Any relief for back pain?

[Ngala]

Hi,

Since last Sunday I have had a point in my back that is really really sore. Its about halfway up my back, around shoulder blade area and on the right side of my spine. It hurts so much!! I just feel like crying about it today.

I have tried a few things to help relieve the pain - massages etc. The only time I get relief from it is when I am alseep. It hurt pretty much all the time - sitting, standing, laying, bending over, lifting stuff. Pretty much all the time!! And it is stopping me from doing what I want to do this weekend - organising the nursery!! I just cant take it anymore and since I am home alone, I dont have DP to get stuff from the bottom shelf for me and I just really want to organise my nursery.

Has anyone got anything that I can try? I know that a heat pack is going to be recommended but I dont have one on hand - can I make a heat pack out of something at home?! What about a bath, would that be OK? I dont normally have baths, what kind of bath lotion stuff can I use? Also, if I wanted to get a massage oil, what can I get? I have just found some baby massage oil among all my baby stuff, would I use that?!

Any help would be great cause it is reallllllllllllllllllly sore!

[hannanat]

baths are fine hun as long as they're not too hot. I had baths nearly every day of my pg because of muscular pain. They will be fine right through the pg until your waters break.

Panadol is also fine for temporary pain relief.

Here is a recipe (lol) for a home meade heat pack.

Fill a cotton tube sock 3/4 of the length with plain white rice and sew the end shut. Heat this in the microwave on a pie plate (to keep it clean) for 2 minutes. I usually put a washcloth under the heated sock at the beginning because it is really warm. As it cools, I remove the washcloth. It will stay warm for about 20 minutes. Mine have been used repeatedly

Tie it with a hair elastic if you don't sew - or even tie a know in the sock.

Hope you feel better soon xx

[Ngala]

Yeh I think I am going to need to start the baths. I'll get some nice bath lotions and some scented candles and I should be happy in there! Hopefully I can get to the shops before or after lunch at my parents house.

Hmm cotton tube sock?? I think I got a sock around some where! Thanks. I will make one up soon and probably need to take it to parents house.

Thanks Natalie! I hope it helps me.

[Ngala]

OK I need help desperately!!!

I have tried a bath and I have tried a heat pack and nothing has helped. Is there anything else that I can do to help my back? Back pain starts as soon as I wake up and just gets worse during the day.

Is there anything that can help or do I need to live with it until my baby is out?!?!

[Sair]

I went to a massage therapist last week but he did ask how far along I am before he would do any massage. Just call around and ask if any massage therapists work on pregnant women? That being said I am in pain again less than a week later but it is sciatica pain which is bound to keep coming back.

[Ngala]

Hey Sarah,

I think I went to a massage therapist back in beginning of Feb. And I have to say that pain has gone away since then and been replaced with this pain! I am planning to call them and see if they can do me this weekend. I think last time they said that they will put me in a chair so I am not on my tummy.

Can I ask, what is sciatica pain? I read it somewhere the other day in a thread but dont know what it is.

[Shanti]

What about using "Dencorub Extra Strength"? I am using that on my ankle at the moment as i've just sprained it but i'm sure it would ease backpain as it helps muscles it says "for painful muscles and joints".
Priceline sells it for $5 i think it was.

Try that? xx

[Kazbah]

Renstar - Deep Heat is out for pregnant women (there's a thread here) so I'm thinking that Dencorub would be the same.

Ngala - Can you contact your OB and get a referral to a physio? I've been seeing one for similar pain and she's really been helping, she's a maternity specialist physio.

[Ngala]

I dont know if I can afford a physio and my health insurance doesnt cover it.

Has it got something to do with posture?? Cause obviously posture has now changed to due to carrying a baby. My sis asked me where it hurts and I showed her and she thought that maybe it had to do with my posture, but the pain is not in the spot where it should be if it was that.. lol, does that make sense?!

Its getting so much worse just sitting at my desk. I've just had my last panadol and all I got left are panadine fortes that were prescribed for my migraines..

[Sair]

Sciatica pain is caused by a nerve in the bum I think, basically it gives you shooting pains in your bum cheek down to your knee and can go up the back on the one side as well. It is not fun that is for sure. I have no coverage either for massage but I forked out the 45 anyway, I figured I only have 4 1/2 weeks left I can treat myself once a week if Juz will let me.

[Shanti]

Thanks Kazbah, i didnt' know that about Dencorub etc... i suppose it's all absorbed into the skin isn't it?? Now i know

[MamaPan]

Hi Ngala
You poor thing that sounds awful and you sound like you are in a lot of pain!
I know it sounds boring, but I find swimming helps a lot with back pain (loosens all the muscles) - just a gentle swim may help? I have a bad back anyway, so I use this all the time (and it helps a lot since I am preg).
If you think it is die to your posture try making a lumbar roll out of a towel (roll it up v tight and tie it so it is like a big roll) and use that when you sit down behind the small of your back or near your bra strap to make you sit up straight. That should help (where on your back is it).

[Ngala]

Hi pregpan,
Yeh I am in a bit of pain, I actually get a little relief while walking around but cant do that at work cause I have a desk job. Swimming does sound good - I have my aquanatal class tonight so I might ask instructer for some tips on what to do. I do have a pool at home that I would love to use but its in the process of getting landscaping down so it aint the cleanest.

[Danni]

rub ice gel into it!! The main ingredient is menthol so thats fine to use. It works similar to deep heat by releasing a hot feeling.

[Ngala]

Thanks Danni.. I think I might have some of this stuff at home somewhere. And OMG Only 10 days left to go for you!!

Hmmm.. I sometimes wish that I could just chop DP's hands off and have them constantly massaging cause it feels good at the time. But he wont let me take them!

[Danni]

least your dh does it! mine complains..does it for 1 minute and says "thats enough!"

let me know how the ice gel goes--- really needs to be massaged in!

[Kazbah]

Ngala - out of curiosity, are you suffering bad hearburn? I've found that when my heartburn is really bad, my back hurts up the top there. Weird, I know, but getting rid of the heartburn is helping.

I also was given some fitball exercises by the physio (which incidently, somehow was claimed back through medicare??? don't know how?) which if you want to PM me your email addy, I'll scan and send through to you.

[Ngala]

Kazbah - I have been suffering heartburn but it hasnt been that bad. I'd like to see those fitball exercises. I will PM you my email address.

I asked my aquanatal instructor if there was anything she could suggest and she didnt have anything! She said that it is not really a normal pregnancy back pain spot and probably wont be from bad posture. She is going to ask someone that knows a bit more than her and get back to me. She did suggest that maybe I have pulled a muscle, which could be possible cause it started hurting the weekend after I done some sanding on my cot by hand.