Lower back twinges -- time for osteo?

6 replies

amitymama · 13/05/2008 13:48

I had horrid SPD in my last pregnancy so I'm super wary of it this time. I want to be as preventative as possible and get to an osteo or chiropractor as soon as I think things are starting to hurt. However, because I'm so aware of SPD I don't know if I'm really aware of normal pregnancy aches and pains, iykwim.

For the last few days I've been getting twinges in the left side of the small of my back whenever I go up stairs, stop walking suddenly or just walk too quickly or turn to the side. It's like a little shock wave is being sent through my back, bum and upper thigh. It only lasts a second but I have to change position or stop immediately for it to cease. Is this just part of normal stretching or is this a sign that the SPD may be flaring up again and I should get adjusted at an osteo?

OP posts:

greenlawn · 13/05/2008 16:22

I had spd last time too (2nd pregnancy) made worse by a bad separation of my tummy muscles 1st pregnancy - it could be that the muscles are starting to weaken and this is straining your back? Like you, I've started to have twinges (20 weeks now) - feels like someone is jarring my lower back all the time. Can I recommend physio rather than the other options? I saw someone last time round who helped with the spd and the tummy issue, and it was better than the chiro I saw (who helped with the acute pain I had but didn't do anything preventative).

Good luck ...

Original poster

amitymama · 13/05/2008 17:21

What exactly does a physio do, though? I saw one in my last pg and all they did was give me a support belt and a sheet with some exercises on it. Didn't help my pain one iota.

OP posts:

FrannyandZooey · 13/05/2008 17:24

what did the osteopath do last time?

a physio will yes give you support belt, check there is no underlying problem causing spd and give you advice / exercises

but usual spd is not curable, you can only minimise pain and damage as far as I am aware

greenlawn · 13/05/2008 17:54

I saw the chiro first, when the pain was really acute and he just said my back had gone into a muscular spasm, which he worked on to release - but within days it was back again. My GP referred me to the physio on the nhs and she took me through the exercises (there was a little gym attached to the clinic) - while I was pregnant with no.2 there was not a huge amount she could do to "cure" it, but she did her best to try and make sure it didn't get any worse. She also measured the gap in my tummy and then assessed each time I saw her to see how it was doing. I do think its important that they actually show you the exercises as they are easy to get wrong and you can make things worse if you are too enthusiastic! With the spd, there wasn't a great deal she could do, so it was mostly just assessment and advice. Then after no.2 was born I went back again and we started working properly on getting the muscles back together - and I had no problems for the next 4 years till just now (pg again). If it gets bad again I will definitely ask to be referred back - sorry no experience of an osteo so can't help there!

FrannyandZooey · 13/05/2008 18:11

I've just been discharged by the physio as she says there is nothing further she can do

the belt helps a lot, though, as does being aware what can make it worse, and trying to rest where possible

woose · 14/05/2008 09:33

amitymama- I am having exactly the same sorts of pain as you and in the same place. It has got more severe over the last week or so (I am 20 weeks). I went to the doctors yesterday and she made me feel very silly saying that was just what pregnancy was about and get over it basically. In my first pregnancy I was very lucky and experienced no pain at all so this has come as a shock and perhaps I am overreacting I don't know. Anyway, luckily my husband knows some physios at the hospital where he works and they are going to fit me up with a support belt so hopefully that will help. I just don't want to make things any worse than they already are.

Flip