Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

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

Flip

Original poster

waiting on the ambulance to take me for an MRI :(

22 replies

losthermind · 04/02/2015 10:36

I suffer from cauda equina syndrome and had an emergency double laminectomy procedure 2 years ago. since finding out about my pregnancy I have had to stop all my medications which consist of gabapentin,tramadol,naproxen and codeine. the only painkillers I have been allowed to ake is paracetamol. For the past 2 weeks I have been having symptoms that lead me to believe that sciatica was back with a vengeance.....I rang the doctors this morning asking for a home visit as I can barely move due to the excrutiating pain.
The doctor rang back and has requested I go to hospital for an mri as she thinks the baby isn't big enough for me to be experiencing back problems, I am only 11 + 4 weeks and am now worried sick as to what is going to happen.....I just felt that I needed to write this down and get it off my chest as I don't have family close by that i can turn to...I have told DP to stay at work until I know whats happenening, just waiting now

OP posts:

Jodie1982 · 04/02/2015 10:39

Oh bless ya. I bet your petrified. You really should have your partner with you, he's probably worried dick at work. I don't know anything about your condition though, but I'll be wishing you all the best. Pls try n update. Be strong.

Jodie1982 · 04/02/2015 10:40

Dick! meant sick, obviously lol

Original poster

losthermind · 04/02/2015 10:51

that has put a smile on my face thankyou Jodie
DP has just rung me asking me to let him come with me,
in all honesty we cant afford him to have any time off work, we are supposed to be signing our new tenancy on Friday and moving into our new home at the weekend, its cost us nearly £2000 so every penny really counts at the minute, to be honest im better on my own, he would be that stressed that I would end up more bothered about him than myself

OP posts:

Number3cometome · 04/02/2015 10:58

You poor thing!! I had Cauda Equina which resulted in a compressed cord, I lost feeling in my legs and bladder. It was exceptionally scary, I had an operation (my third discectomy and decompression) the same day to save my legs. I have been left with some very slight nerve damage around my groin and right thigh and side of right foot.

In 2012 I had a multi level lumbar fusion with disc replacement, I have to say it is the most amazing thing, I too like you was on gebapentin, and oxycontins.
It was a long time healing but now is so much better (xray attached).

I did find my back got worse with DC1 & DC2 (before the spinal fusion) but found the osteopath amazing. You really need to keep moving and not be sitting for too long at a time.

I am 16+3 with DC3 and I have had a normal amount of back pain - my issue now is that I can no longer have epidurals which may mean a GA for my c-section. Best of luck OP and try not to worry.

waiting on the ambulance to take me for an MRI :(

comeagainforbigfudge · 04/02/2015 11:03

Aw mastermind must be so worrying.

Don't think my DP would listen to me if I'd phoned him with that news and told him not to come. he took a half day to come for a repeat scan with me because my back was sore after work and he was worried I might struggle. It was fine by the next morning!

It's always best to get checked. I will give you a tiny ray of sunshine though. I know a woman who's had a support belt from about 8 weeks. She's had previous problems with her back. So it's a weak point already.

I have lower back pains from poor posture/too much bending at work (nurse) so also have a weak point.

Once mri out of way and you have results, self refer to physio. It won't do any harm to get on their books for relevant exercises.

Hope it all works out

very tiny hugs that no-one will see

Original poster

losthermind · 04/02/2015 11:14

number3 that sounds very similar to what happened to me,
I had to have the emergency laminectomy because I was unable to get off the floor or pass urine for over 24 hours, they told me I was millimetres away from my spinal chord being severed from the discs, so I feel honestly blessed that they were able to save my legs.
I have nerve damage radiating from my buttocks all the way down to my feet, sometimes it can be quite painful like a stabbing sensation.
Im hoping its nothing too drastic and i would rather be safe than sorry, to be honest i should have addressed this last week but i was hoping it would fix itself comeagain that's good to know and thankyou both for sending me such positive replies, its definitely what i need to hear at the moment xx

OP posts:

Number3cometome · 04/02/2015 11:21

Please look after yourself OP, it is incredibly debilitating as well as dangerous and when we go all 'soft' with our ligaments in pregnancy it really doesn't help!

Defo push for physio, that really helps and if need be, go on crutches for a while.

Hope the MRI is ok, I have had tons and still hate every second of them

Number3cometome · 04/02/2015 11:22

Oh! and make sure you see an Anaesthetist during your pregnancy, the last think you want is someone sticking needles in and not knowing what is going on, you need a clear plan in your notes.

comeagainforbigfudge · 04/02/2015 11:22

Oops I've just seen my kindle renamed you as mastermind

henceforth you have no longer lost your mind but are in fact masterminding it all....

