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Muscle spasm 5 months postpartum!

4 replies

LoyalFairy · 19/12/2025 14:02

I have had excruciating backpain since Monday 15th. It is affecting my lower back, upper glutes (especially the right side), spread to my lower abdomen, over both hips and down the front of my right leg (no red flag issues). I rang 111 after which GP decided to give me an appointment on the same day which was on the 17th.

I was prescribed diazepam for 2 days (2mg 3 times a day) which barely did anything, but when I took paracetamol 1-2hrs after it then it reduced the pain a lot for over an hour before gradually returning. I was told to take omeprazole with 250mg naproxen (1 twice a day) - the naproxen isn't doing anything even when taken with paractemol.

The GP can only give me another appointment if I ring back on Monday morning while I can't walk, hold baby, or go to the bathroom on my own. I can only lean over the bed and stick my arms out like a gorilla to support myself - even then I can only walk sideways. I tried to do the same with a walking stick, used both hands to lean forward on it and walked wobbly sideways. My question is whether a walk-in centre will be able to do anything? Or will I have to ring 111 again to get an out of hours GP appointment? I can barely move and have a 5 month old to look after who has to be handed to me while I'm sitting to breastfeed (husband worked from home to help and is changing nappies and serving my essential needs too!).

The muscle spasm was set off by my having to walk around with baby several times a day, who is getting heavier and suddenly can only ever sleep this way. I have such difficulty trying to get off the toilet seat and consistenly have a hot water bottle or heat patch on my back! Seems I need meds to be more mobile before I can do stretches to help fix the issue.

OP posts:
BeautifulSongsofLove · 22/12/2025 07:23

This sounds like a difficult situation, particularly with a 5 month old. Do you have support at home?

I think you need to speak to your GP for a medication review, and to rule out other causes/concerns. Also, speak to your health visitor and/or first contact physio at your GP practice for advice on the correct handling your child to minimise further muscle injury

LoyalFairy · 27/12/2025 03:52

My husband took off some time from work around the holiday period so he's literally dealing with any lifting of the baby. I have a MIL who can only help here and there due to her own muscular issues which is why I can't ask her for too much help once my husband is back at work. I basically can't even lean forward to do basic things like wash my own face.

Annoyingly so, this past week I decided to get by on paracetamol which worked more compared to the naproxen which still doesn't do anything. Three days ago the pain felt like it improved enough for me to no longer use a walking stick but my old sciatica has flared up with a vengeance since two days ago - it's the typical painfully trapped nerve causing the usual on/off numbness down the right leg. Due to the accompanied lingering back pain, it's difficult to do the sciatica stretches I know of without me gasping in pain. It's the weekend again so now wondering if 111 can give me an out of hours GP appointment to be prescribed something stronger.

OP posts:
SeaToSki · 27/12/2025 03:58

Diazepam isnt recommended for breastfeeding mothers as it passes through to breast milk, so i think you need an urgent out of hours appointment for a medication review on the basis of your uncontrolled pain and also breastfeeding compatibility.

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LoyalFairy · 27/12/2025 05:20

Yep I was only given the diazepam for 2 days and 2 weeks worth of naproxen. I guess I'm wondering if they'll now give me something similar but stronger than a paracetamol so I can get painfree enough to get started on those stretches, especially when I've got a baby to take care of.

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