Disc herniation - experiences please

ConfusedHedgehog · 2025-01-07T14:06:23+00:00

Hello! I’m hoping to hear some stories about pregnancy with a disc herniation. 27F - I suffered with a lot of pain for over two used due to an l4/5 disc herniation, I had a discectomy and 7 weeks later, reherniated on the same disc. I am currently trying to recover and rehabilitate myself and have declined further surgery. Has anyone had an experience with a disc herniation/surgery and how it impacted pregnancy/birth and also, looking after a small baby whilst keeping your spine in check? I have had one ovary removed too, so am aware things might be more difficult to become pregnant but my main concern is my back, I don’t want to not be able to enjoy having a baby☹️

remaininghopeful23 · 07/01/2025 20:50

Hi @ConfusedHedgehog I have also had 2 surgeries for disc herniation, mine at L5S1. Reherniated same disc 5 years apart so both surgeries were on the same disc. I had a major flare of pain and symptoms a few months before conceiving, and began pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatments with a pain specialist. Having tried everything under the sun before that, I have to say I was amazed by how well it worked for me. I was warned that I may need to be seen again in pregnancy but that it is safe to have while pregnant. Not sure if you've ever looked into PRF but just wanted to let you know my experience of it as I hadn't heard of it before.

I was blessed in pregnancy with my back. It was the best it's ever been. Occasionally back issues can get better in pregnancy due to the hormone relaxin softening and loosening everything. I was probably one of the lucky ones. Postnatally it was fine for a time but now 5 months in I'm feeling it again. I feel like pregnancy changed my posture and that is now leading to pain flare ups. Plus a 7.5kg baby in my arms a lot of the day is an added stressor. I have not been diligent in looking after my back and do feel that some physio to help posture and strengthening my core would get me back on track. I definitely lost a bit of my core strength in pregnancy. In terms of caring for baby the usual rules apply with lifting - Bend from the knees, try not to stoop etc.
That's my experience and while I am starting to struggle a bit now, I think it's partly my own doing by not prioritising a bit of time to work on myself.

Original poster

ConfusedHedgehog · 08/01/2025 09:49

remaininghopeful23 · 07/01/2025 20:50

Hi @ConfusedHedgehog I have also had 2 surgeries for disc herniation, mine at L5S1. Reherniated same disc 5 years apart so both surgeries were on the same disc. I had a major flare of pain and symptoms a few months before conceiving, and began pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatments with a pain specialist. Having tried everything under the sun before that, I have to say I was amazed by how well it worked for me. I was warned that I may need to be seen again in pregnancy but that it is safe to have while pregnant. Not sure if you've ever looked into PRF but just wanted to let you know my experience of it as I hadn't heard of it before.

I was blessed in pregnancy with my back. It was the best it's ever been. Occasionally back issues can get better in pregnancy due to the hormone relaxin softening and loosening everything. I was probably one of the lucky ones. Postnatally it was fine for a time but now 5 months in I'm feeling it again. I feel like pregnancy changed my posture and that is now leading to pain flare ups. Plus a 7.5kg baby in my arms a lot of the day is an added stressor. I have not been diligent in looking after my back and do feel that some physio to help posture and strengthening my core would get me back on track. I definitely lost a bit of my core strength in pregnancy. In terms of caring for baby the usual rules apply with lifting - Bend from the knees, try not to stoop etc.
That's my experience and while I am starting to struggle a bit now, I think it's partly my own doing by not prioritising a bit of time to work on myself.

@remaininghopeful23 thank you so much for your reply! Sometimes it can seem like you’re so alone with back problems, so it’s nice to hear from someone who understands the pain, shame we have both been through it though!

I actually haven’t heard of PRF, I am from the UK, so I will have a look to see if this is offered here! Which type did you get? Just so I can make sure I’m looking into the right thing!

im so glad you had a good experience being pregnant. Yes I totally agree, core strength is really important and I am trying to do as many safe core exercises as I can and I am thinking of starting Pilates to help with that. Maybe something similar will help you handle the niggling pains before they get worse too?

This may be a silly question, but I know bending with the knees etc is important but in certain situations where baby is too low and far away, what do you do? I know sometimes now if I drop things and I squat I can’t keep my back straight and get things.

i may just be overthinking it, as I’m in the “guarding” phase, where I feel like a robot because I’m so scared to move and damage my back more!

OP posts:

MidlandsWoman · 08/01/2025 10:20

I had two DC after an L4/L5 discectomy (whole disc removed).

I was lucky - I had absolutely no problems due to pregnancy, although the 'specialist' antenatal back clinics were rubbish for people who have already had genuinely very serious back problems. You will have had all the advice that they give already in some form or other. There was one very specialist session I managed to get into which was useful and I met one other person in the same position (we both thought that the usual advice was pretty pointless for us) although no-one could give proper specialist guidance. There is definitely a need for specialist information.

Two things which I could have done with advice about concern labour and birth:

The epidural did not completely work because of scar tissue. It partially worked (enough to take the edge off). For complete anaesthesia, I needed a spinal block. In both cases, they had difficulty administering it because of the scars. It's best to see the anaesthetist in advance to discuss this.
I had a very long labour (several days) with DC1 even after induction (and failure to induce labour with DC2). Some doctors and midwives thought the failure to progress with my DC1 was because of the back problems (nerve damage or the fact my muscles were so used to supporting me that they couldn't relax properly - so my core strength was actually unhelpful in labour) since something wasn't triggering my body to respond correctly. I think they could well be right, but we'll never know.

Good luck!