Lying in bed with excruciating back pain

[TigerJoy]

Down, I think, to breastfeeding. It's right between my shoulder blades. Nothing helps. I've been in bed for 2 hours, i'm wide awake in pain, knowing I have a 3 week old baby to look after all day tomorrow on zero sleep.

I tried doing shrugging motions / windmilling my arms before bed which seemed to make things much worse.

Any advice?

Book an osteopath appointment first thing

No advice, I'm afraid, just wanted to say poor you, that sounds dreadful. Really hope you can get relief asap somehow. Osteopath is a good shout.

The NHS website has some videos with exercises to do for back pain. One of them really relieved my back pain immediately. You watch and copy. Second osteopath recommendation.

Your GP practice may have a physio or self referral system to physiotherapy.

There's no clinical basis for 'osteo' or chiropractors so don't waste your money and time there.

As someone who has had recurring back pain for 20 years I cannot disagree with your comment on osteopaths more. No GP or physio has ever solved my pain, but osteopaths have relieved it within a few sessions every single time and their recommended Pilates style exercise keeps it away.

Awful, hope you can get some sleep soon
Ibuprofen in a gel form is great for back pain
Tiger balm too
Perhaps a cuddly sofa day tomorrow
Hot bath with Epsom salts
Book an osteo appt and roll back on a cricket ball or similar
Do some yoga for breastfeeding, think I did adrienne but if it hurts more then maybe go slower or smaller movements
Hope something helps xx

Dd had the same and got osteopathic treatment for a few weeks and learned about posture etc when feeding and holding baby.
In the meantime hot and cold may help.
So 5 minutes warm wheat bag or the like, followed by 5 minutes cold, eg ice pack wrapped in tea towel. Alternate for 30 minutes.
And use appropriate pain relief for a breastfeeding mum.

Me too.
Osteopaths are the only practitioners who ever helped my back pain.

The physio group course I was referred to was run by a physio helper who had less knowledge than me of back problems and was downright dangerous. Six of us with very different muscular and skeletal conditions being made to complete the same exercise regimen.
I refused to go after the first week.
The only physio that ever helped was movement in a swimming pool.

I thought I had excruciating back pain that sounded similar to yours (near the end of my pregnancy) and I went for a massage and threw up in the physio's bin due to the extreme pain. He insisted I go to emergency.

It took years for Drs to diagnose me as the pain episodes were far apartment. In hindsight it was when I dined out and ate fattier foods. I was diagnosed with gallbladder stones.

If any of that rings true you might want to get the cause checked out rather than assume, as I did, that it was back pain

@Summerhillsquare what nonsense.
Also she's in agony to waiting for the nhs to do anything is pointless , would be months !

I'm glad the "laying on of hands" works for some, but NHS physio is free, quick if in GP practice, and guarantees clinically trained staff.

This is common in the early days, caused by feeding. You need to do upper back mobility work and stretches, make sure you’re getting daily exercise and staying well hydrated. I followed the advice in the NHS postnatal leaflet religiously and did gentle postnatal yoga in the early days. It worked! If you’re not used to this sort of thing and aren’t sure what to do, then definitely book an osteo appt - they will work on your back and also show you how to do the specific exercises you need. It’s one hundred per cent worth the expense.

“Laying on hands” lol. Osteopathy is a four year masters degree and clinically trained.

Don't go near a chiropractor - get a physio app I had the same whilst breastfeeding and it was sorted with targeted excercises and stretches

How are you feeling today, OP?