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Original poster

Herniated disc hell

11 replies

discpain · 02/08/2023 07:30

I've had a bad back since having my first child, 8 years ago. Finally found out at the start of the year that it's a "slightly" herniated disc.
I'm 11 weeks pregnant with my third, since about 6 weeks the pain is almost constant.
I can't lye flat in bed, bending over and straightening up is painful, i get sciatica pain, I get sacroiliac joint pain and now having pain in my hip too.
I sat in the floor for ten mins trying to put something together and suffered for the next 3 days in absolute agony.

What can I do? The doctor has me on 15mg codeine for the pain but I can't take them all day due to being pregnant, I take some of an evening.
I'm worried because I'm only 11 weeks, what am I going to be like by the time I'm 9 months ?!?!

OP posts:
Original poster
discpain · 02/08/2023 08:53

Has anyone been in this situation before ?

OP posts:
CatsSnore · 02/08/2023 08:58

Sciatica is the worst OP.

If you can't use pain relief then ice it. I'm not sure about hot bottles and being pregnant so don't want to advise heat but speak to the GP or midwife about using heat then ice then heat then ice.

Tens machine helped me and again talk to your midwife or GP about using one.

If you can afford it pay a PT from somewhere like Nuffield to do gentle core exercises with you.

Original poster
discpain · 02/08/2023 09:06

Thank you. Heat is fine I think, I use a hot water bottle of an evening which really really helps.
I need to try ice too.

It's the fact it's got so much worse the last few weeks, before I would just have a flare up of pain if I'd overdone it physically but now it's always there and really starting to affect my daily life. I will look into a tens machine too

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Leftinlimbo · 02/08/2023 09:43

I use ice packs to relieve the nerve pain then I use deep heat type gel on my back overnight and it seems to give some relief. It sounds like an odd combination but the ice reduces any nerve swelling, then the deep heat seems to relax all the muscles that are making the pain worse.

Only use ice for a maximum of 10 minutes at a time otherwise you can cause skin damage.

Oxborn · 02/08/2023 09:48

Leftinlimbo · 02/08/2023 09:43

I use ice packs to relieve the nerve pain then I use deep heat type gel on my back overnight and it seems to give some relief. It sounds like an odd combination but the ice reduces any nerve swelling, then the deep heat seems to relax all the muscles that are making the pain worse.

Only use ice for a maximum of 10 minutes at a time otherwise you can cause skin damage.

Can i ask where your nerve pain is and are you receiving treatment, I’m currently also suffering nerve pain (not preg) it’s absolutely awful

RoxieLoxy · 02/08/2023 09:52

When I slipped a disc one of the main things that helped was a tens machine. But yes do check whether you'd be OK to use this.

The other main thing was seeing a Physiotherapist but I was lucky and was on DHs private work insurance. I honestly don't know how I'd have managed without those appointments. I would massively recommend physio for this kind of thing, if you're able to. When I first went I could hardly walk or sit at all. By the end of the sessions I was almost back to normal. I just do maintenance exercises at home now to stop it from happening again.

AmandaHoldensLips · 02/08/2023 09:55

Can you afford a private physio?

NumberFortyNorhamGardens · 02/08/2023 09:58

Pregnancy relaxes your ligaments and could be making your problems worse. Let your midwife and GP know about it. I echo other posters’ suggestions for specialist physio treatment.

Original poster
discpain · 02/08/2023 10:50

Unfortunately can't afford a private physio.
Do you think I'd be waiting absolutely ages for an appointment through the nhs ?

Yeah I do think it's something to do with the hormone that gets released when pregnant, it's called relaxin I think?
I just didn't expect it to happen so early!
I had spd in my last pregnancy and it was horrendous, but that didn't start until about 16 weeks.

OP posts:
CatsSnore · 02/08/2023 20:35

NHS physio is utter shit in my experience. You're in a room full of others with a curtain around you and they get you to do a few exercises whilst they watch then tell you to carry on doing them at home and come back in 4 weeks..

I'd really advise a decent private physio therapist and have two/three sessions where they sit next to you in the gym rooms they have and adjust your posture, make sure you're doing things properly and actually help. It really is worth the £60 a pop.

Somersetgirl89 · 04/08/2023 20:06

Hi OP, I am so sorry to read your post. I have no advice but just came across your post whilst desperately searching for help and your situation sounds very similar to mine. I've had a bad back and pelvic pain since having first baby last June and have just found out I'm pregnant again and am terrified about how bad it may get. The weird thing is my back and pelvis were fine until after I gave birth. Can I ask is your pain one sided? I gave up on the NHS as I didn't get anywhere over the last year but I have seen private physios and osteopaths and sadly those haven't worked for me either. Desperate for help and unsure where to turn.

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