Back pain, leg pain and constipation!

I have had a lot of lower back pain for the last couple of months which has gotten worse, it is not an achy sort of pain, it is more like a nerve pain that really snaps when I get up or down, along with constantly achy hips.

This week I have also been very badly constipated (I won't go into detail) and am on my 2nd day of taking actilax syrup, which the chemist said is fine during PG, but am still pretty backed up!

Also the last couple of nights I have started getting a few leg cramps - not too bad, I got them really badly with Jackson, but today both my calves have been really achy, the same feeling like when you feel a leg cramp stating up, but is there all the time, and tonight I have noticed that all the veins are quite prominent.

Just wondered if anyone was having all these together, and if they are related, and should I be concerned - maybe Alan could shed some light?

Keep a close eye on your lower back pain. I was getting what I thought was lower back pain and ended up in emergency to have to get a cyst drained! Not trying to alarm you, but I was getting a physio to treat me for the back pain and it ended up getting worse until I ended up in ED.............
I don't have the constipation, I have the opposite! But I have plenty of leg cramps, which I think is a normal part of the pg journey........
I hope you start to feel better soon.

Hi Min

Your lower back pain is caused by a change in your centre of gravity. And this is caused by your growing tummy making you lean a little backwards when you stand/walk. Try to think about your posture. A good massage can help relieve the pain.
Your achy hips are caused by your hormones starting to loosen all your joints and ligaments. These hormones will also be contributing to the back pain.
Leg cramps are very common and usually a result of a lack of potassium / sodium / and or magnesium.
Constipation is again caused usually by your hormones slowing down the passage o food in your intestines. When food passes slowly through your gut your body takes more water from it making your stools hard and dry. To help prevent this you need lots of fibre in your diet. You also need to drink lots of fluid to make the fibre work.
Ok to get things moving try prune juice of pear juice. If this does not help then go to the chemist and get some colyxl and senna take 2 in the morning and 2 at night They can take up to 48 hours to work.

Thanks guys. I have that stupid disease where I look everything up on the internet, and i put in the three symptoms and pregnancy and was left thinking that I was on my last legs with some of the things it came up with.

The calves are still really achy today, but the constipation is easing, the chemist said I can take 1 or 2 teaspoons of the syrup in my juice daily to keep me regular if I am prone to getting it.

Min - just try some metamucil - that's helped me heaps with the constipation. A tip though, if you even suspect haemorroids, then go to the docs sooner rather than later, as they really can get painful.

I also suffer from back pain as I have two slipped discs. I have found wearing a maternity belt (which I got from my physio) really helpful, it stabilises the pelvic area. I also found a heat pack helps too, but don't keep it on for more than 15 mins at a time.

i am really lucky as I don't suffer from constipation - i put this down to the fact i drink a lot of water and eat lots of fresh green vege everyday, with a fresh juice (celery, apple, cucumber and mint - yum) and take my pg vitamins (elevit). however I totally hear you on the back pain and leg cramps; DH gives me a leg rub almost daily which helps immensely and i use my heatpack on my back a lot this time round.
lots of luck