anyone been pregnant with damaged back or hip?

[NewPatchesForOld]

Hello lovely ladies. I am ttc at the moment but the one thing that worries me is that I have terrible problems with my lower back and hip. I usually take heavy duty painkillers from the gp but have stopped those now. Have had x rays etc but nothing shouted up, however they only x rayed my pelvis and not my back or hip. It is excruciating moody days, have to resort to using a stick on the worst days. Anyone any experience of something similar?

Sorry, showed not shouted, and most not moody...stupid phone!

I have a dodgy hip that likes to dislocate and is horrendously painful if I stand in certain ways, because of an accident 10 years ago but this is my third baby and its not caused me many problems :) x

That sounds painful! Mine is worse in the mornings, impossible to get out of bed or downstairs. It's actually back, hip and thigh all on the same side. I have 3 dc but they were all prior to this problem.

I had 14 years of disc related probs before I became preg. I did have a slipped disc in my first trimester, but by the time I was 4 months, the weight of the baby had pulled it back in!
Some preg women find that pregnancy actually helps their back, others don't. I wouldn't worry too much as you just don't know how things will turn out.
I didn't take any painkillers whilst preg - had had a mc the year before so was too scared - but there are painkillers you can take (mainly paracetamol tbh) - speak to your Gp or MW about it.
If you want to PM me for any support re your back when you're pregnant please do so, I am we'll aware of what it is like to be in pain! Dd is now 17 weeks & I slipped yet another disc a couple of days ago whilst vacuuming!

Anyway good luck with ttc!

applecrumble I am hoping that a pg (if I am that lucky) will pull whatever it is back into place, because that's what it feels like...that something is not quite in place properly. And at putting your back out while vacuuming...I did it the other n ight by sneezing!

Your GP is disturbing, you need an MRI of your lower back and a physio referral as a minimum.

I had major surgery on my hip a year ago and have been left with arthritis in it and I have disc problems too. At 29 weeks I can honestly say neither have bothered me terribly!

I had suffered with my back for years due to an injury sustained during my training as a nurse, I regularly took courses of anti inflammatory pain killers. Since i conceived up until 38 weeks I haven't had any pain in my back at all. Lots in my hips and groin due to SPD though. Back starting to ache now but think that's due to being nearly full term, 3 stone heavier and all that weight concentrated in my bump. You can take codeine as well as paracetamol in pregnancy, and if your referred to a physio early on they will provide you with support belts and exercises to help.

sundae my gp actually admitted to me that she was 'stumped' as to what was wrong, and wasn't sure where to go next. her suggestion was to lose weight (isn't it always? I was told to lose weight when my wrist and thumb were hurting?!) and go to physio. I tried physio, was told I have very limited mobility in my lower back, the physio made it worse and that's where it was left.
becks, I did wonder about SPD actually, as it's my hip that's worse and at it's fiercest the pain spreads to my groin, all along my knicker line.

You really need an MRI to find out whats going on, shocking that it isn't on your GPs list of next actions?! It's standard! You may have a slipped disc pressing on nerve affecting your leg too.

I have trochanteric bursitis in my left hip, but surprisingly this didn't make much of a difference (it even felt like my back was much better than normal for months) until a couple of weeks ago. Since then, the left side of my pelvis and hip have been horrendous. Possible idea to take to the GP, NewPatches?

Agatha...I have heard of bursitis...can you tell me what it feels like? I'm desperate to get this sorted out, and Dr google isn't being too much help. X

I developed bursitis in my first pregnancy and it was agony. Shooting pain in my hip and down my leg with spasms that could stop me moving. I was virtually immobile for weeks. Weirdly it got a bit better around 38 weeks. Since then I've done a lot of physio, had an ortho referral and MRI, which diagnosed it, and been given both a steroid and local anaesthetic injection. I'm currently 23 weeks with number two and almost pain free but not about to relax!

I echo the advice to take codeine or cocodamol. You can take it right through although will have to argue to get the prescription strength stuff from a lot of GPs. No one will do an MRI on a pregnant woman unless it's an absolute emergency but right now you can concentrate on symptom management. It IS horrible and I was dismissed with 'just SPD' and told there was nothing to be done, which was bollocks. Find out if you can be referred to a women's health physio, who will be an SPD expert. They will
at least be able to assess you thoroughly.

The OP isn't pregnant yet, just TTC, hence the MRI comment.

Oops, sorry. Reading on the bus! In that case, yes, MRI all the way.

I have suffered from back issues from a young age. I found pregnancy to alleviate the symptoms! I LOVED being pregnant for those reasons. Hated it for others but in terms of my back I was OK.

OMG...am I this OP from a past life?

