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Tinkrock
Supporter
Username: Tinkrock
Post Number: 109
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 8:33 am: | 
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So I just found out that the back pain I have been experiencing for the last week+ is most likely a herniated disk, according to the orthopedic doc I saw (I guess he can't tell conclusively b/c he can't do x-rays, etc.). Anyone else ever have to deal with this? He didn't really give me a lot of treatment options, just told me to walk with a cane and get lots of rest (so easy with a 1 year old), and that it could clear itself up in a few weeks or, you know, get significantly worse. It seems to me, though, physical therapy or SOMETHING might help. I tried a round of accupuncture but I don't get the sense that's what's needed in this situation.
I am getting increasingly depressed. My wonderful, long suffering husband now has to do literally everything around the house, I have to deal with getting childcare for my poor housebound baby, although who knows for how long, and am worried this could interfere with delivery of baby #2, if it doesn't go away before my due date (June 1). I see my OB next week and am considering seeing another orthopedist, although a friend of mine made the point: even if the diagnosis is different, the treatment options will probably be roughly the same due to my condition. Any insight or ideas from the MOL community would be greatly appreciated. |
doulamomma
Citizen
Username: Doulamomma
Post Number: 1103
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 9:06 am: |
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I do not have personal or professional experience with this...but I'd consider reaching out to your OB before your next appointment - perhaps s/he has had folks in the past facing this. Perhaps there is a more holistic orthopedist who might be more familiar with the benefits (or not) of less traditional therapies (chiropractic or accupuncture) or is experienced with pregnancy...
It is common in the UK to use a Tens unit for comfort in labor...this is the same as an electrical stimulation device used by some chiropractors and physical therapists here...it might bring some relief (though may only be helpful for muscles as opposed to disks).
Would an ultrasound provide any info about your back?
Good luck with everything! |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7053
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 9:26 am: |
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Tinkrock:
So sorry to hear this. Doulamomma is right. You should call your OB as soon as possible and explain the diagnosis you received from the orthopedist. It is unlikley that you are first expecting mother to be faced with this diagnosis and your OB should have an idea of what has worked for other patients of his/hers who have been presented with a similar diagnosis.
I don't know if a second opinion, especially from another orthopedist, would help since orthopedists are most apt to think in terms of disk problems rather than other possible causes of your pain. Perhaps your OB would have some ideas here too.
The recommendation to take pressure off your back as much as possible by using a cane and getting as much bed rest as possible seem a good way to treat your present discomfort. Still, I know how impossible that recommendation may seem for you to carry out with such a young child in the house.
Feel better soon. |
mimi
Citizen
Username: Mimi
Post Number: 214
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 9:35 am: |
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i feel you. i have a herniated C5 and just started my 40th week. when i got pregnant, there were definitely questions about how it would affect my back. i continued to work with my chiro and practice yoga almost daily. and even increased my exercise to up my core strength. amazingly, i've had no back pain at all. that said, every pregnancy is different.
i'm a big believer in alternative care and agree with your gut that there are things you could try. i recommend chiropractic care, acupuncture, yoga, and massage. and, while i don't imagine you have much time with a one-year-old at home, IMO these therapies can be dovetailed for maximum benefit. none of them are, however, quick fixes. they require regular and sustained visits and/or practice. after a couple of months, i decided that the accupuncture was having a less significant effect than it had in the past (and less than the other things i was doing) and stopped going. but kept up with everything else. that worked for me.
the other suggestion i have is to be sure that whichever practitioners you go with have a solid foundation in prenatal care. my chiro, for example, only adjusts my neck and upper back manually (cervical and thoracic). he uses wedges to adjust my lower back (lumbar and sacral). i appreciate that conservative approach and wouldn't want it any other way.
if you have any further questions or want referrals, feel free to pl me. from personal experience, i appreciate how debilitating back pain is.
take care and good luck.
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doulamomma
Citizen
Username: Doulamomma
Post Number: 1105
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 10:14 am: |
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Important to note also that with many alternative approaches (such as chiropractic, accupuncture & homeopathy), there may be a bit of an increase in symptoms before they start to get better.
I think Joan makes a good point - we tend to see what we expect/are trained to see...an ENT will likely find need for his/her services, an orthopedist will tend to find bone issues & may tend to think surgery is the answer - it certainly may be for some but not others. |
Adh9
Citizen
Username: Adh9
Post Number: 6
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 10:33 am: |
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I know your husband Tinkrock. The only upside to this problem is that your lazy husband finally has to step up to the plate and actually do something around the house. That guy sits around all day and does nothing . . . |
Hagbard Celine
Citizen
Username: Umbert
Post Number: 128
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 10:55 am: |
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Adh9, this isnt about you and who you know, so shut it!
