Chronic Pain and Pregnancy

[PinkPlantCase]

Hiya I just wondered if there was anyone else around who has chronic pain and is trying to manage it during pregnancy.

Before TTC I worked closely with my GP to come of the tablets I took everyday to minimise the pain. I was on Candesartan but have previously been on gabapentin and tried amitriptyline. Coming off the candesartan wasn’t too bad, helped by working from home and never having to carry anything! I just had the odd flare up every few weeks which was managed by codeine and paracetamol. The GP said I could continue to take codeine and paracetamol during pregnancy.

Now I am actually pregnant! Hurray! Found out this week and last night I woke up in so much pain. Huge flare up. I feel so bad now for taking pain killers 🙁 I used heat as well but it was so bad I really wouldn’t have coped without pain relief.

I’m only 4 weeks and so worried that the tablets will harm the little embryo, especially when the organs and brain start to form.

Anyone else going through this too?

I need to take codeine and paracetamol some times. I spoke to my GP about this she is very much of the opinion that I should use the lowest dose for the shortest time.

This study helped me weigh up the risks www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3214255/

Not me, but my DD2 is 3 months pregnant and has Ehlers Danlos syndrome..and is usually on a lot of meds. She is ok to continue gabapentin (she's on a high dose) BUT the doctor had to precribe a much higher dose of folic acid as the gabapentin can affect that, and also mega vit D.I'm not sure if she is still on amitriptyline but that was a low dose anyway.
Unless you are VERY lucky and don't get constipated I'd REALLY avoid codeine..it will bung you up so badly in pregnancy. DD2 has stopped it entirely for the duration. And yes she is in a lot of pain. Heat, tens machine , freeze gel etc are helping a little but there is no real solution and is likely got get worse.
I'd say get to your GP asap re the folic acid and vit D and minimise what you take. DD is under consultant care, genetics, and a specialise EDS physio so depending on the cause of your condition, there may be extra help out there :)

Hi, I've got fibromyalgia and also am in the first trimester. I've found that normal pregnancy cramps can trigger me to be worse. Heat has been my best painkiller so far, I also use a weighted blanket and WFH has been a life saver - if I feel I'm getting uncomfortable at my work desk I can move to the sofa/bed for a bit. It took us a long time to conceive and I decided to ride it out without drugs where possible, keep in communication with your GP/midwife/consultant about what is recommended. I'll be getting a referral to a consultant who specialises in pain and pregnancy but that's not happened yet.

At the moment you don't share a blood supply with the baby, so it's unlikely that painkillers will have any difference on the development of organs etc - it's more about miscarriage safety at this stage of pregnancy. I'm not on the same drugs so don't want to comment on that but follow the advice you get from your GP and you should be fine

Thanks both, the Gp got me on higher dose folic acid and vitamin D for 3 months before TTC so we’ve covered on that one!

My pains from damaged nerves following a car accident when I was a child. I’m not under a pain clinic anymore as they ran out of things to try. I found nerve block injections a bit hit and miss and was informed that they weren’t safe during pregnancy.

I have a Tens machine but the worst pain I get is on the back of my head around the base of my skull and I can’t put the Tens pads there 😏

@StillMedusa interested to hear about how your daughter gets on. I don’t really know any other ‘young’ people with chronic pain. My Gp was really insistent that I couldn’t get pregnant on gabapentin though. I suppose someone under consultant care would know more about this.

Hadn’t considered the constipation 😂 I guess that’ll get worse with pregnancy anyway.

@PlanBea thanks for the reassurance about sharing a bloody supply. I’m glad the flare up came after implantation as I’d heard that even just paracetamol can impact on that!

I haven told the GP I’m pregnant yet. Maybe I’ll push for a refer to someone who understands more about pain management in pregnancy.

I have chronic pain from Crohn’s disease, fibromyalgia and unstable discs in my back. I was advised that paracetamol and codeine are the best options (lowest dose, shortest time). I try and pace myself and rest when I need to. I’ve accepted that some things will need to slide so I can feel as well as possible

@PinkPlantCase when you have your booking in with the midwife she will go though your medical history, and should then refer you to the consultant. It should just be automatic rather than any kind of fight for it (at least it was for me and for my friend too), good luck!