What is the cause of pain in lower back and buttocks after pregnancy?

Q: I am a 30-year-old mother of two children. During my second pregnancy, I developed stiffness and pain in my lower back and buttocks. This continued after delivery as well. Now my child is 9 months old. The doctor diagnosed it is a type of arthritis, which develops during pregnancy and is completely curable. I am on a painkiller now, which has not removed my pain completely. Is this type of arthritis curable? Will I have to bear the pain and further complications in future? Are there any specific kind of exercises, which will improve my condition?

A:Spinal problem can be generally be categorised into 2 types. 1. The common form of strain-sprain-posture related ordinary back pain. Ninety per cent of the low-back pain belongs to this category. It is NOT any thing serious. Simple posture correction and exercises for strengthening the muscles of the back (to be learnt from a qualified Occupational therapist or physiotherapist) and reassurance (that it is nothing life-threatening or serious) is all that is needed. Occasionally paracetamol (safest and simplest painkiller) along with some muscle relaxant (one common one is amytriptyline 10 mg 2 hours before going to bed) is all that is needed.2. The serious type of spinal arthritis - inflammatory or immunological in nature that requires correct diagnosis and latest treatment with modern medicines. For this you would have to take advice of a qualified rheumatologist (specialist physician specialising in joint diseases; and is not an orthopaedic surgeon). He/she would assess you for inflammatory spinal disease (called spondyloarthritis or ankylosing spondylitis) and then treat you accordingly.