I have scoliosis and other problems with my spine that cause trouble in my pelvis and hips. I also use a stick for mobility and have a scooter and wheelchair for times of need.
First pregnancy was a bit rough, pain etc, that I expected but got through it ok. I asked for a CS but was refused so I told GP who sent a shit-o-gram to the maternity services. I got booked in for CS...
Second pregnancy was hell. I could barely walk, I moved to two walking sticks and then lodged myself in my wheelchair. My Physio did everything he could (which was very little) and I took whatever I could in terms of pain relief. I felt like my pelvis had completely collapsed. It may not have helped that I was unprepared for this one - it was a bit of a surprise!
Never again.

All I can suggest is you get that MRI (full spine, not just lumbar or pelvis) and embark on a programme of proper physio with a really good physiotherapist (not a workout programme at the gym - that won't help) who will monitor you during and after your pregnancy and help you get back on your feet. Get as strong as you can before you conceive - and good luck!

I fractured my hip in june after years of joint pain (since 2nd pregnancy) I was on tramadol until I got my bfp. I am currently 13 weeks and at the moment it's a bit achy but I just have to be careful, physio referral was sent in nov but no appointment yet. Just hoping I don't fracture it again, not sure how I did last time it just started hurting one day.

Thanks for all the replies.

Blissful...in at your GP having to intervene to get you a CS; surely it would be a given with scoliosis and your limited mobility and levels of pain?

Twinkle ouch..fractured? And no idea how you did it? Mine feels like it could break IYSWIM...it's fragile and I am loathe to force it as it feels like I am going to snap something. If I lay on my back and raise my right leg and then bring it down again there is an almighty sickening thud and a huge jolt through my hip/back area, it actually shakes my body.

Stiffy...I thought cocodamol was off the cards in pg? I am on 30/500 but read that it can cause dependency in a baby? I've really been suffering lately as I haven't taken any and some mornings I would gladly saw my leg off at the hip if I could. I've sat and cried with the pain. When it's bad there is virtually no mobility at all, I can't bend to get stuff from the fridge and even (TMI alert) have to wait til later to...ahem...go for a number 2 as I cannot manage to wipe, I literally cannot make my back or hips manoeuvre even enough to do that, never mind the pain there is no movement at all.

A couple of weeks ago it was so bad that I had to slide off the toilet, onto my knees and use the bath to lever myself up.

I see it's forecast snow...that's not going to help...a) because the cold makes it a million times worse and b) because I'm so scared of falling and doing even more damage!

x

You can take co-codamol in pregnancy but will need to slowly come off them in later weeks so as not to affect baby's breathing etc at birth.

Seriously, GP and push for an MRI, you need to know what's causing this. Could be several different things but you cannot be treated effectively without knowing exactly what.

Yeah no idea how I did it must have chased ds a bit forcefully on my hip or something! Took 2 months to get diagnosed there were cracks all down it!

I'd struggled for years though, can't ride a bike or my hip locks climbing on and off.

Physio have just rung this morning weirdly wanting me to go, has taken since beginning of nov for the referral.

You need to change doctors, it is ridiculous to be left like this. I had to fight tooth and nail to get the investigations I needed and it turned out I had busitus (that was quite bad, but that was the minor bit) and a malformed femoral head and a labral tear. I had surgery to fix it all, but have been left with arthritis and my back is already bad due to not being able to walk properly for so long. I have to have injections into my hip and thigh now and then and have had years of physio, but cope day to day.

I borrowed an ugly chair, frames to fit round toilets, shower seat and pick-up sticks from Social Services. I gave the chair back eventually but the shower seat stayed with me until it rotted out at the bottom and the other things I still have. Get an occupational therapy assessment via SS - you can self refer.

I agree you need an MRI - I had lots of problems off and on for years. MRI showed prolapsed disc. I had surgery in August, pregnant in January and all was well.

There are some private MRI scanners. I live in the south so actually went to London and only paid about £100 for it. That saved me a few months waiting on NHS.

I have a damaged hip joint that I'd very stiff and painful, and related lower back pain. I found preg surprisingly good. My doc advised to be careful with weight gain, as that is such a strain on the joints. I was, and found a) my hip hurt less than usual possibly as a result of those loosening hormones... B) my back was stiffer but i felt more stable with my big tight belly. I had problems adjusting physically after the birth (planned c sec due to lack of joint movement) - felt I had lost my stable core! Bump was holding me together! But all ok really, made sure I rested! Recovered fairly quickly. Use your stick if it helps, no point suffering. And you can safely take paracetamol and others.. Check with pharmacist / doc.

Lin1hypno, can I ask did you have any issues with childbirth/back? I have prolapsed discs too, no surgery as yet though.