Hi all,
I have just found this forum after using google and was wondering if I may ask some advice.
I have DDD, a prolapsed disc, a bulging disc, burstitus, nerve damage, sciatica and hypersensitivity in my spine. I am currently 6 months pregnant with my 2nd child. (Did not have all these problems to the same extent with my first!)
My first child was delivered naturally but made my back conditions worse and I currently take gabapentin, paracetamol and dihydrocodeine. Physios wont touch me and havent for years as they are scared to make me worse.
I have no feeling in my feet permenantly and havent for a coupld of years now, the pain clinic are trying to find a surgery option for me but cant do it while im pregnant or for a year after the birth.
My question is what to do about labour. the antenatal clinic(midwife) is saying I should give birth naturally, but obviously I ma extremly hesitant about this given that I am still taking all my medication and the amount of pain I am in, I use crutches to walk about and fall over on a regular basis. I was told by the pain clinic before I fell pregnant that I would be having a c-section as there is no way I would be able to push a baby out without causing further damage, how do I get my consultant and midwife to agree to this? am really worried about it now and am struggling to find answers, so any advice or help would be gratefully received.
Hi Helen, I'm sorry to hear about the amount of pain you are in on a daily basis as this is so debilitating - even worse when its your second pregnancy so its impossible to get as much rest as first time round!
Have you tried any pregnancy meditation or hypnobirthing CD's? They are really good for relaxation and for helping cope with pain and I recommend them to most of my pregnant clients and often use them during both reflexology and massage treatments - giving clients a 'double' benefit to their treatment. I use the ones by Maggie Howell so can recommend them, she does versions for both natural birth and c-section.
Good luck with your midwife and consultant - I would suggest its your consultant rather than midwife who will make the decision and so you should discuss how worried you are with your consultant at your next appointment. Ask them to let you know the pros and cons of both a c-section and a natural birth. In my experience they don't make these decisions lightly and will have reasons why they recommend a particular course of action and should be willing to discuss these with you openly.
Good luck! Tracey 🙂
Hi Helen and welcome 🙂
Are you under a consultant for your spinal problems? That is the person that you need to call on to get support. I have had two kids naturally pre-bad back and the strength and coordination and stamina needed are amazing, only a woman could do it, but I mean it must be hard enough to poo let alone push a baby out with all that pain going on!
Obviously the obst and gyn will have you and the babe at the foremost of any decision but they need your spinal consult to explain the additional problems you may well have if you try to give birth naturally, although a complete spinal block may prove wonderful for you.
Demand information and answers for you both.
Good luck 🙂
I have DDD, a prolapsed disc, a bulging disc, burstitus, nerve damage, sciatica and hypersensitivity in my spine.
Hypersensitivity can arise as the ascending nerves in the dorsal horn of the spinal segment associated with the input from nerves connected to the damaged area begin to "listen" too hard to the signal, as a result of being bombarded with pain signals from a damaged region. The result is that any afferent signals are likely to trigger the interneurons in the dorsal horn, creating signals that are interpreted as pain. Even when the pathology is resolved, this sensitivity can remain, occasionally giving rise to signals such as numbness or tingling in areas of the body that are within the same dermatome as the hypersensitive spinal segment.
Electro-acupuncture set at the appropriate frequency, and used consistently, can "desensitise" the dorsal horn area. I do this by passing a current across the spine at the affected area, plus some of the unaffected segments either side as there is some overlap in the dermatomes at the spinal level.
TENS can do something similar, but many "off the shelf" units don't allow for the individual settings required for this purpose, as you need to be able to pulse at 2 Hertz; ie 2 cycles per second. The effects are cumulative, so you probably need to use it 2 or 3 times every day for a couple of weeks to get the right effects. Acupuncture is less often as we can get the electrodes right in the correct area. I often lend patients a preset TENS machine for use between acupuncture treatments, as this seems to speed up recovery and reduce pain.
You shouldn't cross the spine in the upper thoracic region with TENS; in this area you run up and down,which still works but to a lesser degree. Nor should you use TENS on the sacrum in pregnancy (without specialist advice) as the S2-S3 nerves are connected with the uterus and bladder regions. Work with your Pain management clinic for futher advice.
I would say your best bet is to
A) Speak to the consultant (spinal) and ask them to explain to you and your midwife what the complications may be.
B) Disk bulges/herniations can recede, so try not to worry.
C) Seek out the advice and treatment from an osteopath, Im an osteopath and I would be more than happy to treat somebody in your situation, there is much that can be done.
Try not to worry, get some help and tackle each obstacle as it arrives.
What was the outcome?
Hi Helen,
I only just registered on here and just reading back through some old threads that may relate to my life. I was wondering what was the outcome with your pregnancy and how you are doing now afterwards? When I spoke to the Pain Consultant about medications in pregnancy he said we could assess that as and when..... Did you take the medications all the way through or were there times when you were not allowed ie. first 12 weeks?
I hope everything went well that you are managing your pain and able to enjoy your family! 🙂