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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

lower back pain - anything I can do?

15 replies

shelley72 · 16/02/2013 17:45

Typing on phone, so forgive typos. For the last week, esp last couple of days I have had a really bad pain in my lower back, kind of at the base of my spine but it radiates into my bottom on either side. Its worse at night, its a struggle to get off the sofa and get up to bed. Was so bad this morning that I could hardly walk and was in tears. Dh suggested phoning someone (not sure who exactly) but I have been resting as much as possible today and had a warm hot water bottle which helped a bit. Is there anything else I can do? Has anyone else had this? I'm 20 wks with dc 3 but have never had this before. My nxt appt is a month away, should i phone gp or midwife? I have so much to do about the house and I feel very useless and extremely grumpy today
Tia

OP posts:

LandsN · 16/02/2013 18:13

I have never had it but baby could be on a nerve or something I would take a trip to gp hun to be on the safe side or midwife that's what they are there for good luck and hope it gets better xx

Original poster

shelley72 · 16/02/2013 20:02

Thanks for the reply. hopefully the little monkey is just pressing on a nerve then and will move soon!

OP posts:

Fairlygrounded · 16/02/2013 20:06

Go to a good chiropractor who specialises in pregnancy stuff - mine cures me of all back pain pregnant or not. I had a back injury at about 16 weeks and she used acupuncture - fixed me in no time, only 2 sessions.
You may want to check with GP / midwife too but personally I find them next to useless unless you're at death's door!

shelly81 · 16/02/2013 20:30

Shelly I get this too but my placenta is anterior my MW said that's why a get it because baby is lay more in my back.. Worth a thought xxx

Littlemissexpecting · 16/02/2013 21:36

That's interesting about anterior placenta. My placenta is anterior and I'm getting similar pains.

Msbluesky32 · 16/02/2013 21:54

Could be a trapped nerve or SPD ...I'd go and visit the GP. Have you got a Swiss ball? I found sitting on one helps with my lower back pain. I also lay on it so that it takes the weight of my bump. Hope you get sorted soon.

Beamae · 16/02/2013 22:06

The radiating pain sounds like SPD to me too. When I had it, the physio said a lot of lower back pain in pregnancy is because the pelvis bones have shifted. Sometimes the pain shoots down your legs as well. I had the referral to the physio through my ante natal department. To be honest, it didn't help much. Ultimately I had the most relief from acupuncture, but I have also heard about good results through osteopathy.

HJBeans · 16/02/2013 22:56

I've had similar pain on and off from 10 weeks - saw a really useful antenatal physio who said it was sacro-illial joint loosening up and suggested posture changes / exercises which seem to be working. Good luck!

LouiseD29 · 17/02/2013 01:21

This sounds exactly like me. I'm so sorry, shelley, it's painful, isn't it? I don't have any sure fire solutions except hot water bottles, paracetamol and sleeping with an ever more creative arrangement of pillows. I did tell my doctor and she prescribed codeine which apparently you can take until quite late on in pregnancy. Might be worth giving your GP a call. Hope it eases off for you soon.

Original poster

shelley72 · 20/02/2013 16:54

thank you all for the replies. i am still in agony . i saw a midwife on monday whilst i was there for my scan who said back pain / PGP is normal for pregnancy (though odd how ive never had it before) and that i need to rest. ha! that's easier said than done with a 5 yo and 2 yo with all associated school runs, meetings, appointments, toddler groups, and all the usual house type stuff to do (luckily or not i am SAHM). she said i could be referred to ante natal physio but its really not that helpful .

BUT i cannot take the pain any more and i need to get back to normal as stuff isnt getting done, even bending down to tidy toys, load washer etc is excruciating. and i cant wait until DH gets home, or expect him to get in and start cooking after a long commute, so even though we can't really afford it i am going to see an osteopath who deals specifically with ante/post natal issues at the weekend. has anyone been to one? what can i expect? i am hoping that it will be money well spent and it will sort me out quickly before the problem gets worse.

oh and for those who had mentioned it, placenta is anterior, scan showed this. but then it was with DS and i never had back pain like this before...

OP posts:

Gurraun · 20/02/2013 17:15

Chiro (or osteopath) is no doubt the way forward. I couldn't survive without mine - having similar pain in this preganancy (18 weeks) and been to chiro today. She told me that because ligaments are all loose my pelvis has become slightly misaligned (only up and down - up and down and twisted is worse because that is pelvic girdle pain). It has caused muscles to spasm causing all sorts of pain but hopefully a couple of sessions will fix it ............for now. Good luck.

It is however expensive so perhaps try to get your GP to refer you to a physio too which will help

VivaLeBeaver · 20/02/2013 17:21

Take a wee sample to the dr tomorrow, could be a uti as well.

Petcat · 20/02/2013 17:27

Hi Shelley sorry to hear you are feeling so rubbish.

I have PGP and the pain I get is exactly as you describe - it originates in my lower back and spreads down into my bum and legs a bit like sciatica too. I have recently been in so much pain I've been stuck in bed crying my eyes out telling my DP I no longer want to be pregnant!

Unfortunately in my area there is 6 month waiting list to see the NHS physio so I will probably have had the baby before I get an appointment My midwife recommended seeing an osteopath, as they are often better at treating pregnancy related pain than physiotherapists. I googled for one with experience of treating pregnant women, and I had my first appointment today.

I'm fairly impressed by my first experience. She took a detailed medical history from me, and then carried out a very thorough assessment of my posture, spine, pelvis and range of motion. She deduced that as well as having an unstable sacroiliac joint, the bottom of my spine was very fixed and not curving as it should. She then manipulated my joints quite a bit, and carried out some deep tissue massage on my hips. She also did some stuff to my spine which made it click and pop! It was certainly uncomfortable at times but not overly painful. She gave me some advice re. not hoovering, pushing shopping trolleys, sleeping with support pillows etc, and also applied some cool gel to the bottom of my back. The whole session took an hour.

After the appointment I could definitely feel my joints moving more easily, although I am still uncomfortable and she did warn me I may feel worse over the next 24 hours. I'm going back on Monday for another appointment to see if things have improved. The osteopath reckoned 2 or three sessions should be enough to get me functioning again, with a final session to ensure all is well for labour when I get to about 37 weeks.

Hope you find your osteopath experience as helpful as mine - I also wear a support belt and find this lessens the pain although it doesn't take it away completely.

VivaLeBeaver · 20/02/2013 17:30

Sorry, didn't see the update. I'd assume the mw you saw on Monday dipped your wee.

father2be · 20/02/2013 17:31

I've heard that expectant mothers aren't supposed to sit in the hot tub, however, I think that applies if the tub is really hot. Many mothers take hot baths, I know my wife did. It's just so the baby isn't over heated while in the womb, as it's obviously not able to cool down. If you have a hot tub at home, you can usually control the temperature and keep it warm. The jets definitely helped my wife.

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