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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Upper back pain

12 replies

MendaciousMabel · 02/05/2023 11:13

I really don't know what to do about middle back/sides pain I've been having for a few weeks. I feel like I've tried everything, changed bras to more comfortable ones, exercises to alleviate pain, sleeping with a pillow under my upper back and bump, paracetamol, getting up often walking and standing and it's just getting worse and worse.

I work an office based job, so am sat down most of the day, and I think I am basically straining while sitting and that's causing the pain.

My midwife was a bit stumped as it's normally the lower back where pain is more typical. She did say I could try and get a physio referral but it's a long wait list.

I'm so stressed about it, I can't sleep very well, it's hard being in some sort of pain even when sitting on the sofa with lots of cushions, sometimes I just cannot sit in a way that relieves it. Basically just feel at my wits end as I feel like there's nothing else I can do.

I'm 31 weeks and not due to go on my mat leave until 37 weeks, I don't think I can manage more of this.

I'm worried about being signed off work as it is a peak period for us, and if doctor doesn't think it is pregnancy related because of it being my mid-upper back and sides.

Has anyone else experienced this? Any ideas for what I can else I can do? Sorry if this post comes across as a load of desperate rabble, I've had about 3 hours sleep and feeling very stressed.

OP posts:
SeaToSki · 02/05/2023 11:46

Have you been checked for a UTI? Some times back pain isnt actually in the back

oliveandwell · 02/05/2023 11:47

I had this from 20 weeks to about 36 weeks.

I threw the kitchen sink at it, had osteopathy, acupuncture, and did lots of upper back and rib cage releasing yoga videos.

The best relief I got was kneeling on the floor and leaning forwards over my birth ball. And also sitting on it to watch TV etc.

Could you get one to sit on at your desk?

I had left work by 30 weeks luckily but can imagine that's awful.

Everything I did helped, but it didn't completely go until I gave birth.

oliveandwell · 02/05/2023 11:48

I also had to give up on bras completely

Felicity42 · 02/05/2023 11:48

Could it be indigestion or excess stomach acid? That can be like a nudging ache in your back between shoulder blades.
Have you tried Gavisvon...if you are not already drinking gallons of the stuff!

gamerchick · 02/05/2023 11:49

Gallstones can make themselves known in pregnancy.

MendaciousMabel · 02/05/2023 11:53

Thanks for the responses so far - I haven't been checked for UTI, I've spoken to my midwife and she didn't suggest this, just exercise and possible physio. I am planning to contact GP anyway just for them to check and see if it is something beyond muscular strain.

OP posts:
SaveMeFromMyBoobs · 02/05/2023 11:57

Whats your bra size? My boobs are huge (hence the name), so I tended to get upper back pain anyway which got much worse as things started to soften.

MendaciousMabel · 02/05/2023 12:02

@SaveMeFromMyBoobs - only a 34C and they haven't grown much at all during pregnancy!

OP posts:
BurbageBrook · 02/05/2023 13:46

GPs tend to be understanding about signing people off in pregnancy. Definitely go there. Sounds horrible!

Mattieispregnant · 02/05/2023 20:16

I am 23 weeks and am absolutely tortured with pain at the side of my spine at bra strap level. It started at about 16 weeks. I wake up ok but as day goes on it gets progressively worse. It used to only come on when sitting, but now it’s sitting and standing. The only relief is lying. I’ve tried different bras/ sports bra/ no bra (probably best option for pain), doing Pilates , regular exercise, paracetamol, deep heat, anti inflammatory rubs, massage etc and nothing really helps. It’s making me demented, but thankfully I can do quite a bit of work from home. I’m dreading another 4 months of this!

Serus · 11/01/2024 18:26

Hiya, wondering if you found anything that helped I’ve got the same issue 35 weeks pregnant! Dr prescribed cocodamol cause I can’t even sleep with the pain between my shoulders but I’m reluctant to take it!!

Mattieispregnant · 12/01/2024 09:55

Oh god it ruined my pregnancy. I ended up on a pain patch and it maybe helped slightly. When I went in for my c section they told me they would need to take the patch off and I was terrified… but since the spinal (and obviously my son being born) the pain has never returned. It nearly drove me insane and seems so uncommon. I did find a physio that also used a lot of pressure on pain area and that definitely helped a little for short periods

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