Getting pregnant while having back problems

[MaryH90]

I’ve had back problems for many years (on and off every few months originally possibly sciatica now constant since a few months after my DD was born). The cause of the increased pain is still unknown but I think it could possibly be due to the difficulties I had with the epidural being administered during labour in addition to the stress of carrying her. I’m now undergoing physio to try and improve things but have seen no improvement so far. She is now 18 months old and I would like to start trying for another when she is about 3. I’m now concerned that the back issues will continue indefinitely and the affects it will have during another pregnancy and parenting after. But I also don’t want to put off trying because I could be dealing with these issues for years to come and I’m 100% sure I want another, ideally with a smallish age gap. Has anyone else been in this position and what did you decide to do?

I had an operation to remove part of a disc 3 years ago as it was causing severe sciatica. I had a great recovery and my sciatica only ever came back as a result of prolonged sitting. However I was a regular gym goer, a runner, and did Pilates regularly. Within 4 weeks of getting pregnant my sciatica kicked back in, at 16 weeks I had to stop working/driving, and have been pretty much housebound. I’m in worse shape now than I was before my surgery. The doctors blame the pregnancy hormone relaxin. I’m 33 weeks now so it’s too early to know how I’ll recover from this pregnancy.

I think you can only hope for the best and plan for the worst. Could you get help in to the house if you found the pregnancy difficult? What would the financial impact be if you couldn’t work? It might be worth talking to your doctor/physio and see what their view is.

I think it can go either way tbh. I have had spinal surgery with a cage inserted. I also have fibromyalgia. However when i became pregnant things started to get bettercertainly halfway through the 2nd tri and i was ok. Not needing to use my walking sticks etc. Ive had relief for just under a year after birth but the nerve pain is starting to rear its ugly head again. I wont say its been perfect, ive had to genuinley pace myself as much as you can with 3 children. I have asked the dr if synthetic versions of the pregnancy hormones are available but they said that they dont understand enough about hormones yet.

Thanks for your responses, I did wonder whether relaxin would actually help during the pregnancy as I felt great during my last one with no sign of the sciatica just some upper back pain which I presume was down to my huge bump. So I would hope that it would have the same effects again but because we don’t know what’s causing it there’s no way of knowing. I do have a very supportive husband who I know would help me in any ways that I was struggling which he’s shown recently when I had a particularly bad time with my back for a week and he did everything. I think you’re right to say gaining advice from my doctor would be a good idea. My husband is very concerned that I’ll become completely crippled by the pain during pregnancy and is very reluctant to think about having another but I just couldn’t rule it out regardless of the risks. Did either of you consider not having another because of the pain you experienced?

I was having severe back pain and issues when i fell pregnant unexpectedly with my second baby. we had been ttc when i had a flare up with my back, to the point of being unable to work due to mobility and pain. I saw the gp who told me to rub it and exercise. I booked a sports massage with a local company who took one look at me and said I needed a chiropractor. so I went for my initial consultation and started treatment. I have had to pay privately and it's been long process but im finally comfortable with my back. I have been going frequently, twice week to start. and now every 6 weeks. currently 27 weeks pregnant. we don't have a lot of spare money in our house and to pay to see someone made things very tight but i can safely say its the best money we spent. the difference is massive. some times I have felt worse before I felt better but i will continue to go and hopefully prevent any issues before they develop. I will always have to go, hopefully we can build up to 6 months... but i will always put that money aside as the difference is massive. back pain is awful! hope you feel better soon x x x