Just been told off by the DR for choosing breatsfeeding over my own health and wellbeing!

[Piffle]

Ahhh
my saga
ds2 is 9 mths happily bf. for now and until HE chooses otherwise.
I have a lower back porblem L1 and 2 vertabrae are bulging discs. No major issue as would resolve given I'm fit, healthy and good BMI.
However it now seems said vertabra have trapped my femoral nerve resulting in severe shooting leg pains, for oh about 5 mths on and off, now more on than off and also keeping me up at night and now stopping me from doing a lot of things. Sex, sitting on the floor, driving painful but necessary, allsorts.

Anyway go to doc as osteopath says I need a scan to check state of back.
Doc says, the bet thing is powerful anti depressants, they are tip top for your pain.
Incompatible with bf though
So I say plan B is?

Physio but he may not be able to resolve it in any fast time.
Ok I say I'll take that option then.
He then dressed me down and said weigh it up carefully - ask your husbands counsel too.

Feel a bit arrmmm you know... wrong?
Was I?

[fingerwoman]

hmm I would definitely do the same for you. I think that physio is much better than just taking strong doses of drugs to loosen stuff up.
are you getting the scan?
are there any drugs you can take that are ok whilst bf?

[peanutbutterkid]

What are the antiDs doc would like to give you? I wouldn't be surprised if they might be okay with Brfeeding after all.
How do antiDs help with back misalignment, anyway?

[fingerwoman]

they'll be relaxants. so loosen you up and relax your muscles.

[ComeOVeneer]

ask your husbands counsel too....

what an arse!

[Piffle]

he did not say names, just said that two newer drugs had terrific results with nerve pain while under clinical trial.
Not relaxants, pain killers, something to do with neural messaging

[terramum]

I would personally get the names of any drugs they would consider giving you & then find out exactly what the recommendations are for breastfeeding mums. I'm inclined to think that a doctor probably isn't aware that some drugs are safe for bfing (but then I am fairly jaded about doctors bfing knowledge now ) so probably best to ask your local LLL leader or call their helpline or the BfN drugline...

Get whoever you see/call to read the sections from the relevant publications yourself (Hales medications book would be my first point of call) or get them to read them out verbatum so you can make a properly informed decision. Being blindly told you can't take it if you are breastfeeding is not being infomed imo - you need to know things like what doses they would be prescribing & how often, how much actually gets through to your milk, how long it stays there after your dose, what doses would be considered 'safe' for your LO, what side effects they may have on you, your milk supply and your LO so you can make a decision. TBH his attitude completely stinks I would make a complaint about him - why would you need your husband's counsel unless he is a pharmacist, back specialist or breastfeeding councillor. By saying that he was, imo, basically saying you cannot possibly make this decision on your own. Arrogant sod .

[ReverseThePolarity]

I could understand where he was coming from (not agree, but understand) right up until the point about asking your husband's counsel. Sexist git.

Piffle could you ask the Doctor exactly what ADs he means and then find our yourself whether they are compatible with bfing?

[ReverseThePolarity]

Oh sorry didn't see Terramum had said exactly the same thing but better and in more detail.

[Piffle]

I did call back for more info and it is not SSRI but SNRI dual inhibitors. Not being proved safe while bf.. so he said...
Not sure at all what it means though...
feel a mad google coming on

[Piffle]

anyway I have also contacted a Bowen therapist and holistic clinic. Am pinning all hopes on this kind of recovery, drugs of any kind would be a looong last choice.
Fingers crossed

[fishie]

piffle have a look at this thread might help?

[Piffle]

dear god that thread terrifies me
I am so scared of having lasting problems
I am not fit enough to start pilates but I am going to asap

[fishie]

oh dear i didn't mean to frighten you i think you definitely need more information though and from somebody who isn't a paternalistic power crazed gp.

[Piffle]

I think he meant it kindly, he was a kindly man in the whole.
I think it was my reference to it putting severe strain on dp and my relationship (he works long hours much travelling) lack of sex due to leg pains etc.
When he said seek counsel I think he meant talk it over and weigh up pros and cons.
When he called back he was very supportive of me seeking out osteopatic and therapist help too.

[fishie]

yes he probably did mean well but he wasn't respecting your opinion which is a signal of arrogance to me.

it does sound awful to be in pain all the time, have you had teh scan yet?

[Piffle]

firstly am to be seen by he physio in under 2 wks.
physion will do some work and refer me for xray based on what he sees as the issue.
Then xray will precede scanning...
so not any quick fix...

may end up going private depending on what the next 3 weeks brings

[Sanguine]

I take amytriptyline for pain relief (low dose is best though) for my back and other joint problems. Is that what he was referring to? It is very effective. If so, I have been taking it all the way through pregnancy and breastfeeding with no probs. I also take co-codamol for pain relief for my collapsible pelvis and herniated disc. DS is doing very nicely! I would ask for a referral to a pain clinic, they will have better info on pain relief drugs they can also give better advice on pain management (with or without drugs). Also, an occupational therapist would be able to help you to adapt how you do things to prevent further irritating your back and helping you to recover quicker.

[NoviceKnitter]

I also recommend Tom Hale's website. Also, the Breastfeeding Network works with a pharmacist who can advise about specific drugs (most drugs are officially not recommended but this is often because there's been no testing rather than because they are actually contraindicated)

I'm in a similar but different situation where I have chosen to avoid a drug that would suppress a troublesome symptom because I want to stay pure - for want of a better word - while bfing. But recently I've been wondering if I've made the right choice. The better and healthier we are as mothers the better for our children? A difficult dilemma but hopefully physio will help you and then you can take a call on the drugs if and when you need to... good luck...

[Piffle]

Got major relief after seeing osteo yesterday. so am bearing up ok, have actually strained the lower latissimus dorsi muscle which hurts when I breathe, very close to my spince, hence why I thought my back had really gone.
She cannot work the L1-2 bulging discs causign the nerve compression as area is too tender and inflammed, she touched it once and it refined pain, I went white and nearly fainted.
She ice on it 6 x day plus ibuprofen as an anti inflammatory.
then next week she gets to work...
am simultaneously looking fwd to it and fearing it

[callmeovercautious]

Didn't you know that when we deliver LO we also deliver half our Brains? Therefore all women must from that point on discuss every decision with a man (usually the DH) to ensure we are not making rash and incorrect decisions (or any sort of decision) for ourselves

[araucaria]

He will be talking about Gabapentin which has become almost ubiquitous in chronic pain medicine now.

Like Sanguine says amitryptiline is an 'old fasioned' antidepressent which used to be used for alot of chronic neural pain. Gapapentin is often used instead now, although amitriptiline is pretty good, so should be an option.

They are not a panacea - so would not definately cure your pain.

Most important IMO is to have some imaging to assess if a nerve is being 'pinched'.

He did sound a bit 'paternal'. Most medics know little about breast feeding (neither did I until I started doing it myself) so I would tell him you would like more information about your options, including which drugs. However, most drugs are not tested on breastfeeding women (obviously) so there is often very little data either way.

Hope that helps