Original poster

losthermind · 04/02/2015 11:51

I've just rang the GP back up to ask if they had an idea when the ambulance would be coming, they said up to 4 hours when they rang at 9.40 am so i could be waiting a while longer.
I've had plenty of MRI scans so I know what's in store, I had sessions of physio on my back last year but they discharged me as they felt there was nothing more they could do for me, hopefully they will refer me back. I'm still waiting on my pain management referral! time to become a pain in their arses me thinks

OP posts:

Number3cometome · 04/02/2015 12:13

Have you considered a spinal fusion? Obviously will be post-natal, but certainly worth looking at.

Pain management is interesting. I've learned some techniques, shame they didn't get you in sooner as it would help with labour.

Original poster

losthermind · 04/02/2015 12:25

I will ask to see my specialist at the Walton centre and speak with her about it, it's just very frustrating at the moment, it feels as though I've been lost in the system almost. I was referred to a specialist regarding my pregnancy and condition 6 weeks ago and haven't heard a thing from them. I'm waiting on pain management and bladder control too. I want to make sure that I am being given the appropriate care in my pregnancy and i have my 2 children to think about also, and the uncertainty of not actually knowing what is happening right now is making me feel very anxious

OP posts:

tabulahrasa · 04/02/2015 12:33

I know nothing about your spinal issues, but on a hopefully slightly reassuring note...

I had back pain in early pregnancy...way before the size of the baby could be causing anything and it was purely down to the softening of ligaments and all those lovely hormonal changes.

So it could just be a pregnancy symptom.

Obviously everything needs to be checked out with a more complicated medical history, but I thought it might make you a bit less anxious to know that it could be nothing.

Number3cometome · 04/02/2015 13:15

Oh lost I really feel so sad for you! It's awful because you know as you get bigger it's going to get more difficult, but with the right help and support that doesn't have the be the case.

Tabulah is quite right, this may not even be the sciatica, but some other pregnancy symptoms.

You do really need to push them for some urgent help, it's not fair to have to manage in this amount of pain.

comeagainforbigfudge · 04/02/2015 13:23

lost do you know the name of the specialist you've been referred to?

You could always try phoning their secretary? Or your current specialists secretary to see if they can help? And make sure the referral was sent!)

With regards to physio, get in touch with maternity hospital. The maternity physios are the ones you need to see whilst pregnant. Most other physios won't touch you as it's not their speciality. (Our work one won't touch us with a barge pool!)

koloumbo · 04/02/2015 17:34

Hi lost , just sending over some sympathy and seeing how you are. I've had cauda equine syndrome and thankfully the surgery saved my legs too leaving a fair amount of nerve damage.
I know how worrying it is as having dc1 there were lots of problems and it's incredibly painful, especially coming off things like gabapentin and having to manage your growing uterus and getting about.
Just want to reassure you that he did arrive safe and well, all be it under a general anaesthetic but I'm now pregnant with dc2 and they have given me the choice to have a spinal this time.

Take care of yourself it's a really stressful time especially if you're moving too. I really hope the mri comes back ok for you and the rest of the pregnancy is safe.. I'm also under the walton centre so possibly local to you if you need some friendly support

Number3cometome · 05/02/2015 09:22

koloumbo

Do you have a spinal fusion?

I had a GA with DC1, spinal block (amazing) with DC2, but since had a fusion. Am seeing an anaesthetist next month, but worrying it will be GA only!

ChatEnOeuf · 05/02/2015 10:05

Hope the scan was ok OP

Number3 I had a fusion as a teenager. Anaesthetist reviewed my XR and felt that "an experienced consultant...on a good day...probably has one shot at a spinal" Thankfully my DD got herself out of the transverse lie she had been in and I managed a normal delivery.

Number3cometome · 05/02/2015 11:37

ChatEnOeuf
That's what they said when I had my spinal for my DD before my fusion.

I was all starved and ready for a GA, then he said he would give it one try, if it failed, I would be put to sleep (GA not to death lol)

He done it, and I didn't even know he had done it! Didn't feel a thing (thank you nerve damage )

This time it's all metal work though, so not sure?

TBH I am happy to have a GA if it gets baby out safely (natural is not an option for me) but of course would much prefer to be awake!

What level is your fusion?

koloumbo · 06/02/2015 17:53

Hope you're doing ok Op?

Pancakeflipper · 06/02/2015 17:55

Hope things going ok.

ChatEnOeuf · 08/02/2015 08:06

I'm top-to-tail fused, Number3, C7-L5 - meeting anaesthetist next month...to talk and review films, just in case things have changed in the last few years.

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread