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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

does anyone else have bad lower back pain??

20 replies

busybee20 · 17/11/2010 12:12

Hi I am nearly 15 weeks pregnant and for over two weeks now have really bad lower back pain. Literally at the base of my spine, its worse if I sit down and real struggle when I get up. Any advice?

OP posts:

beebuzzer · 17/11/2010 12:17

I'm not pregnant now but have had lower back pain since a few months after the birth.
Does it run through your back and down the backs of your legs? If so it could be sciatica - common in pregnancy or it could be the excess weight you are carrying. :)

Original poster

busybee20 · 17/11/2010 12:22

No its just at the base of my spine. Maybe should see my GP, as am worried will get worse as Iget heavier.

OP posts:

bettywobble · 17/11/2010 12:23

I have been crippled with back pain since about 8 weeks, and I'm 20 now. I think mine is sciatica and I know its gonna get worse...

Original poster

busybee20 · 17/11/2010 12:26

betty - have you been to your GP? If so what advice did you get? Or have you considered physio?

OP posts:

beebuzzer · 17/11/2010 12:29

U can see your GP to rule anything out but usually they just send you away with painkillers for back pain (unless you have a better gp than mine)

bettywobble · 17/11/2010 13:46

My gp is crap too and said take paracetamol! I am waiting on a referral for physio from the mw, but I have been waiting for weeks and still no appointment. You would think I had all the time in the world lol!!

JenniferR · 17/11/2010 13:48

Hi Busybee

I just logged on today to post something similar! I have been experiencing coccyx pain for the last week or so and I am worried that it's going to get worse. Founs this on the web which was quite good:

www.ehow.com/how_2246043_cope-coccyx-pain-during-pregnancy.html

Do you have a job where you sit at a desk most of the day? I do and wonder whether this is what is causing it. They haven't done the risk assesment yet but I'm going to bring this up when they do. I don't get to take a break outside my hour for lunch (unpaid) so perhaps that might be something to think about, walking about for 5 mins every hour or so.

I just hope that it doesn't get unbearable, am going to discuss with my midwife next change I get.

Hope you feel bit better soon.

northlondonchoclover · 17/11/2010 13:49

Hi Busybee, I would inform your midwife at your next check up and ask for a referral to a physio. Other things I did that helped with back pain is to get a back support belt, do pregnancy yoga and swimming.

buttercup123 · 17/11/2010 14:17

I agree with Northlondon. I've had pretty horrid back pain around my coccyx since about 14 weeks. The ways I have found to manage it is going to the osteo, doing pregnancy yoga and swimming. The pregnancy yoga is brilliant - I've never done yoga before, but the circular movements they get you to do seem to do the trick. If my back flares up during the day, I nip to the loo (at work) and do them in there.

Also, I went for my first swim last night, and had no pain since then. I don't know if it is coincidence, but ...

clarebear1 · 17/11/2010 18:16

Yes i have sharp pain in my lower back on the left :-( Gonna speak to midwife see if she can suggest anything. There is another thread similar to this.

bettywobble · 17/11/2010 19:04

if its on one side is it not sciatica? it doesnt have to be in your bum or legs to be that??

lilly13 · 17/11/2010 19:30

Hi busybee, i am also 15 weeks pregnant and have been having back problems not related to pregnancy for years. I have been a regular yoga practicioner which has been helping me hugely. Please take a look at the links below pertaining to best yoga poses to relieve sciatica and lower back/leg pains. Try to stay in these postures initally for at least 1-2 minutes and repeat a few times per day, and then if you can increase the duration of excercise. If you practice regularly, the benefits are amazing!

www.womenfitness.net/top10_yoga_exercises.h tm

www.wikihealth.com/Yoga_poses_for_sciatica

www.yogajournal.com/practice/812

www.suite101.com/content/hatha-yoga-for-sci atica-a154024

www.yogawiz.com/health-issues-and-yoga/yoga -for-sciatica.html

Hope you feel better!

