Constant Back Pain @ 6 Weeks - How To Combat?

[gummibears]

I've had constant non-stop back pain for the last 2 weeks. Only as of yesterday did it let up a bit, but today it's back again. Aside from taking non-ending amounts of Tylenol (I'd not do that if I wasn't pregnant, less likely when I am) and just 'suffering' what can be done to relieve it?

Also I'm a bit spooked that the pain this early means bad things for later months. I don't think it has to do with the weight gain as winters I balloon up to 180 pounds each year and later lose it when we can move again and weather is warm (I'll be around 200 with final baby weight) and I'm not anywhere near that 180 mark now. Has anyone had bad back pain early on and had it relent into the later trimesters, or is this something that I'll be battling this whole pregnancy?

[~Adorkable~]

WATER WATER WATER, i know it sounds silly but you would be shocked at what it helps with and your body needs it so much. A minimum of 80 OZ a day of pure water, if you are drinking liquids with sugar, honey or caffeine do not count them towards your water intake and in fact they should really be deducted from your total, requiring you to drink more water to make up for their diuretic effects.

did you have any pain issues similar to this before being preggo? i would mention this ether way but especially if it is a new thing to your health care person.

[turtlewomyn]

I had horrible back pain with a pregnancy I had in 2008. The pain was due to a herniated disc (perhaps newly formed, that was the first time it had behaved like that) but I also had an ectopic pregnancy (so it ended at 8 weeks, I can't tell you what the back pain did in later pregnancy).

Since that time I go to the chiropractor regularly for maintenance and will continue to go through this pregnancy to avoid any more back problems. When I have a flare up I also lay down flat on an ice pack (obviously, this won't be possible later on during pregnancy).

If I were you I would see a chiro now if you haven't already.

[gummibears]

Originally Posted by •Adorkable•

WATER WATER WATER, i know it sounds silly but you would be shocked at what it helps with and your body needs it so much. A minimum of 80 OZ a day of pure water, if you are drinking liquids with sugar, honey or caffeine do not count them towards your water intake and in fact they should really be deducted from your total, requiring you to drink more water to make up for their diuretic effects.

did you have any pain issues similar to this before being preggo? i would mention this ether way but especially if it is a new thing to your health care person.

I'll have to try to chug more. I've been craving loads of lemonade the last week in favor of water (naughty, I know) With ds all I drank was koolaid and never had anything like this, so I'm kinda thinking I'm in trouble, LOL.

No, I've never had pain like this before I was pregnant aside from once in a while, which I blamed on sleeping funny or weather. But this is every day all day for the last 2 weeks. Even lying down hurts most times. I'm set to have my first prenatal apt somewhere around 10 weeks, so I'll talk to them about it then, but that's 2 more weeks enduring, which is why I figured I'd see if there's a way to help it in the meantime.

[gummibears]

Originally Posted by turtlewomyn

I had horrible back pain with a pregnancy I had in 2008. The pain was due to a herniated disc (perhaps newly formed, that was the first time it had behaved like that) but I also had an ectopic pregnancy (so it ended at 8 weeks, I can't tell you what the back pain did in later pregnancy).

Since that time I go to the chiropractor regularly for maintenance and will continue to go through this pregnancy to avoid any more back problems. When I have a flare up I also lay down flat on an ice pack (obviously, this won't be possible later on during pregnancy).

If I were you I would see a chiro now if you haven't already.

Oh, boy, I've not seen one in gosh, 10 or more years. Probably not a bad idea, I suppose. I know things felt okay yesterday, then before bed my lower back (where the pain is concentrated) cracked 3 times and the pain's been back today. So, that could be a very big part of it. I'll have to talk to DH about that and see who's around here to go to.

In the meantime I'm totally trying the ice thing. It certainly can't hurt!

[~Adorkable~]

best thing to do is just carry water with you all the time, can you just put lemon juice in some and do your best to hold on or really cut down on the sugar, i love that.

are you having any other pain? and cramping? hang in there, this does not sound fun

[~Adorkable~]

remember that with the ice that only to 15-20 min and then at least 20 min off, this is very important to how it works with your nerves and muscles.

