terrible back pain (only when lying down/sleeping) since having dd a year ago

[PottyCockinaPearTree]

Does anyone else suffer from this? I am getting reet fed up of it -I seem to go to sleep okay, but invariably wake up several times in the night in utter agony. It feels like my spine is going to snap at the base some nights. Every position is sore and I end up either getting up, or trying to sleep 'sitting up' against the headboard.

I am certain dp is going to banish me to the spare room if this continues! Does anyone else suffer from this or have any idea what sort of exercises I could do to strengthen the muscles around my spine?? Apparently it is pregnancy related, and the muscles that relax to allow your body to expand just don't sem to be doing their job anymore so my spine is unsupported. ouch.

[cocolepew]

Pilates might help but I would go to an oestopath to find out what is going on first.

[PottyCockinaPearTree]

Thanks. I was referred to a physio and have done the exercises she suggested but I'm not really getting any better.

What I wouldn't give for one night's unadulterated SLEEP. I used to bloody love my bed.

[lizziebeth]

I would go to your GP and get a referral to a physio. Had terrible back since DD arrived and physio has helped massively.

There are exercises you can do but a physio would work out exactly which ones are right for your situation.

[lizziebeth]

Sorry x post. Did the doc give you any painkillers?

[PottyCockinaPearTree]

No. She suggested paracetamol but I would have to be popping them like sweets through the night and don't really want to start that if I can avoid it.

[cocolepew]

Oestopath and physio are completely different. The oestopath will manipulate any problems.

[bessiebighead]

I can't work out from your post whether you're pregnant again?

I'm about a year after birth also and this past month has been awful for my back.

I ran it by my brother who is a nurse, and he said to see a physio about it - though when i told him that my back eases up and feels almost normal again after a bath, he told me that it's most probably because my back is tensed up through the night. I started using a hot water bottle on my back and it's really made a difference.

For strengthening your lower back exercises, i'd reccommend pilates and yoga.

HTH - i'm getting the bottle warmed up now!

[PottyCockinaPearTree]

No I am not up the duff again thankfully, I don't think my limp spine could take another massive baby!

Actually dp is in bed with a hottie right now so perhaps I shall go and steal it from him!

[cocolepew]

I had SPD when pg. After DD's birth I went to physio but my pubic bone had 'slipped',ccausing all my musccles to be stretched, so it wasn't helping. Once I was put back into shape the exercises did help,

[PottyCockinaPearTree]

oh that sounds v sore.

I am convinced this has something to do with my hips strangely enough. I felt today as though my right hp had sort of 'dropped' down too far and my back started really hurting -first time standing up

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

i think that an osteopath might be able to make a real difference to you.

[PottyCockinaPearTree]

How do I get a referral - do I just ask?

[cocolepew]

Stand in front of a mirror, look at your shoulders and see if they are level and hang your arms loosely by your side, check the distance from your body from each arm. This will help to figure out if you are out of line. My hip hurt like buggery, it was noticably lower.

[PottyCockinaPearTree]

I'll try that. I haven't noticed anything odd in the mirror but just feel quite wrong somehow! Thank you ladies...I shall haul my sorry ass back to the docs and ask to see an osteopath. fingers x'd for a deep sleep-filled 2009!

[cocolepew]

Hope you get sorted. I can recomend the memory foam mattress toppers as well.

Good luck!

[PottyCockinaPearTree]

Thank you. We have a maize topper that dp insisted on and I hate it, so will work on the idea of replacing it

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

If you want to be seen soon then you don't need a referral, look up on the osteopath council thingy website to get a list of registered osteopaths in your area and then give them a call.

I'm a huge recent convert as I saw one a few weeks ago who saw me the day after I phoned. I have arthritis in my back and a lot of my muscles were playing up and cramping. He got me back to not limping in the first session. He can't cure the arthritis I have but by heck hes sorted out some of the side effects. It was £35 a session and I saw him for 4 sessions.

[PottyCockinaPearTree]

That is amazing, and not scarily expensive actually...imagine getting rid of your limp in one session, that is amazing! I will report back in Jan when I have made some progress with this. Thank you all for your advice.

[katch]

fwiw, an osteo will cost (about £40 a pop). I've spent a fortune over the laat 14 years - have now discovered Chinese massage, very deep and physical, but seems to be straightening out the scoliosis (which is what happens when the pelvis is mis-aligned).
The main thing is to sort it out QUICKLY. I assumed (wrongly) that mine qould clear up when I no longer carried babies.
I hope you sort it out. And exercise can make a huge difference (if only I would take my own advice).

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

It is utterly amazing, I'd been limping for a good couple of months and was being overtaken by old people. I often ended up feeling tearful about how much pain I was in. Now my pain is just the arthritis and in comparison its nothing at all.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

lol - I guess different things work for different people. I guess the message is, if its not working try something else!

[hazeyjane]

I had this for just over a year after dd2 was born, I would wake up in agony. I used to have cohydramol prescribed, but hated taking them too much. I don't know why, but one day it just went, and I haven't had a twinge for the last few months (dd2 is now 19 months).