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Original poster

Should I go to A&E?

242 replies

Aandespine · 04/10/2024 18:07

I'm 5mo pregnant. Woke up yesterday morning with excruciating back pain. I cannot walk unaided (thankfully have a pair of crutches at home I've been using to shuffle to the bathroom and back), cannot sit, even on the toilet seat I'm having to lean to one side, cannot bend over. I'm struggling to lift myself up from the toilet seat, cannot turn over in bed. I'm climbing the stairs on all fours then I take a while at the top (in a lot of pain) to stand up straight again. My lower back is numb and I'm getting tingling pain under my belly, and shooting pains down one leg. One leg feels heavy and weak.

Have been to see the GP. They can't tell me what the issue is, no advice re recovery time or prognosis. They've just prescribed dihydrocodiene. No other advice besides to go to A&E if I experience incontinence or numbness down below. I pleaded with them for an MRI which they say they'll try to request without any guarantees/it will be at the discretion of the radiographer who will decide if there's an indication for it.

Now I've had sciatica in the past and the pain was in no way near this. I'm in tears numerous times a day and the pain is literally exhausting me. I dred going to the toilet. I'm bed bound. I have a family member taking care of my 2 young children.

I haven't yet been to A&E because I cannot sit and wait there for hours to be told the same thing (pain meds and no further diagnostics).

Please tell me what to do

OP posts:
nootcoffee · 05/10/2024 07:33

OP

does this Osteo have a specialism in treating pregnant women?!

ChickpeaPie · 05/10/2024 07:31

TENS machine shouldn't be used at this stage of pregnancy

Caerulea · 05/10/2024 02:16

I'm so glad the TENS machine is giving you a little relief. I had to fiddle quite a bit to find the right setting & power level. It's definitely no cure but it took my pain from 11/10 to 7/10 so I could VERY SLOWLY change positions, keep breathing & not sound like I was acting out some really bad porn.

I also found that if I did have to sit (we were using public transport in London) then keeping moving was key, jiggling my leg, rocking on my bottom so my hips were moving. Staying still was an absolute killer. I must have looked like a nutter, but better that than the grunts & squeaks 😳

ViciousCurrentBun · 05/10/2024 01:56

I’m off to bed now but I hope they can help you and it settles I would advise you in the near future to consider footwear very carefully and also do stretches always, even if just five minutes a day under the supervision of health professionals. It’s something I regret not doing more. All the best x

Original poster
Aandespine · 05/10/2024 01:36

ViciousCurrentBun · 05/10/2024 01:25

@Vinvertebrate How you doing now? I’m on the mend but it’s slow and the Dr and the physio I have seen says expect issues for up to 2 months.

I had numbness in both legs, awful pain in my back and zero reflexes so out of hours GP sent me to A&E. I was flagged for cauda equina and they did do an MRI. Turns out I have bulging discs in my back and received physio four days after discharge and am being seen for six sessions initially with a possibility of extension if required. I’m doing specific gentle stretches every two hours, the practice is private but my Dr surgery must have some sort of deal as it’s an NHS series of appointments. I do have scoliosis of the spine which probably makes me more suspeptible . This was a major A&E. so they do if they think clinically necessary do MRI scans.

I rate osteopaths but if a medical professional has told you to go then that’s what you should do. Also do not lie about your symptoms that is dreadful advice. I hope you feel better soon,I have never had such bad pain and I have given birth with zero drugs as the baby came too quickly.

I managed to sleep for a couple of hours hooked up to a tens machine. DH was very delayed on trains and got back just now.

Still on considerable pain. None of the red flag symptoms the GP mentioned. Baby active as they usually are this time of night.

The plan is to visit A&E in the morning tomorrow before my osteopath appointment.

Really worrying reading stories of how long this sort of this lasts. I also have scoliosis, and have experienced a disc bulge and episodes oc sciatica over the years (was absolutely fine with first pregnancy). The pain and immobility never lasted longer than a week, and seemed to improve after a day.

Thank you so much for all your responses and advice.

OP posts:
ViciousCurrentBun · 05/10/2024 01:25

@Vinvertebrate How you doing now? I’m on the mend but it’s slow and the Dr and the physio I have seen says expect issues for up to 2 months.

I had numbness in both legs, awful pain in my back and zero reflexes so out of hours GP sent me to A&E. I was flagged for cauda equina and they did do an MRI. Turns out I have bulging discs in my back and received physio four days after discharge and am being seen for six sessions initially with a possibility of extension if required. I’m doing specific gentle stretches every two hours, the practice is private but my Dr surgery must have some sort of deal as it’s an NHS series of appointments. I do have scoliosis of the spine which probably makes me more suspeptible . This was a major A&E. so they do if they think clinically necessary do MRI scans.

I rate osteopaths but if a medical professional has told you to go then that’s what you should do. Also do not lie about your symptoms that is dreadful advice. I hope you feel better soon,I have never had such bad pain and I have given birth with zero drugs as the baby came too quickly.

Original poster
Aandespine · 05/10/2024 01:23

Miniopolis · 05/10/2024 00:28

Did the doctor know about the numbness in your lower back and the shooting pains in your stomach?

He did, but did not seem concerned about either. He did not examine my back at all.

OP posts:
Miniopolis · 05/10/2024 00:28

Did the doctor know about the numbness in your lower back and the shooting pains in your stomach?

Moonlightdust · 04/10/2024 23:57

Robertsradios · 04/10/2024 23:51

@Moonlightdust not sure when you were last pregnant but any physio offered on the NHS now is a phone call and a leaflet! At best you might get a video to watch or a group exercise.

