Question
Went  to my chiropractor last week. Been have excruciating lower back pain since I found out I was pregnant. I'm 8 weeks today. He did some stretching/decompression with my lower back and used a electrical muscle stimulations (i think a TENS unit) on me. His exact words were, "this will not harm your baby." When I got home I started looking up stuff online (bad idea) and saw thousands of mixed reviews on using a tens unit. I know that they are okay to be used during labor for pain relief but I have read in some places that they are fine to use during early pregnancy and other places that you shouldn't use it. Called my OB who said, "it wouldn't be her first choice of therapy for my back and not to do it again." I am worried sick that I did something to harm my baby who we tried so long to have! I know they don't have any literature or research done on the topic so that is why they don't recommend it. Should I continue to stress about potential harm I causes during the 15 minute session?

Answer
Hi Jessica,

I have to agree with your OB that is would not my first choice, but alternatively that I have not seen evidence that it will harm your baby.   It is only stimulating the nerves that cross the skin on your back between the pads (which should be placed only on your back and not on your belly...just checking...).       If you were eight months pregnant, and had the pads strung across your belly, then that might not be such a good idea.    You really should get treatment that is known to be more beneficial for back pain, pregnant or not, including chiropractic joint manipulation and exercises.     No need to stress.

Dr. G