Back ache! And Tens?

[chloejessmeg]

Hello. I am about 25 weeks and have such back ache. I had it when I was preg with DD too and I have a big bump already. It is really starting to get to me as I can't sleep, even though I am so tired and then I have my 12month old to look after all day and CM too so am busy all the time. My Mum keeps telling me I shouldn't be picking DD up but what else can I do? She isn't walking yet and is going through a clingy patch. She can't crawl everywhere!

I have a Tens machine somewhere, which says you can use it for back ache from 12 weeks, But I have been warned that it might not be safe to use that early, and my info might be out of date as it is a bit old. I got it second hand and although it doesn't look old, it comes with a video rather than DVD so must be at least a few years old. If anybody knows the answer to this I would be grateful!

I have been having paracetamol and a hot water bottle but it isn't enough! STill really hurts, and in bed, I have nothing to keep the hot water bottle in place, with enough pressure to do any good.

I am soo tired this morning, because I was up most of the night with back ache and then had to get up at 7.30am.

Any advice?

Bump

You shouldn't use a TENS machine before 36/37wks as it can induce premature labour. Or at least that is the guidance on the machine I hired.

I was given a TENS machine for lower back pain whilst 11 weeks pregnant (last November). Was told OK as long as didn't use it too low down in the pelvic area (by physio). As it happens I went on to loose the pregnancy at 12 weeks, but that was unrelated (missed miscarriage, embryo never got beyond 5 weeks). However I didn't find it helped all that much anyway - it was a distraction whilst wearing it, but it isn't a lasting form of pain relief. The only thing that has really helped is doing the physio excercises, I'm still not fully better and have finally been referred to a back specialist for an MRI scan (although we are TTC again, which may scupper those plans)

Also, I was advised against using heat for the back pain as it increases blood flow to the area and thus increases the inflammation. What you need to use is ice to reduce the inflammation. Apply a cold pack for max. 10 minutes in an hour.

Your Mum is right lifting heavy babies is a bad thing - but I sympathise, I have a hefty toddler who os also very clingy. She very quickly learnt that cuddles were only possible on the sofa (I was sofa bound for 3 weeks anyway). She used to grab me by the finger and demand "Sofa Mummy"!

MY DD isn't too heavy for her age which is a good thing. She is about 20lb/9kg. I don't carry her around all day or anything, but she is only 12 months, so can't get herself up and down the stairs, into high chair etc. And can't crawl if outside.

That is quite a mixed responce! So still don't know what to do!

Last year I was in hospital at 33 weeks with contractions, I was given various medications, but asked if I could use a tens machine to relieve my immense back pain with the contractions. The hospital response was that there was no way they would let me use one of their tens machines, but would not stop me using my own. When I asked why I was told that in some women, the tens machine can actually trigger or make contractions worse (hence why some people do not find it helpful). However the latest information is that if used and the tens machine does start contractions that removing the tens machine should stop the contractions. It is the risk that it can start premature labour that the advice is not to use the tens machine before 37 weeks.

I went ahead and used the tens machine, and it helped relieve the pain of the contractions for me, and did not lead to prem labour. I used it when needed from 33weeks until giving birth with two of my pregnancies. So it is at your own risk, is what they say, if you are willing to take the risk of inducing contractions and possible prem labour then go ahead. If however you are not then don't. It is only a few women that experience contractions caused by the tens and from what I gather as soon as the machine is taken off the contractions stop. But no-one is willing to commit to saying it is safe to use a tens machine before 37 weeks.

I hope that this information is helpful.

Thank you Rainbow. It is hard to know what to do. I could use it, and hope I am fine and hopefully get some pain relief from this awful backache! BUT if I were to go into premature labour then I would never forgive myself.

bump