Backache

[Sam29]

Can anyone help? Am just over six months pregnant and suffering horribly with backache. Have been getting it in bed for about last three months but is now fairly constant, particularly right hand side of mid back. Midwife says there is nothing I can do except take paracetomol which have no effect whatsoever! And to go swimming which I will be doing regularly after xmas. Anyone got any other ideas which might ease it? HOt baths help a lot but there is only so long I can spend in a bath!

You could try an osteopath. Again, I'm not sure how much they can do in pregnancy but I visited one when 10 weeks pregnant after locking 2 vertebrae together. After a course of 5 visits or so, I did not suffer from back pain at all for the rest of the pregnancy.

He recommended a hot water bottle or one of this little electric blanket type things. I got one of the blankets and also used it to keep my baby's moses basket warm when I took him out to feed in the night so I got a lot of use out of it I hasten to add that he didn't sleep on the blanket, I just popped it in to keep the blankets warm.

When swimming, you shouldn't do breaststroke with your head out of the water as this puts strain on your lower back - I think front crawl is meant to be better.

Good luck!

There are other pain killers you can take but only on prescription. I think I had co-proxymol plus anti inflammatories. If you're in a lot of pain, see your GP.

I suspect its due to your ever changing posture as your bump grows. Your Lumbar lordosis (the curved bit at the small of your back) gets more pronounced when you are upright to counter effect the weight of the bump in front. When you lie down the muscles and ligaments start to stretch out and pain can result.

Exercise is the best treatment. Ask to be referred to a physiotherapist by your GP for NHS treatment, or pay privately for a manipulative physio/ostoepath or chiropracter. All of whom should be able to help. Sadly, although treatment will help with pain relief, you may find that the problem doesnt completely resolve until after your baby is born as your bump is still growing. That's why a good exercise programme is invaluable to self treat on a daily basis.

My top tip exercises (yes, I am a physio, but a SAHM now)are...
Lie on the floor with knees bent, feet flat. Gently roll your knees from side to side. You should feel a stretch in your lower back as your knees drop a little further each time. Repeat 10-20 times.
In the same starting position, clench your tummy muscles to push the small of your back down in to the floor so that you are eliminating the curve in your lower back. Hold for 5secs and release. Repeat 10-20 times. (these are called pelvic tilts)
On all fours, allow your tummy to really hang/sag so that your lumbar curve is exagerated (not into pain) and then clench your tummy muscles and push your back up to the ceiling so you are rounding your back. This is called the cat in yoga. Repeat slowly 5-10 times.
Finally sit facing backwards on a kitchen chair, resting your arms and head forwards so that you are relaxed and get dp/dh to rub the affected area to eliviate the muscle tension. You could invest in one of these Petmasseurs. I get dh to rub my muscles with one of these and its fab. Saves his fingers and it results in a longer massage. (www.petmasseurs.co.uk) And no I'm not an agent!!

You have to be really careful with anti-inflammatories, esp in the last trimester. I wouldn't take anything that your doc hasn't OK'd!
I would second the idea about a physiotherapy referral. I had SPD in my last pregnancy and half an hour with the physio giving me tips for posture and things madea huge difference, I was much better for the remainder of my pregnancy.
It's awful, isn't it? But it does resolve after giving birth!

Thanks for those exercises honeybunny. Was aware of the cat one but will try all the others as well as stop work at the end of this week and will have time for such things instead of collapsing on the sofa in front of Eastenders! It has actually been better over the weekend so have a sneaking suspicion it may be something to do with work, chairs, desks etc.