I also happen to know your husband tinkrock, and I'd like to dedicate a song to that wonderful man of yours. Like to hear it? Here it goes...
Where have all the good men gone
And where are all the gods?
Where's the street-wise Hercules
To fight the rising odds?
Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and I turn and I dream of what I need
I need a hero
I'm holding out for at hero 'till the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'till the morning light
He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
Larger than life
Doo doo doo doooo
Doo doo doo doooo
Doo doo doo doooo
Aaahhh
Aaahhh |
Tinkrock
Supporter
Username: Tinkrock
Post Number: 110
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 11:09 am: |
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Adh9 and Hagbard,
Thanks for your very helpfuls posts.
You two are dorks. |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 1051
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 11:14 am: |
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Tinkrock: are you knitting?
Check out the Layette patterns in Bouton D'or (http://www.boutondor.com/cgi-local/affiche_resume.pl?Famille=5&adherent=&Langue= 2&Detail=514) - I've got this book. If you see something you like I can pick up the yarn for you and we can get you started this weekend.
Knitting can do wonders for a person. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6783
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 11:31 am: |
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I don't know how it would affect the pregnancy, but when my disc acts up, I ice for 20 minutes each hour. I use a bag of frozen peas. It's cheaper and they mold to your body better than an ice pack. You just keep refreezing the bag.
Have you noticed how many boors have been getting MOL accounts lately? Any idiot with a keyboard. Kind of sad, really..... |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 1052
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 11:35 am: |
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Greenetree if you tried knitting maybe your disc wouldn't keep acting up. |
doulamomma
Citizen
Username: Doulamomma
Post Number: 1107
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 11:40 am: |
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or perhaps knitting a cozy for the bag of frozen peas just in case |
Hagbard Celine
Citizen
Username: Umbert
Post Number: 129
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 11:59 am: |
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whats a boor?
am i a boor? |
Hagbard Celine
Citizen
Username: Umbert
Post Number: 130
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 12:24 pm: |
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Wait a sec! I done looked it up.
boor
Pronunciation: (boor), [key]
—n.
1. a churlish, rude, or unmannerly person.
2. a country bumpkin; rustic; yokel.
3. peasant.
4. Boer.
I think greenteree was referring to me and Adh9! I’m appalled. As Tiknrock’s long suffering husband (and an idiot with a keyboard) I feel I shouldn’t have to suffer these insults.
I’m taking my ball and I’m going home. Hmph!
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Onarpos
Citizen
Username: Onarpos
Post Number: 24
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 12:27 pm: |
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It happened to me. Physical therapy helped the most. Try another orthopod.
Also, ask your OB-- could you get epidural shots while pregnant? I got all 3 and the pain vanished. I still had to watch my lifting, etc. I got mine while B/F ing and it was fine. I just got general anesthesia. You still would have to be careful, but then the pain would go away.
I don't recommend a chiro for this. |
HLC1
Citizen
Username: Hlc1
Post Number: 13
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 12:50 pm: |
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I have a herniated disk and some other back issues and am in my 32nd week of pregnancy. I would definitely talk to your OB about it but I found going to the chiropractor, doing some basic exercises that he taught me and icing often can do wonders. Like someone else said, it may feel a little worse at first, or take a few days to see results, but it definitely helps in the long run. |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 521
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 1:39 pm: |
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I too had crippling back pain while pregnant, and could barely move toward the end. Funny thing happened - I don't recall even thinking about my back during delivery and my back hurt not one bit the next day!
Obviously, I didn't have a herniated disk, but it seems that my body's endorphins, the epidural, or simply the baby getting off my nerves (she was 9.5 pounds!) worked to resolve the problem!
Here''s hoping it's that easy for you! Best wishes for an easy birth and a pain-free back afterward!
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Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 12624
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 3:22 pm: |
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Give Martha Bixler a call. She teaches a physical routine called Hannah Somatics which is very easy and also very fruitful. I can't find her web page, but this course description is a start. If she's not qualified to help you, she will tell you where to go next.
I had a herniated disc many years ago, which gave me awful sciatica. I know how it is. I took the surgery path, but I imagine that's not an option for you now. The good news is that when the pregnancy ends, you are likely to recover, no matter what you do. The bad news is that you have to endure both the back trouble and the pregnancy simultaneously. Hang in there. And call Martha!
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Tinkrock
Supporter
Username: Tinkrock
Post Number: 111
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 4:55 pm: |
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Thank you all so much for your suggestions! There's a lot of helpful info here. I really appreciate it!
...and Greenetree, don't mind my husband, you're right, although if not technically a boor, he's the descendant of Boers... |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 237
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, February 25, 2006 - 11:14 am: |
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Pdg,
You're female!? These avetar's can be so misleading.
Good luck Tink. You can milk this for guilt when the baby comes, for the rest of its life.
J.B. |
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