Tips when you're in pain?

[Storm Bride]

I've done something to my back - not sure what. It feels kind of like when I had a pinched nerve years ago, but might be a pulled muscle. I've hardly slept for three nights, because it hurts too much. I can't sit for long, stand for long, or walk for long (walking is probably the most comfortable). DD2 feels like she weighs two tons. I've honestly only ever been in this much pain during the first few days after a c-section.

How do you all cope when you're in pain and have to parent? DS2 took off on me a few minutes ago, and I couldn't even begin to catch up with him (he ran out of the house - I followed, but not very fast). DD2 has a cold and wants to be carried everywhere, but she's just too heavy right now, and I have to put her down a bit.

Do you ask someone for help (who??)? Hire someone? Just collapse and watch moves? I really don't know how to handle this. DH always gets a few days off when I have a c-section. He doesn't get any time off for this.

[aja-belly]

we just take it as easy as we can. movies, easy foods, cleaning can wait. but certainly also be active in fixing the problem (seeing a health professional for your back).

[Storm Bride]

I have a physio appointment this afternoon. The doctor I saw yesterday was useless, except for recommending the physio (listened to me for about a minute, didn't look at my back, or ask anything about where the pain was, offered me a prescription for anti-inflammatories, then said, "oh, then Tylenol - every four hours", when I told her I'm breastfeeding).

When it started, on Saturday evening, we were at a cottage property on a local island. There's no hospital there, and possibly/probably no doctor. The store where I could get liniment or painkillers was closed. I had no desire to just leave it like this for two days. There just weren't any options until we got back.

I've tried movies, and easy foods today. DD2 is just being kind of high maintenance. I'm going to have to figure out how to get some help if physio doesn't work a lot faster than it usually does.

[Learning_Mum]

You'd probably want to go to a chiropractor, unless the physio does adjustments.

Also, I took Ibuprofen (I don't know what you would call that where you are? Maybe the same thing?) while I was breastfeeding after my c-sections as well as Paracetamol (which is Tylenol I think) and that was fine. The doctors weren't worried about me taking it while breastfeeding at all.

Try to keep moving. Unless you've herniated a disc, which I don't think you have because you'd be pretty much unable to move at all, movement is best to try and fix back problems. Also, lie on your back on the floor, bring your knees up to your chest and stretch, that should help a bit.

I did my back in about two years ago. Thankfully my friends husband is a physio and he came round after work and had a look at me. I could not move. When I put it out I was on the toilet and I could literally fall to the floor and then lay there not moving! It was baaaaad. Anyway, he stretched me, did some acupunture, gave me a script for painkillers and told me to keep moving.

[PoppyMama]

I've been having a lot of joint pain since my last son was born (we were in the same DDC) and when the exhaustion is too much I hang in bed with the kids and movies, junky food, etc. I also take an anti-inflammatory dose of ibuprofen (800mg) which helps a lot. Tylenol and herbs do nothing. Tonight I think I'm going to take something a little bit stronger so I can get at least half a nights rest. I am breastfeeding but I don't avoid everything all the time I'm just careful.

[Storm Bride]

The physiotherapist will see me again day after tomorrow. She told me to ice it regularly, stretch it, massage it out and pick up some Voltaren cream (topical anti-inflammatory). She says it's the sacroiliac joint. I just looked that up briefly and it seems to fit, right down to sometimes resembling sciatica.

I think I need to see a podiatrist, honestly. I've been trying to prioritize a few things, but that one's jumping up the list fast...new glasses, then orthotics - after I'm done the physio.

[Learning_Mum]

I've had back problems for years, and stretching everyday does wonders for sorting it out! I found I constantly had sore feet at the end of the day too and the stretching really helped that as well - I think it was a case of my muscles being too tight. I stretch everything - arms, legs, back, as well as sit ups to strengthen my core. Takes about 20 mins at the end of the day and it has helped dramatically! If I skip it for a few days I really notice the difference!

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by Learning_Mum

I've had back problems for years, and stretching everyday does wonders for sorting it out! I found I constantly had sore feet at the end of the day too and the stretching really helped that as well - I think it was a case of my muscles being too tight. I stretch everything - arms, legs, back, as well as sit ups to strengthen my core. Takes about 20 mins at the end of the day and it has helped dramatically! If I skip it for a few days I really notice the difference!

This is part of why I was really upset that this happened now. I hadn't been stretching regularly for months (late pregnancy with dd2, and since her birth). I got back into a regular exercise routine in January, including morning and evening stretching. I don't push it too hard. It just seems so crazy that this happened after I was looking after myself again, not when I wasn't!

My muscles have mostly been too tight since I was...12?

[Drummer's Wife]

complain a lot and try to take it as easy as I can (with kids, and all). I might tell them I'm hurting so I need to rest as much as possible.

