Should I be worried my chiropracter used ultrasound on my neck at 34 wks pg?

[newyearnightmare]

Or am I just worrying unneccessarily?

I did notice that as she did it the baby got more active than normal and has been more active all evening. But was so tired when I had my appointment that I wasn't really thinking straight, wasn't until after I came out and was talking to my dh that he said that last week I'd said that she'd that she wouldn't use ultrasound on somebody that was pregnant that the little niggle at the back of my very sleepy mind became a much bigger worry. I also can't now remember if it was the chiropracter that told me that or the physio that I am seeing for SPD - as the problem area is next to the baby.

I know the ultrasound that they use for the scans doesn't harm the baby so far as they can tell.

However, what I am worried about is the deep heat theraputic ultrasound that physios etc use when you have problems with muscle pain etc.

I've tried looking online, I know that it shouldn't be used directly around the baby. On the other hand, I have managed to find something to say that it is OK to use on an ankle. What I haven't been able to find out is if using it on my neck and shoulders is OK or not.

I've been seeing a physio at the local hospital for my spd for the last few months which has been great, but when I went in this time having done my neck as well she said I had to get a separate referral unfortunately and I was in so much pain that I couldn't wait for that, hence opting to see a local chiropracter that had been recommended to me.

So am I now panic-ing for nothing or should I be worried - and when/if I go back to see her (it has definitely helped my neck), should I ask her not to use ultrasound while I'm pregnant?

thanks in advance for your advice!

would have thought it was fine, as your neck is rather a distance away from the baby.

sorry, can't answer your question but am bumping this thread as i'm 26 weeks preg and having ultrasound therapy on my wrist. My physio keeps reassuring me that there's nothing to worry about but am still a bit concerned.

i've posted in the May antenatal thread about it as one of the mums is a sonographer. i'm hoping she'll know the answer. Will post here if she does.

hello again

A physio on my antenatal thread has reassured me that wrist / elbow is absolutely fine.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for that Pregnabrain.

Thinking about it, she did some ultrasound that was pointing across my neck/shoulder so not pointing at the baby and therefore I don't think a problem. It's just that when she was going up and over my shoulders (if you see what I mean) she was pointing the ultrasound nozzle (I have no idea of what it is really called!) downwards at the baby and that is when it started moving around so maybe it felt it a bit then...

I know, I know, I'm probably just paranoid. and it is not like I could do anything about it now anyhow - other than not have it again.

thanks again

Am I being daft but is ultrasound not what they use to look at your baby in your tummy?

Am I being daft but is ultrasound not what they use to look at your baby in your tummy?

of course ultrasound is what they use to look at your baby! it works because it sends high pitch soundwaves, hence ultraSOUND, so is totally harmless.

thinking about it, you can't be talking about ultrasound as it doesnt DO anything. a chiropractor would use heat therapy maybe, but surely not ultrasound. i'm q sure they know what they are doing. don't worry

No I definitely was told they were using ultrasound on my knee years ago it is used on soft tissue injuries as pain relief.

www.bodycheckuk.co.uk/pain.html

Egypt and Kaz

Thanks for your replies - I wish it were that simple but unfortunately it's not (and hence my panic!). There are lots of different sorts of ultrasound - medical, industrial, etc etc.

There are two that I am particularly concerned with at the moment:

1 - ultrasound used for scans
2 - ultrasound used theraputically

The ultrasound that is used for scans which is mostly thought of as being safe for looking at unborn babies - there are a few scare stories around but these days it seems a pretty standard thing to have an ultrasound scan.

There is also theraputic ultrasound (not sure of its proper name) that is used by physios, chiropracters, etc. It uses different frequencies and has different effects (increasing blood flow to muscles, warming and so forth). This is definitely not good for unborn children and you are not supposed to use it near them. Other info that I have found says it is fine to use it on things like wrists or knees when pregnant.

My concern was to know exactly where the boundaries were as to what was safe and what was not, particularly given that it had made my baby very much more active than normal almost immediately and that that continued for quite a while afterwards...

hope that clarifies things!

It was probably your physio who wouldn't use U/S for your spd (going back to your OP). I'm a physio, I don't work in women's health but don't think therapeutic U/S would be used for spd in pregnancy. U/S on your neck would be absolutely fine. It is a very localised treatment. Don't worry

Thanks northender - much appreciated.

I know my physio definitely wouldn't use it for spd, just couldn't remember whether the chiropracter had said she would avoid it too...

but it is very nice to get some reassurance from somebody that knows what they are talking about!