Pain and paracetamol

[Archie1982]

Morning.

I posted another thread related to neck and shoulder pain, which is meant to be relatively common during pregnancy. I’m at 18 weeks, so definitely not ectopic pregnancy related.

I’ve been awake all night with the pain....although managed to get about half an hours sleep at 5am (on holiday and it’s 6.30am here).

The pain is in my right side neck and shoulder.

Anyway, I’ve avoided taking paracetamol based on a recent article I read about pregnant women not taking it. NHS advice is to limit taking anything where possible, but along the lines of paracetamol being most appropriate.

My husband is saying I shouldn’t take anything. I’m so tired and it’s so sore though 🙁.

I think a little later in the morning I will have to see about getting to a Doctor (not so easy as on hol out of the country).

I think I just need some kind of virtual hug more than advice. My husband was actually a bit of a dck and that’s upset me too. He had too much to drink (despite me asking him to limit it while I’m in pain, just in case I need him). This morning he told me to stop crying and just go to a fcking Doctor (drink talking)....🙁

On the plus side, I’m now watching the sun rise over the sea, seeing as I was awake.

Would a heat pad help? Personally I would take paracetamol if you think it would help. I'd recommend you talking to your midwife if you have concerns.

P.S your husband sounds nasty, sorry.

Thanks moita. Will see if I can get hold of a heat pad. Staying at a hotel out in the sticks, so will see if the hotel possibly have one in their first aid kit.

Completely agree - husband totally nasty this morning. He probably won’t even remember when he gets up. Left him in the hotel room.

Could also try standing under a shower with hot water? Sorry you're in pain xx

If you can’t sleep with the pain I would take the paracetamol. I would also be absolutely furious with your DH, he needs to learn how to be supportive now, given that you still have just over half of your pregnancy to go.

take it! i take it rarely, but people have been taking it for years during pregnancy, and its been rendered safe at low dosage by the NHS, so please stop forcing yourself to suffer and putting your body under more unneccesary stress and just take some. xx

If you go to see a dr, the first thing they will say is ‘have you taken any paracetamol’ and will be unlikely to offer much more advice until you have tried that as a first step. You could also try warm and cold compresses. You probably need to see a chiro or physio more than you need a dr.

Difficult because you are on holiday but if you can find a hot water bottle or heat pad that could help immensely.

Thank you for your comments. I think I will go with the paracetamol, but save it until bed time to help me sleep. For some reason the pain is a bit better during the day.

This is the article that had worried me: www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-43756683

Husband woke up a bit sheepish and apologetic. Will see how long it lasts. Going to send him on a mini mission to see if he can locate a heat pad!

Not trying to convince you either way but I thought this was telling:

*Researchers stressed advice for pregnant women remained unchanged.

Current guidelines say, if necessary, Paracetamol should be used at the lowest possible dose for the shortest possible time. Ibuprofen should be avoided during pregnancy.*

Paracetamol is first line treatment for pain during pregnancy. My midwife and GPs have all assured me the likelihood of it causing any harm at all is, well, they just don't think it will, but obviously they can't categorically say it's 'safe' as there are no clinical trials done on pregnant women for obvious reasons. However pregnancy women routinely take paracetamol and it's reccomended by midwives to deal with the early stages of labour pain. I wouldn't think twice about taking it to try and ease such bad pain tbh but it is a mild painkiller and if the pain is so bad it's stopping you from sleeping I'm not sure it will really help. Second-line treatment is usually co-codamol which is stronger and I've taken it a few times during pregnancy for migraines but only under the advice of a GP, so definitely worth seeing a GP if the paracetamol doesn't help enough.

Other things to try:

• Heat to the area - you can buy heat pads, heat gels etc, even a warm bath/shower should help
• Gentle massage - tell your DH to stop being a prick and do something useful and rub the area for you!
• Gentle stretching - mobilise the area slowly to the point where you feel a bit of a stretch but not aggravated pain (various stretches available online if you do a Google but make sure not to push anything into point of too much pain)

You poor thing. Not the reaction you need from your DH, at least he's being sheepish about it now!

If you can't sleep because of the pain you shouldn't worry about taking the odd paracetamol but obviously if the pain continues you need to go to the Dr.

You could try taking half a tablet - that might take the edge off enough for you to sleep and then you know you've had as little as possible?

@meadowhay 😀 love the gentle massage idea....hubby has been well and truly informed to stop being a prick! He even said he’d have an ice tea instead of a beer (we’re all inclusive). Miracles do happen!!

You guys are right - definitely not worth not sleeping. I think I had clung on to the issue of reducing fertility as there has been a lot of infertility in my family. Definitely telling that advice remains unchanged.

I’ve booked myself in for a maternity massage too....hopefully that will help a bit.

Apologies for my initial meltdown - no sleep + drunk snoring douche husband + pain = highly emotional pregnant lady!! x