Back pain - when to worry?

[Andersonx3]

Hi all, second post in one day - my bad! I have a history of back pain, potential undiagnosed Ankylosing spondylitis. It's been getting gradually worse since week 15 and I'm now 21+1. Today it is unbearable. I can't sit down, stand up, lay down or walk properly without being in agony. I've taken codeine (prescribed due to previous back issues) but it's not even touching it. I was taking a whole cocktail of painkillers before becoming pregnant.

My question is - should I worry or just see it through with warm baths, gentle walks etc?

Thanks!

There are stronger painkillers you can take in pregnancy, but of course they have their risks and should only be used under medical guidance. If it's unbearable you need to get a referral to discuss your options, are you midwife led or under consultant care as well?

@Bambamber I'm consultant lead. I think I'll call the community MW in the morning and see what they say. I've been needing to wee frequently but producing very little so thinking it may all be linked to a UTI? I had one at about 13 weeks but not since!

Do you have a pregnancy pillow? If not get a firm u shaped one. Having the ability to wrap my legs around it at night has really helped my back and hip pain. Another thing to consider is whether it getting worse could be linked to constipation - suggest a bit of lactulose to see if that helps.

Please don't just grin and bear it for your whole pregnancy. That's what I did with my first and then I had terrible back problems throughout the first year of my daughter's life. For me, there was no recovery time once baby was born, I was still under a lot of physical strain carrying, changing, buggy pushing etc. and the problems got worse and worse, culminating in me collapsing in the street when out with her one day. Then I could hardly move for 2 weeks.

Unfortunately, depending on who you talk to you'll get very different advice. Some doctors or other medical professionals will say back pain is totally normal and it's all due to loosening joints etc. but maybe you'll be able to get a physio referral or find someone who can help. I had physio in the end and have been much more careful with myself physically this pregnancy. We also changed our mattress when I had the problems before and that really helped. I hope you can get some relief, and I really, really feel for you!

@someonesmother oh bless you that sounds horrific

I'm already under physio, it's not helping yet! And we changed our mattress recently thinking it would help but it didn't. The first trimester was great I had no back pain but now I can't get on/off the loo on my own.. how am I going to manage at work tomorrow?!

Please do make sure you speak to someone, you absolutely shouldn't suffer in silence. It's hard going into pregnancy with pre existing chronic pain, especially when pregnancy exacerbates the problem. Good luck

@Bambamber I will do, thank you for your concern!