Excruciating back spasms - help me!

[glowingtwig]

Hi,

Has anyone any tips for coping with awful back pain and spasms? I've been like this for 6 weeks now: consultant says bulging discs. It was in the top middle of my back, now in the bottom, lumbar region.

I've seen an osteopath and now physiotherapist, I've a private MRI booked for this afternoon but have no idea how I'm going to get down the stairs and into the car.

I've a 3 month old baby who is exclusively BF so I'm limited with painkillers. Currently on paracetamol, ibuprofen and dihydrocodiene for when it's really bad but I try not to take it because I'm worried about the effects on the baby. I have a heat pad that's helping a bit but when it starts spasming I'm just screaming in pain - I can't help it.

Any other tips? I'm in absolute agony and starting to feel so depressed about it.

I have two bulging discs and recurring pain pain and spasms. I have diclofenac and cocodamol for when it’s bad. The diclofenac I take all the time as it takes a time to build up apparently to bring down inflation. On top of that I’m seeing a chiropractor who gives me acupuncture and manipulated my spine to take the pressure off the nerves. Physio did nothing for me. Looks like I will need surgery but waiting to talk to the consultant about options. Hope you get some help as it’s horrible.

There is a good pharmacist who specialised in breastfeeding and gives out advice as you may be getting told you can’t take things that actually you can. Web page and there’s a fb page too

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/

I nfound it so helpful when I was bf

I've had surgery for a bulging disc that damaged the nerves in my leg. Less than a year later it recurred, bring two more discs along for company. Now I need Gabapentin, Naproxen and 2 types of Morphine. I appreciate the agony you're in. It is indescribable, I know. Because of my situation, I always warn people of the permanent damage that this can cause.
I don't have kids my own so maybe this is a daft suggestion, but what about bottle feeding so you can get medication that will help, even if it's just till it calms a bit.

Thank you so much for the replies, it's really miserable. Did any of you have MRI?

I'll have a look at that pharmacy site, thank you.

I've thought about the bottle but my baby has a dairy intolerance and I don't really want to use the prescription formula. Plus it would be gruelling to pump enough to maintain my supply and I don't know how long it would take for the muscle relaxants to get out of my system.

I'm just worried that I'm going to be like this forever and it's going to steal away my precious maternity leave

I’m so sorry, I’ve been there for years including while breastfeeding. No one can understand the spasm pain if they haven’t felt it, so I’m with you on that.

The things that helped me were physio, movement, heat and rest - but mainly time. It’s really really tough. I really hope you get relief soon.

@Perpop oh thank you for your reply. I'm sure that feeding so much isn't helping; the awkward positions and not being able to move properly, then lifting them up wind etc.,

Is yours better now? How long did it take? I feel like I'm going to be like this forever and I can't enjoy my little boy because I'm in so much pain.

Sympathies OP. I have a spasming back (not bulging discs) at the moment and sometimes scream out in pain. I can only imagine how hard it is to be breastfeeding too.

I’ve started seeing an osteopath and the first session helped. I take Naproxen for the pain which works. I really recommend you prioritise finding a solution where you can take painkillers ASAP, because you need them. That level of pain exhausts you very quickly and with a baby you need energy and mobility.

I have debilitating muscle spasms in my back that render me imobile . I've never known pain like it . The only thing for me is I have to lie down until they ease off enough for me to get up , them I walk and walk to build strength . I try maintenance to keep them under control , new mattress , regular walking and swimming and monthly physio .

Sorry to hear you're experiencing this too @DuchessDarty @hattie43

Is the naproxen a muscle relaxant?

I really really don't want to give up the feeding as it will make life so much harder in the long run

Also should add that my mum has had to move in to help with the baby and I have a toddler too. I can't lift the baby at all, it's so sad and awful.

You must have an MRI, it's really important, it can lead to life changing injuries if you don't get proper treatment. Sadly I speak from experience.

No Naproxen isn’t a muscle relaxant, it’s an anti-inflammatory. It is commonly prescribed for muscle spasms.

I was wondering how you were faring for lifting your baby? Honestly I know you don’t want to give up breastfeeding and I understand why, but there’s a high chance you’ll soon be able to do even less for your children. Your body deserves a break from the pain.

Rogue ? in there

I'm so sorry to hear @MrsPelligrinoPetrichor how awful.

I have an MRI booked this afternoon as the NHS wait was so so long. They said protocol is not to scan when it's a disc issue from lifting, only if you've fallen or been in an accident.

My physio advised it but I'm really concerned about the journey and getting down the stairs.

@DuchessDarty thanks for your reply. I know, I'm trying to weigh it all up. My poor two year old as well.

I'll see what the MRI shows then take it from there.

You'll get the results quickly from a private mri - be prepared it might take a long time the MRI as private is very thorough.

I would wait and see what that says as otherwise you're blindly trying stuff

I would say try to do relaxation techniques, when you're in pain your nervous system is in a highly sensitive state and anything you can do to calm it is beneficial.