[gummibears]

Yeah, I have bottles here all the time. I'm mostly home, but when I'm not I carry it with me. I'm not much of a water-liker. Just really started to tolerate it about a year or 2 ago before that I'd never touch it - ever. I freeze them to try to make it more appeasing sometimes it helps sometimes not, but I gotta try.

I'm having some cramps in tummy area and pelvic nothing massive, but I assume all of this is normal. Not that I remember a thing from DS it was so long ago!

Thanks for the timing on the ice. I don't believe I was aware of that before.

I'm just hoping this gets better not worse, but I know deep down this is probably just the beginning. And I'll be walking 16 blocks 5 days a week soon to take ds to school up until labor. I'm totally cringing pairing that with this back pain. Then again, maybe it'll help. Never know.

[turtlewomyn]

Originally Posted by •Adorkable•

remember that with the ice that only to 15-20 min and then at least 20 min off, this is very important to how it works with your nerves and muscles.

Oh yeah, thanks for that, I forgot to mention it.

[MamaChef]

Do you know if your uterus is normally retroverted? Are you experiencing any constipation too? If so, try knee chest a few times day and see if that helps.


If not, it might just be the hormones of early pregnancy relaxing everything so the muscles are starting to be sore from picking up the slack. Are you on your feet alot?

[gummibears]

MamaChef, It's tipped, but I'm not aware which way. I was told it's tipped when pregnant with DS but nothing more.

I'm not on my feet much at all. I'm a WAHM/SAHM and I work as a freelance writer, so that's a pc job and pretty easy work. That's the scary part. I'm in so much pain and I by and large take it easy here.

I'll try the knee chest thing. I'm desperate and will try just about anything at this point. DH got us a router so I can use wireless on the couch instead of the hard pc chair when pain gets too bad and still write for work. It's a start.

[CookAMH]

You might want to look into some pelvic floor health/glute strength exercises, that can definitely affect the back if your pelvis is pulling wrong with the alignment of your tailbone and lack of glutes. This woman has some great info starting with this interview about kegels vs squatting: http://mamasweat.blogspot.com/2010/0...s-are-not.html

It may not seem to apply, but if you look at more of her stuff, it might (I think it would if you focused on some of her excercises, and did some good/correct stretches).

Also, have you ever looked into chiropractic care? Either that or maybe you could get a referral to a physical therapist who is experienced with pregnant ladies.

[Liora]

I live off the cow/cat yoga poses in pregnancy! Really helps!

[VeganCupcake]

It really depends on what the pain is from. I have muscle issues in my back and hips, and exercise and stretching helps immensely. I also see a chiropractor who does acupuncture, muscle release, and physical-therapy type exercises and it really helps.

I think you should try to find out what the pain is from. It could be all kinds of different things, and they would respond to different treatments.

[musingmama]

With my first pregnancy, I had really awful lower back pain early on, and going to the chiropractor really did help. The pain got better as I neared the end of the second trimester or so.
With my current pregnancy, the back pain is around less but still does come on painfully sometimes. My old chiropractor is no longer in my area and I've put off finding a new one. However I have just discovered something that works amazingly well---- SWIMMING! I am in the pool every friday for an hour helping my ds practice(mostly just spotting him)-- I am not doing laps or anything... I am just in the water and gently, slowly swimming next to him or just bobbing up and down, or floating on my back. And I am amazed at how much better my back feels afterwards- as good as it ever did after my chiro adjustments. Like I said, I am doing nothing strenuous, just having a relaxing time in the water for an hour! Maybe you can give it a try! My back hurt a lot for the last two days, and after swimming today, it is gone. I am a little tired but in a good way and it really helped my mood and energy!

Hang in there, this too shall pass! And I know what you mean about wanting mostly juice or something other than water, water is making me feel a little nauseous with this pregnancy, so I do as much as I can... The first trimester is hard.

also- the thing about chiropractors is that once you start going, you're kind of hooked in for every two week or so appnt.s. They do help but I sometimes felt like my body needed the adjustments even more once I started them if that makes sense.