Toni2011 · 17/11/2010 22:51

I'm pregnant with my second baby and also suffering from back pain. I had back ache at the bottom of my spine since about 2-3 months (before putting any weight on) both times. I was told that it was probably due to hormonal changes making my back muscles relax to allow space for the baby. I find the best cure is getting someone to massage the painful area. Not a long term solution, but it really helps - its like they rub the pain away!

Feel better soon x

cupcakebakerer · 17/11/2010 23:01

Oh my God yes!! Stressing about the exact same thing. I'm 17 weeks and it's just started - ache in base of my back, problems getting up etc. You would think I was almost full term the way I'm walking at the moment. Very worried it's only going to get worse, that my back will 'go' and I'll have to take time off work (which I hate doing). From reading posts looks like it's quite common and I'll def give the exercises a try. I have a desk job too so my awful posture could be the cause.

Original poster

busybee20 · 18/11/2010 16:08

Thank you everyone for the advice will definately try some. When I spoke to MW she told me to speak to GP and get referal for physio.As I'm having 2nd baby seems like I have very few apptmts. Last one was nearly 5 weeks ago. Seems internet only place where anyone has time to listen and reassure!!

OP posts:

blondieminx · 18/11/2010 22:41

Also worth getting your DP to massage your back in a kind of Y shape - where the stalk of the Y would go up as far as your cocyx and the V of the Y goes either side of it (hope that makes sense).

Found that tip in this and oh god, the relief!

KnockedUpMell · 19/11/2010 08:15

Im in the same position and have found that massage (even if for just a few minutes) or a heat pack (not too hot or too often) work. I'm sure the general public think I'm strange when they see me walking around with my hands behind my back rubbing what must look like my arse to them!! My MW suggested trying out a tens machine. Waiting for that to arrive from amazon and keeping my fingers crossed.

CalaLilly · 19/11/2010 08:28

I've been getting a lot of lower back pain too and am now 18/40. I saw an osteopath this week and it was the best thing I could have done as she did loads of things that made my back feel a whole lot better :-) She also recommended getting a fitted support belt as the pain is likely to get worse and the belt will help relieve the pain. She's going to fir this for me.

She also recommdended warm baths, rest, heat packs and aquanatal classes. I've also decided to go for a pregnancy massage as that will help me relax and help reduce the inflammation I have on the right side of my lower spine. Bring on the R&R!!

marriednotdead · 19/11/2010 09:26

I had horrendous backache throughout my last pregnancy, which was eventually attributed to my DS lying spine to spine

I already had sciatica but it was more than the 'hot knitting needle through my bum' sensation.

My osteopath recommended one of these which I found invaluable and still use.

Secretwishescometrue · 19/11/2010 11:00

Hi, sorry your feeling so sore. Iv been there and its awful! I had physio which was very good but still my pain got worse throughout my pg :( I was bearly walking in the last few weeks and couldn't even stand long enough to wash a few dishes with the pain! But things I was recommended and really helped me were hot water bottles (i constantly had a hot water bottle at my back) and my physio said alternating between hot and cold can really help bring down swelling on the spine/lower back and help a lot, she said get a cold pack from the freezer and alternate with the cold pack and hot water bottle on your back for 5-10min at a time each then immediately swap iykwim, also I used to have 2 or 3 warm baths a day with muscle soaks in them, and try not to sit on the couch (this I found very hard as I loved snuggling up on the couch) but they said it puts your back into the worst position and to either sit on a birthing ball (which I almost lived on and highly recommended) or a hard backed chair or the floor... And use a rolled up towel rolled into a sausage and put that in your lower back which I found very comfy esp at night and also when driving. I also word a back brace given to me by the physio I had two diff types one soft one time tubey grip very elasticy and stretchy and another much harder one which had three straps which closed around my stomach and was excellent but they are quite pricey but id say well worth it (i gave mine to a pg friend who was in a bad way with her back and she also got great relief from it and even managed to go for some short walks again cause of it!) that's all I can think of atm but if anything else pops into my mind il let you know :) I remember how awful it was I even had to give up work at 6months due to it but hopefully you will not get worse and your mw and doctor will help you and the other pg ladies on here suffering atm, all the best xxx

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