Yey I'm pregnant, but it's not so straight forward

[NakedAndAfraid]

I'm 4 weeks pregnant, so too soon to start shouting about it.

I also have MS and in the past few months I've had a host of symptoms.
Namely I've been suffering sporadic/slightly aggressive back spasms. Normally I don't mind these as I have meds.. However I can no longer take these as the risk to baby is too great.

I'm wondering does anyone have any muscle spasm treatments that are pregnancy-safe? I should mention the house we are in does not have a bath so bathing with epsom salts is not an option.
Before becoming pregnant I used a heating pad and a TENS machine as the need arose but I see neither are advised in early pregnancy, if at all.

I work part-time and if I could afford to leave for the duration I think it would make things easier, alas.. I'm pretty broke so I must find another solution

Congratulations on your pregnancy. I think you can probably use TENs and definitely heating pad esp of short stretches. I think best action would be to contact your GP though as you’ll need a referral to the high risk team, they should be able to arrange a fairly urgent consult for you?
Best of luck

Unfortunately I don't know about any meds but I can say I've used a heat pad for various aches and pains through my entire pregnancy with no problems. I was told 20 minutes max with at least 20 minute breaks between uses is safe even early on.

Congratulations and I hope you find some more solutions!

Speak to a consultant not your GP (in my experience GP’s no very little about drugs in pregnancy) about diazepam, I took it in several pregnancies with no issues.

Speak to your consultant. I have MS and mine advised there is treatment they can give if needed.

Epsom salt is magnesium, you can buy magnesium sprays instead. I don't know if it's safe for pregnancy but it is for babies.

@NakedAndAfraid I know it's not best option but do you get sick pay? Could you try for aslong as possible then go off sick when you can anymore it's not ideal but neither is ms! It can't be helped I would recieve full pay on sick and did from 28 weeks of my preg with spd (nurse) was impostor work with the pain and the shifts I then went on mat leave 36 weeks x

Congratulations!Are you red pathway? I have a long standing health condition and soon as l got the positive result I was under my consultant and obstetrician for monitoring. Is your MS nurse/consultant aware?

I don't have any help for you back problems unfortunately, but my closest friend has had MS since she was 16 and when she was pregnant last year her MS was the best it's ever been, even with having to come off all her meds. She stayed off then until the baby was 7 months as she was breastfeeding and then went back on them. I hope your symptoms ease during pregnancy too

@TitianaTitsling what is red pathway?
Consultant doesn't know I'm pregnant yet

@Addler I've heard your ms is supposed to ease with pregnancy, I'm just not at that stage yet. 4 weeks is only a little bit pregnant lol, I think it will take a while for my body to adjust and make those lovely ms fighting hormones

@lastbany unfortunately sick pay is not an option. With my company you have to be working there 5 years to get paid for 5 sick days. I'm there 2.5 years and I've already received 4 days pay and one was in error so I think they're still bitter they paid me that extra day. Farce of a company tbh!

Congrats! As others have said, speak to your consultant. Did you speak to them before TTC? A friend with MS was advised that MS often worsens after having children, so they chose not to have their own children. What about an osteopath?

@AldiAisleofCrap I actually thought about diazepam but the google results scared me lol. Do you mind me asking what dose you took and how often or was it 'as needed'?

@Elouera I haven't had a chance to tell my consultant yet and tbh the hospital he works in is so under staffed I could be dead before he gets back to me touch wood. He did know I was TTC though and after having come off some ms meds that would for sure hurt a baby in utero he put me back on a safer drug last week.. however that take 6 months to take effect. I've never thought about an osteopath, I might do a search around my area here and see What's around

Also thank you to everyone that congratulated me!! I really appreciate it as I can't tell friends or family yet

Just an FYI- Osteopaths are registered practitioners and need (I think) 5yrs of training. If you find one, you can check their registration online, and check there are no restrictions, and how long they've been qualified. I've found them better than a chiropractor and much more of a medical type massage/manipulation than say a masseuse at a beauty shop.

In my case, I get the occasional twinge where the bra strap goes. A chiropractor wanted me to sign up to a course of 5 sessions, whereas the osteopath saw me once. The issue was resolved, and she said to only return if I needed too! Sorry to any chiropractors, but its seems their training is more about money, rather than helping the persons pain!

@NakedAndAfraid it was 2mg as needed so once a day sometimes twice but some days none. Consultant was very reassuring, babies had to stay in for 72 hours after birth for observation but none had any issues.

Sorry 2mg x 3 so 6mg in total each dose.

Hi @NakedAndAfraid (good name fyi, after the TV prog?). Its the pathway for pregnancy if you need to have extra observation and tests/scans- my consultant put me on it from moment was Pg, like you had lots of meds to come off of, so you probably should get in touch.

@TitianaTitsling yes after the show, but I've never seen it. I just thought it was a catchy title lol

I googled it and that's an NHS thing? I'm in Ireland. I don't think anything like that exists here but I will speak to my GP on Monday and see what he has to say. Thanks!

I think it's called the 'supported pathway' for you? <a class="break-all" href="https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/0ac5a8-national-maternity-strategy-creating-a-better-future-together-2016-2/?referrer=www.health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Final-version-27.01.16.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.gov.ie/en/publication/0ac5a8-national-maternity-strategy-creating-a-better-future-together-2016-2/?referrer=www.health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Final-version-27.01.16.pdf

@TitianaTitsling that will show you how good my internet skills are lol. Thank you for this! This will be my first baby (if all goes to plan) so this information might come in very handy!