Yes that was with my first pregnancy 16 years ago so not surprised really! 🙈

Robertsradios · 04/10/2024 23:51

@Moonlightdust not sure when you were last pregnant but any physio offered on the NHS now is a phone call and a leaflet! At best you might get a video to watch or a group exercise.

Gnomeo8 · 04/10/2024 23:51

Nrtht - but as a nurse, if you have pins and needles in both legs, or around tour back passage, any problems in your control of urine or controlling your bowels, I would go straight to ED to be assessed. Especially if your mw has advised you to. Anything else, you could probably wait until your osteo appointment tomorrow unless you're concerned in the interim.

Moonlightdust · 04/10/2024 23:45

If it’s not SPD it sounds like it could be a trapped nerve. Not sure what can be done for a pregnant woman other than physio though. I had a trapped nerve in my lower back (very similar symptoms to you even the leaning to side on toilet (!) but I can imagine it’s worse having the extra weight/fluid etc in pregancy). Took a couple of months to go - a fluke occurrence from jumping on a trampoline which untrapped it. I don’t suggest you do that though!
Can your midwife not refer you for physio at the hospital? I actually did have SPD too with my 1st pregnancy (oh boy that was another delightfully painful experience 😫) and had some physio appointments at the hospital and a pelvic girdle belt which helped. Also a hot water bottle and body pillow might offer a bit of comfort. I hope you get it sorted OP.

JudgieJudie · 04/10/2024 23:31

Aandespine · 04/10/2024 18:17

Yes saw the GP today.

Sorry I meant that I don't want to go to A&E just to be told the same thing - painkillers and no MRI/diagnosis.

Edited

Why are you demanding an MRI scan? Are you a doctor? What would an MRI scan do for you?

DancefloorAcrobatics · 04/10/2024 23:19

I hope OP has gone to A+E, and they in turn have referred her to the midwifery unit- where Mum and Baby would get the right care for them.

RedRocket · 04/10/2024 23:17

Yes to a pelvic support belt @independencefreedom it definitely helped, again - no help with this on NHS. Hopefully OP will get on better with a private physio.

independencefreedom · 04/10/2024 23:13

RedRocket · 04/10/2024 23:09

When I eventually saw an NHS physio (after the symptoms had greatly improved) it was a group session. She spent 90% of the time talking about pevic floor exercises and then handed out a leaflet about stretches. No pratical help, no advice, total waste of time.

Show quote history

If she can, OP should pay for a private physio - I did and it made so much difference. Meanwhile, she can help herself by getting a pregnancy support belt and looking up ways of moving - my physio taught me how to get out of bed, rise from a seated position and so on. That and some drugs got me through.
babygo.uk/collections/pelvic-support-belt?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAC2_SMA47k1AzDJoVG9AZ-YJdYELZ&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpP63BhDYARIsAOQkATZv4UNEc7wrVkNkPhK-wHbbcizBsR142ZV8R8dtJjzJXABEa6LrXrEaAsJxEALw_wcB

Differentstarts · 04/10/2024 23:11

Maurepas · 04/10/2024 23:06

Ambulance?

Don't be so stupid 🙄

Robertsradios · 04/10/2024 23:09

I had awful SPD in pregnancy and the NHS was useless, I got a referral for a phone call and that’s it. A private physio helped me a lot. I was pregnant this year so this advice is relevant, it started about week 16 for me and lasted until I gave birth.

Is the pain definitely muscular? I would be worried about a kidney infection if not.

RedRocket · 04/10/2024 23:09

independencefreedom · 04/10/2024 23:00

It's not about the baby - it really sounds like SPD. Go to a physio, not an osteopath.

Show quote history

When I eventually saw an NHS physio (after the symptoms had greatly improved) it was a group session. She spent 90% of the time talking about pevic floor exercises and then handed out a leaflet about stretches. No pratical help, no advice, total waste of time.

Maurepas · 04/10/2024 23:06

Ambulance?

Beastiesandthebeauty · 04/10/2024 23:03

Another vote for pvg 😔 it is brutal you need the supports

independencefreedom · 04/10/2024 23:00

Aandespine · 04/10/2024 19:56

The GP said there were no red flags and that there was no risk to baby. Baby is moving fine. 2 GPs told me not to go to A&E!!

Show quote history

It's not about the baby - it really sounds like SPD. Go to a physio, not an osteopath.

Mumandcarer80 · 04/10/2024 22:59

ChickpeaPie · 04/10/2024 22:45

If someone can wait until the morning then it's not an emergency

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I've sat for hours with my DD in A&E thanks to injuries she's had from sudden drop seizures. I sit there seeing drunk people go in ahead of her often escorted by police. It's frustrating if I could avoid having to put her or myself through that I would.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 04/10/2024 22:55

Serencwtch · 04/10/2024 18:19

They can't do much for back pain in a&e so yes you will be sitting there in pain for many hours & prob given the same advice as your GP

If you get numbness or incontinence then definitely go straight to a&e

Are you taking ibuprofen as well as the codeine. I found that combination helped

Acute back pain/sciatica can be one of the worst pain there is. I had it from a slipped disc & far worse than child birth, dental pain, broken bones & a deep burn.

I've got strong painkillers and diazepam to relax muscles from back pain in a and e (but not when pregnant)

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 04/10/2024 22:54

Yes go to a and e
Or a great osteopath tomorrow

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