intense back pain- what can i do???

hello, right now i am experiencing the most brutal back pain i have ever had in my life. i have had full on lower back pain before (with af usually) and top shoulder pain, but this is completely different to anything i've ever had before. it almost feels like it's the back of my ribs and it is relentless and throbbing. does anyone have any suggestions as to what this is and how i can relieve it? i can't believe i just got over the pelvic pain from a couple of weeks ago, but that was nothing compared to this...i need some relief. it was so painful before that i felt like i was gonna throw up..:cry:

Acupuncture massage etc are supposed to be good for dealing with back pain. It sounds quite bad so you may want to talk to someone earlier rather than later. What about a physio or someone like that??
Maybe you should see your doc to rule any medical causes first before you try and treat the pain.
Good Luck.
Hope it gets better for you!

Gracie I have similar issue, behind my ribs on my back... i havebeen having physio for it and that is helping - she cant sure though just pain relief and 'create some space' until the baby is born i am afraid... baths, heat packs, swimming and stretches from physio are all helping but it is still pretty bad i have to admit... hope that helps a bit - not too long to go!!!

thanks becmc and pregpan- yeah i'm gonna give acupuncture a go on thursday so i'll let you know how it goes. sounds like the pain is exactly the same as yours pregpan- on my ribs on the back.

Gracie - let me know how you go with the acupuncture, have also been considering it for this so if it works for you I will def give it a go. it's pretty unbearable isnt it!!

i had terrible SPD pain in the middle trimester and now have awful upper back pain due to the gigantuan size of my breasts now. i am having regular treatment with an osteopath who specialises in pregnant women but have found the only real solution is not to spend the whole day upright. so mid afternoon i have a lie down for a couple of hours. If i am at work i do it in the first aid room. i am in to much pain to care about epople who think i am having a bludge. i have it also helps the SPD as well tho not sure why.

yeah mine is also worse if i sit upright, in fact sitting is what is the worst thing for me.. so i spend some time on my back (!!!) most days!

I've just been to see a women's health physiotherapist - it was just amazing the difference it made. I asked my Ob to refer me........

pregpan- i will let you know how i go at acupuncture. i'm really looking forward to it actually. hope it provides some relief.

moocow- yeah i agree about not spending the whole day upright. the only problem is i've still got another couple of days of work left. i've been coming home at about 3.30 and having a hot shower and lying down basically until i go to bed and that makes it feel a bit better.

claire- yeah i'm gonna speak to my ob about it next week and see what she says. i'm hoping it will be a lot better by then though as i will be at home resting from friday onwards (yeah!!)

my OB also referred me to a fab physio who does a lot of women's health etc. and that is great - but she did tell me she cant cure it, only give me relief by creating some 'room'. I usually feel great afterwards but within a day i am sore again, as the bubs takes the room! cheeky! she has given me some good exercises.. if you want i can try to describe them for you?

Gracie - like pregpan my pain has come back but thankfully I'm seeing her again in a few weeks and she's asked my ob to refer me to a class she runs in the hydro pool. All the best with the pain management - I can completely sympathise.

I have heard that acupunture does it's best when used with special exercises for the pelvis. Tilting, circling. I have a feeling that pregpan and I may have the same sorts of exercises to do - so after she has posted her's if i know any others I will post up too.

ok these are for the back area - behind ribs. they 'create room' there and stretch it out...

1. Lie on bed with hands above head (hold onto opposite elbows) - lie as flat as possible
Legs should be up (Knees bent and feet on bed) and together. Push legs together to each side so you twist your back. Hold there for a few seconds. Repeat 3 times per side. Do this 3 times on each side twice per day (when you wake up and before bed). Once this is working you can make i tmore intense by doing on the floor so you get more resistance.

2. Deep squats - get into a v deep squat with feet flat on the ground. Do this close to a bed. Reach forward and hold onto the bottom of the bed so you stretch your upper back. Hold for 10 secs. Repeat 3 times. Build up the hold time until you can do 1 min at a time by the end of preg.

I hope these make sense - not easy to explain! They do provide some relief and I find if i do them more often the pain is less intense.

Physio also recommends heat for pain relief and floating in a bath. And when I swim I try to do a lot of laps with a kickboard and reaching v far out to also create space in rib area.

pregpan- i went to acupuncture last night and it did give me some relief for a little while but it is not cured. i don't think i'll bother going again. my back has been better today but i've had the day off so i think it's from resting it more than anything else. i think my back should get better from now on though as i started my maternity leave today (yah!!)

Gracie, ouch, I hurt for you just reading your post! I hope relief comes to you soon. Perhaps a trip to a good Chiropractor? Heat packs? Gentle massage? Submerge in deep water & swim?
One thing that worked for me is I got on hands and knees and kind of did bellydancing in that position - gently. Just rocking and rolling my hips. It increases circulation and warms the tissues which can relieve pain. It was the only thing that helped much apart from swimming. Hope you feel much better soon.

i am starting acupuncture in about 10 days when i start mat leave (YAY)
i have asked for back pain relief and also prep body for labour (not induction but for relaxation and recovery)
will let you know how i get along/
gracie - how is your back?

hi pregpan- it's still bad..but it has gotten better since i stopped work. i've just been resting up big time. i've had to stop walking my dog as much (poor baby) and the two of us have become couch potatoes. i put a heat pack on it every afternoon and get dp to rub it for 5 mins when he gets home from work. unfortunately i think it's one of those things i might just have to put up with for the next 5 weeks. let me know how your acupuncture goes, i'd love to know.