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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask what you would do : re back pain

15 replies

Santabroughtmethis · 04/01/2014 07:14

I'm a bit of a mess right now. Pregnant but query ectopic so I'm a little uncomfortable but that could be the ovarian cysts I've also got Hmm

Anyway I've suffered with a bad back for years, have had osteopathy and chiropractor sessions, acupuncture and deep tissue. All temporarily relieve but don't cure.

The pain is low down, it feels like my spine is curling the wrong way. I try and bend and it's too painful, sometimes it radiates to my pelvis. It's not muscular, definitely feels spinal. I do get stiff shoulders and neck but to be fair a massage can help that, this is very different.

I was woken up by the baby at 6:20 and DH offered to get up as I'm all over the place with the tummy lodger stuff but I couldn't bare to lie down anymore. He's told me to look up a osteopath and he will pay for it, it does feel like I need to be cricked and crunched but long term I need a solution. Every day when I wake its the same thing. We've got New mattress, a mattress topper and I've started wearing a support around my lower back.

Any helpful advice would be gratefully received.

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Santabroughtmethis · 04/01/2014 07:15

I sound right miserable, I'm not honest Blush

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Rumplestiltskinismyname · 04/01/2014 07:21

How far gone are you? Sounds terrible. Could you go to the osteo today for some instant relief but go to your gp on Monday?

kukeslala · 04/01/2014 07:22

When you say temporary, how long?

My chiropractor said the mistake people make its to have the sessions get better and then stop completely.
She explained it like going to the dentist, you don't go for check ups necessarily as you have a problem, but as a preventative measure.

Hope you feel better soon!

Santabroughtmethis · 04/01/2014 07:25

Should be around 6/40 so early but after having pain earlier in week I was admitted and when they scanned me the lodger was shy, so because of the pain they won't rule out ectopic. Just watching and waiting until next uss today.

Going to try and find a osteopath but we live in the sticks. Hoping that they work Saturdays!

I need to go and see the GP again. I was referred to a back pain clinic but turned up the day after my appt Confused so need to get re referred. I feel like I need the vertebrae shifted, clicked and sorted.

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Santabroughtmethis · 04/01/2014 07:27

I have had sessions regularly at the chiro, then went every 4m for a while. It feels ok whilst there, maybe ok for next day but then back to normal.

I've found more relief with the osteopath then chiro. It just feels like something down there isn't right so whilst treatment relieves it doesn't cure if you get me?

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Pink01 · 04/01/2014 07:33

Have you ever had an X-ray to see what is going on? I know you can't while you're pregnant, but previously to that have you?

Santabroughtmethis · 04/01/2014 07:36

No never, they've always put it down to mechanical back pain but I was hoping the clinic would get me one.

I work in nhs, wondering if occy health could sort something..

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VivaLeBeaver · 04/01/2014 07:37

After spending £1000s over the years on osteos and chiropractors I found a physio who really helped. He took one look at me and told me what was wrong and fixed it in one session. He did say it would be temp relief and I needed to do exercises and Pilates to keep pain free. He recommended a special back Pilates class. Makes such a difference, if I stop the exercises for a few weeks I notice the pain increase.

VivaLeBeaver · 04/01/2014 07:38

I've had X-rays and also MRIs on the nhs. MRI did show I'd got some disc problems which an X-ray wouldn't pick up. I'm surprised they haven't done this for you if its been gong on for years.

Smoorikins · 04/01/2014 07:51

Have you been given stretches to do, and if so, do you do them? Its amazing how much they can help.

When you sit, do you sit straight, or maybe with your feet under you to one side (if that makes sense), or with your shoulders forward and your lumbar spine pushed back (slouching)?

If its recurring, it may be that its something like how you sit or how you walk that is causing things to go out - do you have a heavy bag on one shoulder? Again, that pushes the spine out of alignment.

Something like Alexander technique can help, but there are simple stretches that can too.

Stan up straight with your hands by your sides, palms open flat against your body. Keeping the hands on your body, but sliding down with the movement, bend sideways from the waist, slowly till you feel like you are as far as you can comfortably go while feeling a stretch - its not a big movement. Hold for two or three seconds. Move slowly though, as part of the benefit is in the movement as well as in the stretch. Move back, slowly, and do the same the other side. Does one side feel tighter or a bit more painful than the other? If you feel one side more, its definitely a good stretch to do, although can still be beneficial if you feel tension equally on both sides.

One other simple stretch is to put your fists in the small of your back and then push your pelvis forward, stretching out your lumbar spine.

Do these two or three times, two or three times a day, and they can help mobilise the joints of the lower back and reduce pain, in back, hip and shoulder.

I hope this is of help to you, but do the stretches slowly and don't force them, as the tightness eases you will find them easier (if they address your specific problem). If they help and there is a root cause that isn't addressed then you will have to keep stretching etc, as the problem will recur.

Best wishes

Smoorikins

jendot · 04/01/2014 08:48

I also saw a fantastic physio who with massage and specific exercises , a change of pillow and office chair seems to have solved the problem, mine was spinal but exacerbated by the muscles around it, once the muscles were targeted and my posture and sleep position sorted... It was like a miracle. Rather than the osteopath and chiropractor who just looked at the back she looked at all aspects.
I think if the problem is on going you should push for a referral.
Good luck with bump :)

revivingsnowshower · 04/01/2014 09:26

Pregnancy hormones can sometimes affect your back. Could this be part of it?

Balistapus · 04/01/2014 09:55

You mention that you missed yor appt with the back pain clinic. Have you seen them before or since?

I have a back injury. The back pain clinic were marvellous. I had 6 weeks of physio and was given two exercises to do daily. These really help and as mentioned above, the pain returns if I don't do them.

Please, please see the pain clinic before spending anymore time or money on osteos\ chiros.

BrownSauceSandwich · 04/01/2014 11:17

Totally agree with the previous posters who mention physio, Pilates, Alexander technique. A good osteopath/chiropractor will acknowledge that their treatments should be in conjunction with ongoing rehab exercises to correct muscle balance and posture, but many of them are all smoke-and-mirrors, and just want you to keep coming back.

I know you say it's not muscular, but you can't divorce joints (in this case vertebrae) from the muscles that move and support them, or the nerves tangle up with them. Your chiropractor can crunch whatever they like, but if your muscles are just pulling your spine back into misalignment, it'll always be temporary... Until you retrain those muscles.

Unfortunately, it does mean a load more work on the patient's part, but you sound like you're at the point where it'd be worth it. Get back to the clinic and make that your focus. The acupuncture etc should be there to complement your rehabilitation, not as a standalone treatment.

Santabroughtmethis · 04/01/2014 11:58

I've got exercises that I do, although I admit not as often as I should. I saw physio last pregnancy as I suffered badly. I have to say it didn't help Sad I do exercise too, and find stretching feels very good. I just got DH to bend my legs back towards my head whilst I lay down as it stretched my spine nicely but we ended up in fits of giggles Blush

The best releif I've ever had was from osteopath. Although like I say, within a few days it hurts all over again.

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