20wks preg and searing back pain

[TracyK]

My friend is 20 wks pg (3rd baby), and she has been getting searing back pain, lasting for most of the day, on 4 occasions. Paracetmol does nothing for it.
She describes the pain as being the same pain as her 2nd labour when the baby was back to back with her.
Is the baby big enough at 20wks to be lying on a nerve? or any other ideas?

Sciatica?? Remember that mine started at about this time, and was characterised by nerves/muscles/something going into agonising spasms... like cramp, but in my lower back. I never really found any successful way of dealing with it other than hot water bottles and obsessive rubbing. Poor her!

did you have it all the way through to the end?

Hmm... am trying to remember... this was with DD1, who is now 10, and these days I struggle to remember my own children's names...

Don't think so. Think it was that mid-trimester when you're supposed to bloom. Didn't have it with 2 subsequent pregnancies either.

I'm 20 weeks and have been getting awful backpain but it only lasts for the morning until my body has warmed up a bit. Doc said that is due to my different lying position and weight up front. My pain doesn't sound nearly as extreme as your friends and if she has it all the time then it does sound like she sould visit her GP. Somebody mentioned sciatica to me too when I complained of back pain but mine is muscle related. Sorry, just realised that's not much help is it. You could ring the NHS helpline on behalf of your friend.