Help! Please help - can’t move, back has gone.

[ActonBell]

What do I do? I’m 7 weeks pregnant, I’ve had really bad sickness and the last couple of days bad lower backache on one side. I’m sure it’s muscular. Vomited this morning and my back has just gone. Can’t move, can’t put weight on my leg on that side.

DH practically carried me to bed from the bathroom. Now I can’t even turn over in bed. The on call GP is going to ring me back in the next few hours.

I’m panicking because it’s so painful and I’m not sure there’s anything they can do for back pain.

Help - can someone help me calm down a bit.

Paracetamol, ice the area, tie something around your waist like tights or leggings to give your pelvis some support while it's injured and can't do it. If you need to move move with your knees together, and get DH to help you.

Thanks - taken paracetamol, can hardly lift my head to drink. Got an ice pack on.

Even when not pregnant and able to take the good drugs it takes a while for the pain to ease and heal, you could try a physio or osteopath, or deep tissue massage in the next few days if possible. Try a pillow between your knees too when lying down.

Several hours in now. Still can’t move without excruciating pain. Spoke to the GP and they will see me face to face at 5 but it’s already sounding like there’s not much they can do.
Retching/vomiting as usual which makes the pain almost unbearable.

Osteopath and fast

I remember this happened me once when I had an incredibly bad cough, every time I got a coughing fit I ended up crying with pain at the same time. Hopefully gp will have some helpful suggestions, or that by tomorrow it feels a bit better.

Get yourself to an osteopath

Found a couple of osteopath numbers. I’m nervous because I’m in the first trimester and I’ve never seen one before. I’ll see what the GP says later.

Happened to me when I was pregnant. DH was in a band and was on tour in Australia at the time. I lay on the floor for 3 days and it eventually sorted itself out. Not much help but I feel your pain.

Can you gently bring your leg up to your chest whilst lying on your back?

Oh god you poor thing. Your GP can give you something for the nausea

Can you take ibuprofen while pregnant?

It helps to remember it's a muscle spasm, your body protecting itself from further pain by locking up. Heat and ice alternating, ibuprofen gel on the area, and try hard to relax. Lie flat on the floor with your knees raised to take the pressure off your back. Get lots of duvets so you don't get cold though.

If ice doesn't help ask dh to get you a warm but not hot, hot water bottle or wheat bag or even pop out to shops and get you heat patches (stick to the skin.

If cold is helping maintaining icing can be tricky and uncomfortable try putting cold water in a hot water bottle - I know sounds weird but it can help

When you're at a point you can move again (drs advice of course taken) don't be tempted NOT to move at all you'll stiffen up, better to move little, often and gently

Hope you're feeling better soon

Thanks for all the advice. I’m on anti-emetics already as the sickness has been so bad but they don’t seem to be having much effect.

Can’t take ibuprofen in pregnancy unfortunately. I’m really stressed about getting to the doctors especially as I’m 99% sure they’re going to say rest, ice and paracetamol for a bit.

DH is going to drive me, even though it’s only 2 mins down the road.

@DownWhichOfLate - I can slowly bring my leg up some of the way but then it hurts and I don’t want to push it right now.

I asked about moving your leg up as it might help untrap your trapped nerve. Gentle stretches should help to get you moving. I don’t think the doctor can do much unfortunately.

Do some careful googling before seeing an osteopath. There is very mixed views on whether it is
a valid medical treatment.

If you can get yourself to an appointment, I would get to an osteopath as soon as possible.

How did you get on at the doctors?

GP says it’s definitely muscular. Muscle is in spasm. Rest with some gentle short periods of movement, paracetamol and heat. If I weren’t pregnant it would be codeine and diazepam but she’d rather I see how it goes. She thinks it will improve significantly in a day or two but then with a longer period of healing after that.
I’m looking into some pregnancy Pilates for when I can actually move.

Pregnancy physio could be an option too

Tens machine, they are not expensive and did help when I had similar. Good luck.

Argos do them and very good delivery options.

Thanks - I will look into the tens machine. I’ve got my booking in appointment at the end of the week so I’ll talk to the midwife and look at private physio too.

Try a spikey mat. My DH gets really bad issues with his back and this has made more difference thank anything else he's tried (and he's tried pretty much everything already suggested) - one like this www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B082GJ95F3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_G61BAMW1F0SVAMJPRWZT?tag=mumsnetforu03-21. I've also used it when my backs been bad and it's usually much better after an hour lying on this. It's quite painful for the first couple of minutes but after that it's quite relaxing

Sounds like a good plan. And hopefully your nausea will also improve.