.

• Abnormal Gait - Pelvic instability and imbalance can also affect your gait, or the way you walk. You may notice a limping or uneven stride, as your body tries to compensate for the misalignment. This can put additional stress on your muscles and joints, leading to further discomfort and potential injuries.

• Pelvic Floor Dysfunction - Pelvic misalignment can also contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction. The pelvic floor muscles play a crucial role in supporting the bladder, uterus, and rectum. When the pelvis is misaligned, it can put extra pressure on these structures, leading to urinary or bowel problems, pelvic pain, and sexual dysfunction.

Chiropractic interventions are commonly used to address pelvic instability and imbalance. A chiropractor will evaluate your pelvic alignment and develop a personalized treatment plan to restore balance and alleviate symptoms. This may include manual adjustments, exercises, and other therapies to correct the misalignment and improve your overall posture and movement.

Expert Care for Misaligned Hip Pain

Struggling with lower back ache or hip discomfort? These painful symptoms might be signaling a misaligned pelvis. It's important to listen to what your body is telling you and not ignore ongoing pain. Keeping up with regular exercise and good posture help, but sometimes, you need a bit more professional support. If any of these symptoms sound familiar schedule a free consultation today at ChiroHer in Oklahoma City today for a personalized treatment plan that works for you.