Does anyone know about help for a back in spasm

[LadyLaSnack]

Hi - posting for traffic as a little desperate.

I'm 18 weeks pregnant, and bending down to pick up toddler's toys this morning felt a huge 'twang' rippling across my lower back (the section starting at my hip bones down) and it's been in spasm ever since.

I'm not worried about the baby (should I be?). I've had this before in the same place. It stems from an injury which happened years ago.

I can't walk at all as the muscles I need to swing my hips won't move. I can just about make it to the loo if I'm bent over clinging to bits of furniture.

Does anyone have any advice? I can't take ibuprofen. Have had a bath and I have a hot water bottle. Am lying in bed. If I'm on my back my pelvis wants to 'tuck up' the the way with my bum cheeks slightly off the bed.

Anything else I can do?

No medical advice as your pregnant however Personally when my back is in spasm I use ice packs instead of heat and avoid hot baths. I also find I’m worse when I’m dehydrated and if I’m really bad I can take diazepam which stops the spasm. Give 111 a ring, I hope you feel better soon.

Thanks RK

I haven't tried cold before, I usually just go for a hot water bottle, but I'll give it a whirl.

Ice! Wrap a bag if frozen peas in a towel if you do the have an ice pack.

Ice the area and try to keep moving as much as possible. Call for advice as you are pregnant.

Initial inflammation needs cold, not hot. If it has not eased in a couple of days you need to talk to a physio, or a chiropractor or a doctor, Mumsnet is not the place to look for help

Found like you've popped or turn a disk - says a very sharp pain and feels like you are giving a hippo a piggyback.

I find osteo works best (for me anyway)

Sounds like... Torna disk...

Yes I could have torn a disk, though I have felt like this before and it was muscular. Really hoping for the latter.

mumsnet is not the place to look for help

Why not? It’s not a medical emergency. I’m not going to follow any daft suggestions (were they to come). I’m stuck in bed all day scrolling with no option of a physio or osteopath at the weekend (and couldn’t get there anyway).

Ice and rest.

Osteopath and GP on Monday.

Alternate ice packs and hot pads/hot water bottle. Paracetamol is safe in pregnancy. If you can get someone to very gently rub volterol gel into the area that would help. It’s doesnt get into the general circulation. If not just a warm oil rub.

Whenever my back goes into spasm I lie on my side knees tucked up slightly that usually works for me the doctor recommended it

And after you've had had the baby you'll need to build up your stomach muscles to prevent it happening.

Ice ice baby!

And rest, I hope you feel better soon, can you use a tens machine?

Just a note re voltarol. I can’t take oral ibuprofen but assumed voltarol would be different as it’s topical. So I tried it & it gave me ecactly the same reaction as I get with oral ibuprofen. It must enter the bloodstream somehow. Good luck op you sound really brave but the pain must be horrendous

Try to move - slowly - so that it doesn't stiffen up and prop your knees with a pillow. It will hurt like he'll for a couple of days before you start feeling human again. I find painkillers a waste of time for back pain, and always check any medication when you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

I suffer horrendous back spasms- my discs are messed up and I’ve other spinal problems.
I take a cocktail of pills, but gabapentin is the one I use when spasms get really bad. In fact I take it daily or they go out of control, nothing stops them.
I also love my tens machine, it really helps and soothes some of it. As above, ice helps too.

I know your options are limited as you’re pregnant, but I just want you to know others suffer with it too- and there is help to be had!

If your muscles are in spasm, ice will make them spasm more. You need pressure applied to the muscles when they are warm, but working out which muscles is easier said than done. Pressure to the point where it is bearable pain. This should release the spasm. Then lots of stretching. You definitely need a physio who can give you appropriate exercises.

I get a lot of back spasms too. Can someone gently massage the muscle for you? (staying away from the bony bits). Gentle pressure on the muscle for 30 seconds helps to ease it for me.

X post

Where exactly is the spasm? Is it one muscle in particular or over a general area?

Agree with the advice to keep it moving as much as you can. Even tiny movements can help.

Re: ice/heat. Use whichever helps the most.

GP in the morning, and emergency physio referral. It sounds like it will affect your sleep, and will definitely affect your ability to care for your toddler. Highlight both of these, alongside your limited mobility, and it'll tick the boxes for an urgent referral.

Depending on exactly where the injury is, there may be simple exercises that could at least relieve the pain and might get you moving.

.... and don't use Voltarol unless prescribed. It's diclofenac, I'm not sure it's safe in pregnancy.