I started a thread in childbirth but think I should have put it in here so sorry for the double thread
I have a chronic back condition (lumbar spondylosis / degeniterive disc disease) which I mostly manage through exercise / Pilates / keeping v strong and mobile. Every so often I get a flare up where everything goes into spasm and I am in agony for a few days but it usually settles down ok and I can start getting back to normal. About 4 1/2 years ago a disc prolapsed (through a sneeze of all things) and I was in severe pain for months. Physio didn't help (they just told me to do the same old exercises I had been doing for years) chiropractic didn't help at first and the dr just kept giving me more drugs (co codamol / diazepam etc). I eventually changed chiropractors and the new one 'fixed' the problem within a couple of sessions and I haven't had an episode that bad since
For the past month (I am now 26+5) my back has been getting steadily worse until last night something just 'went' and I couldn't move. Couldn't stand, couldn't sit - I was screaming in agony when my husband tried to get me off the sofa and I had to resort to crawling to the toilet / bed. I have been seeing my chiropractor once a month in an effort to pre-empt this and she is going to come to see me tonight to see what she can do. The pain is not as bad today - I can stand and do a 'zombie shuffle' but I am taking co codamol and it's still very painful.
I am scared - scared that because of all the ligaments relaxing and the baby putting pressure on my spine that this won't be easily sorted. Scared that I will be in this pain for the next few months. Scared I won't be able to have a natural birth now. I don't know for sure a disc has gone but I don't know what else could be causing this much pain
I have called my dr and she is calling me back this afternoon but realistically I don't think she can do anything. I am already waiting on a physio referral (which I don't think will help anyway) and I am also waiting on a referral to the anaesthesiologist as they need to check if I can have an epidural. Could I request to see a consultant in case this doesn't die down and I need a caesarean?
I just don't know what to do and would appreciate any advice from anyone who has been through something vaguely similar. If you are still reading, thanks - I appear to have written an essay!