(I'm a chronic back pain sufferer)

Honestly op, why will breastfeeding be so much easier in the long term if it's exacerbating pain to the extent you can't function. Whilst I didn't have dreadful back pain when the dc were tiny I do have two bulging discs now and two fractured vertebrae so understand the pain.

Firstly the back pain: I agree an MRI is essential as is anti-inflammatory medication and other painkillers. They need to be used regularly as the impact builds - not just when pain is at its worst. Also pilates to assist posture and strengthen your core. I do exercises under the supervision of a specialist physio.

Secondly the breastfeeding. The backpack you are suffering likely is exacerbated by it. The pressure on your posture is not helping you and likely is causing additional tenderness. This is eating into the joy you have from your baby. Whilst I didn't have backpack when feeding I did have infective mastitis, an abscess and thrush of the inner breast tissue. The agony was almost constant and took all enjoyment from being a new mum. 25 years ago the bf mantra was so much stronger than now. So many people told me formula was an utter ball ache, sterilising, making bottles, etc. The reality was that 5/6 bottles took me 10 minutes to make in the morning, the baby thrived and that 10 minutes was far less onerous than hours of agony and being the only person who could feed the baby. It was life changing when life was very hard.

This was with my first baby whom I stopped feeding at 8 weeks and beat myself up for years. I breastfed the second for 9 months. Both babies got bronchiolitis and eczema and recurrent ear infections. Zippo difference between the bf and ff baby. The biggest impact on a child's health and development arises from income and expectations and let's not forget that the UK is a first world nation with a plentiful supply of clean drinking water.

Give yourself a break. Medicate optimally, you can do pilates Whilst your mum feeds the baby, and put your needs first. A healthy, happy mummy translates into a healthy (providing no other oroblems) and happy baby. There begins a virtuous circle.

I'm so glad you've booked a private MRI, take Naproxen and bottle feed , do anything you can yo get to the scan.

What helped me with a long period of back pain:

Tens Machine (about £20 from local pharmacy)
Specific exercises to release back spams (on you tube)
Hot bath
Sitting rocking on a swiss ball instead of sitting on chairs (when I could sit)

I tried to keep the painkillers for the night so I could get some sleep, which was quite difficult at the time - I used to have a whole routine of exercise, take painkillers then hot bath, tens machine on for 10 minutes and try to find comfy sleep position.

Hope you find something that helps you.

Diazepam is frequently prescribed for muscle spasm. A short course alongside painkillers, preferably anti inflammatories will help. However there are other antispasmodics which help. I have just recovered from chronic sciatica where I develop severe spasms in my thigh muscles. My GO prescribed Baclofen when diazepam didn’t work. I can deal with the constant background pain but the muscle spasm is a whole different level of evil. The only way to describe it is cramp but with no relief.
The baclofen took a few days to work and now I take a small dose daily to stop it triggering. If I do trigger the sciatica I can increase the dose to prevent the spasms.
Apparently baclofen is gaining popularity as a treatment for chronic back problems.
I had separation of the sacroiliac joint during pregnancy which has remained a little unstable since (17yrs). I find sudden twisting movements set it off, the last one was caused by our dog suddenly taking off while still attached to me by her lead. Once destabilised any prolonged bending ( cleaning the bath, hoovering the stairs) sets it off, so I am now banned from various housework.
Back problems take a long time to settle. Some rest is good but keeping moving is better.

I think you need to consider dropping the BF really seriously.

You are barely functional, and must get on top of the pain. Stopping BF will also allow you to move more freely and more flexibility in the position you feed your baby in.

When you stop feeding it's likely your ligaments will also stabilize as the relaxin levels return to normal (I had to wait until 3-months after finishing BF for a surgery for this reason) which may improve things.

Can I ask if any of you feel any improvement , my oh had an accident and has 3 bulging disc in his back and then 2 in his neck , currently he's stopped taking his tramadol and naproxen and trying to manage on codeine ibuprofen and paracetamol as he's has also developed apnea !
His accident was oct 2021 , he's been on sick since and now wants to go back to work , he has a medical Coming soon , but he's getting anxious they won't let him .( he's been able to manage small jobs in the house such as hanging a door , but then he can't do no more )
His potential job is a manager for a car brand . Not so much physical ,
I am at a loss as I can only reassure him but really have no clue .

I hope you get to the mri OK. I'd consider dropping the breastfeeding. As said above it put you into awful posture. You can't take the drugs you need. Others find in harder to look after the baby. Its not the be all and end all of parenthood.
I've had pain recently and taken cocodomol, diazepam, naproxan. One gp gave gapapentin.

My understanding is the pain is caused not by bulging discs per se but them compressing nerves. Most people in their life will have bulging discs at some stage we might not even know.

Thanks all for the replies. I've got to attempt the stairs in a minute and somehow get in the car.

I'll see what the MRI says then think about the breastfeeding. I've nothing against formula but the BF was so hard and we got through it and now it's lovely. I just don't want to give it up, I really think it would destroy my MH. I know my physical health is important too but... ah just thinking aloud I guess.