I hope you find some relief soon.

[K1329]

I've had ongoing pain issues for over a year now. I'm now under a dr.'s care and doing much better - but, when I was at my worst I hired a friend's pre-teen dd to be a mother's helper. She is 12, not really mature enough to care for my kids on her own, IMO, but did GREAT when I was at home with her. She entertained the kids, ran after the 2yo when necessary and helped out a ton. She was happy to earn a few dollars and I was grateful for the inexpensive help. If your back issue is ongoing, you might consider a mother's helper!

Hope you feel better soon!

[plunky]

Never been in that situation and had a kid at the same time. I've had minor backaches a few times like you described (only minor because they went away), and all I did was take ibuprofen and rest a lot. Do whatever you can to rest and let it heal. Sleep as much as you can. Clearly difficult with young children, though.

[sarahdavida]

A lot of people very close to me have very strongly recommended acupuncture, saying it does wonders (I have never tried it myself, but believe what I am told by others about it´s effects).

And I will also insist that ibuprofen is absolutely safe to take while breastfeeding and necessary if you are talking about inflammation of the muscle(s). Tylenol is not anti-inflammatory, so I am not surprised it didn´t help. It is unbelievable how uninformed some physicians are about the safety of drugs while breastfeeding.

[Storm Bride]

I'll keep up with the physio for now, and if it doesn't seem to be getting results soon, maybe I'll try acupuncture (unfortunately, while I'm okay with needles, in general, I have a "thing" about getting them in my back...used to be a mild thing, but several unwanted spinals have made it a major thing).

I think the physio helped some. I didn't get much sleep last night, but a lot more than I have since this first flared up on Saturday night. Moving in my sleep only caused a dull ache, not a stabbing pain.

I guess my cardio is on hold, too. Maybe I'll go for a walk tonight...slowly.

I'll dig around about ibuprofen. I know I can't take it when I'm pregnant, but I can't remember about breastfeeding. The Voltaren gel seems to be helping, but I wonder a bit about it with breastfeeding...even though they've given it to me post c-section the last four times.

And...YAY!! For the very first time, ds2 seems to have figured out that I really can't do all the things I usually do when I'm in pain. This is a very well-timed leap in his emotional development!

[orangefoot]

Voltarol gel is ibuporfen in gel form.

It is safe for me to use on my skin while taking coumadin but oral NSAID are absolutely a no-no. I have used it several times and it does bring great relief.

I think that the gel doesn't get into your system in the way that an oral NSAID would which is what makes the difference.

I've got some back discomfort right now after falling over ice skating (I know....) I got hit by a bicycle years ago and I have a couple of vertebrae which aren't quite right now. The thing that has helped me this week is something my osteo recommended. I lie on my back with my knees bent and feet flat then rock my knees from side to side to touch the floor each side. Moving my feet closer or further from my bottom stretches different places up my spine.

I hope you feel better soon

[Storm Bride]

Thank you. I hope so, too. I'm whining a lot, and it doesn't look good on me. *sigh*

[One_Girl]

I collapse and we watch movies or I read a book to dd if I can usually, but lately my dd has really gotten hooked on books on cd so I plan on getting a bunch of them from the library next time one of us isn't well.

[Tjej]

Try a chiropracter. I tweaked my back and didn't go for way too long and was parenting all hobbled. I still need to get back to total normal, but the pinching/terrible/instant pain was really helped by chiro adjustment. I went weekly for a month (I think twice the first week). It helped SOOO much. SOOO much.

And icing and stretching help too.

And at bedtime I take a muscle relaxant (mercaptorol or something like that) mixed with ibuprofen (it comes in a purple box, and the brand name one has a guy with needles in his back, I don't remember the name). I am still nursing DS (2yo), and the pharmacist checked it out for me and said it really would be fine.

Tjej

[Storm Bride]

It sounds like you're talking about Robaxacet. I take it occasionally, when I have really bad muscle pain/spasms...but I don't take it at bedtime. I'm a bit paranoid about taking stuff like that when I'm bedsharing.

I suppose a chiro is worth a try, too.

I wish dd2 were a little older (well, no - I don't - she's growing up too fast as it is!). I have to carry her whenever I go somewhere, and that's just too hard right now. At least I can set her down during dd1's ballet today.

[lolar2]

DH has sacroiliitis. He has gotten excellent results from icing and ibuprofen; and it does heal much, much faster when he doesn't have to carry DS around too much. So if you can get as much help as possible, that is the best thing to do.

[Tjej]

Yes, that is the name!

My DS is older but likes to be carried a lot too. I played with them by laying on my back with my knees bent and an ice pack on the injury for a while too. Put on some music or grab some books, and get (semi) comfortable. It isn't perfect, but it helped me get through some really painful days.

Tjej