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Original poster

To ask about painkillers in pregnancy?

31 replies

jelly449 · 08/08/2018 16:45

I have rang triage before anyone asks. Can't get in touch with my midwife and left a message with triage but to call back but.....

36 weeks tomorrow and I've pulled a muscle/trapped a nerve in my side/back. I'm in agony.

Does anyone know what I can take pain killer wise paracetamol is not cutting it at all.

I've had it for a week now and midwife said there's nothing I can do when I saw her on Monday.

It was getting slightly better but this afternoon I've had a coughing fit and felt something sort of crack. Been in agony ever since.

Is it worth getting checked over? I'm sure it's just a pulled muscle but it's not getting any better.

Hot water bottle helps but not massively. Baths are good but it really hurts when I need to climb out

OP posts:
BetsyBigNose · 08/08/2018 16:47

Poor you, that sounds really painful - do you have a TENS machine you could use? I bought one for labour and have since used it for back pain and it is very effective for me.

applesisapple5 · 08/08/2018 16:52

Don't use a TENS machine, you shouldn't in late pregnancy.

For me, they me codeine because the benefits outweighed the risks at the time, but that was on MEDICAL ADVICE. I really really wouldn't take any advice on here that you don't first check with the NHS.

Cold and heat may help... even that I would do your research first!

applesisapple5 · 08/08/2018 16:55

In answer to your Q (sorry got trigger happy to tell you NOT to use the TENS!) you shouldn't suffer, can you call your Dr before they close, or 111?
Definitely get it checked, don't let it get worse.

Confusedbeetle · 08/08/2018 16:56

You must take medical and/or pharmaceutical advice, dont ask mn

BlueBug45 · 08/08/2018 16:57

You should be contacting your GP not your midwife.

And also don't ask mn as even if someone can answer you, you won't be able to buy it due to your rather large stomach.

Original poster
jelly449 · 08/08/2018 16:59

I'm waiting for them to call me back. I did ring 111 but they told me it would be quicker to ring my maternity unit for advice rather than I dr to call back which can take 4 hours.

OP posts:
SteviaStephanie · 08/08/2018 16:59

You need to ask your GP- they give you decent painkillers after c-sections that are safe for breastfeeding, but not sure if they’d be ok when still pregnant. Poor you, back pain and the last few weeks are so hard, never mind together Flowers

Original poster
jelly449 · 08/08/2018 17:01

I also definitely will not take anything without drs consent. I'm not that daft. I'm just wondering while I'm waiting that's all

OP posts:
Blue136 · 08/08/2018 17:06

Co-codamol is safe during pregnancy (although please watch for constipation if you do take it)

Merryoldgoat · 08/08/2018 17:14

OTC co-codamol is safe in pregnancy if there are no other reasons for you not to take it.

I took it semi-regularly throughout two pregnancies (up to 60mg prescription codeine doses at one point) but you must watch the constipation.

You cannot take any NSAIDS like aspirin, ibuprofen and diclofenac.

All doctors were entirely unconcerned about codeine in small amounts for specific reasons (mine was severe SPD).

Can you not speak to your GP? Will they not call you back?

Original poster
jelly449 · 08/08/2018 17:39

Gp is now calling me back before 6. It's been an absolute nightmare to try speak to anyone if I'm honest. I've already taken codiene in this pregnancy already and have some in the house so hoping they will say I can take some

OP posts:
Mousefunky · 08/08/2018 17:42

Codeine is absolutely fine. It’s only really ibuprofen and aspirin you have to be careful with.

Original poster
jelly449 · 08/08/2018 17:59

Been told I can take codiene but need to understand it might affect baby's breathing and it's better I don't take anything :-( the decision is mine he said.

OP posts:
Cornettoninja · 08/08/2018 18:03

I really rate acupuncture for nerve/muscle pain.

It’s another murky option in pregnancy but definitely worth looking into. It’s been instantaneous relief for me a couple of times with a frozen neck muscle.

RedPandaMama · 08/08/2018 18:05

I had the same thing during pregnancy. I was only 16 weeks though, but still absolute agony. I went to the hospital and they have me cocodamol which as I understand is a mix of codeine and paracetamol, doctor told me it would have no effect on the baby.

RedPandaMama · 08/08/2018 18:06

Sorted my back and she's 1 this week!

kitkatsky · 08/08/2018 18:10

Argh I had terrible rib pain in pregnancy and my midwife authorised deep heat/deep freeze patches which took the edge off a bit. Otherwise it's just paracetamol unless you get medical approval sorry

Merryoldgoat · 08/08/2018 18:10

OP - I took it regularly throughout both pregnancies and babies had APGAR of 9/10/10 and 10/10/10

I’m not telling you to take it but mine had no adverse affects at all and my doctor said it was fine.

Original poster
jelly449 · 08/08/2018 18:15

I'm waiting for another doctor to call me back as now they are all ringing at once after 3 hours of waiting. It's just because I'm close to my due date he said. Any earlier is fine to take it but the further you go, the more risk apparently.

But I am in so much pain and i need to cough. It's awful :-(

OP posts:
cyantist · 08/08/2018 18:41

The only reason codeine might be bad is if you give birth really soon after (as far as I'm aware). Codeine is metabolised to morphine which can cause respiratory depression but there's not really any studies that have suggested any bad effect from taking it

GoingToInfinity · 08/08/2018 18:55

Sometimes the pain outweighs the risk and it sounds like it might be this in your case. When I was pregnant I was prescribed co-codamol for spd/pgp and told to take paracetamol in the first instance, but if it wasn't cutting it, that co-codamol instead. I'm sure you're aware but you can't take them both as co-codamol contains paracetamol:

MrSpock · 08/08/2018 18:57

I took codeine when I had backpain with DS1.

MrSpock · 08/08/2018 18:58

They give pethidine in labour (I also had this in late pregnancy) so I don’t see why codeine would be a problem...

keyboardkate · 08/08/2018 19:04

Please let us know what the doc says. It will help many others worrying about pain relief in similar circumstances too.

I hope you will be OK. Pain in the back is a BAD one, even when not preggers.

Whilst not prg, I had a major back issue last year, and was in total agony. I got a back support strap from Boots and OMG it really helped.

I don't know if they make them for prg women though. Worth a try to ask. They had ice packs in them. OOOOH the relief!

Hidillyho · 08/08/2018 19:08

I took cocodamol in my last trimester but this was after medical advise and I was told that DC would need to me monitored after birth if I took a certain amount as it transfers. All pain killers will be down to advise of a GP this late in pregnancy. It has nothing to do with if it is/isn’t safe in pregnancy though, more to do with the fact that they don’t test these things in pregnancy to know either way!

Tiger balm is good (you can get one that heats and cools the muscle). Have a look to see if that says anything about pregnancy on it. If not, you could also try a heat patch (ones that stick onto your clothes)

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