I've been experiencing some of the most excruciating back pain this week. I spent 12 hours Monday in the airport waiting for a delayed flight and it started a bit then. Then Tuesday, Wednesday and most of Thursday were spent sitting at a work conference. I figured it was stress knots from the airport stuff on Monday, until it continued and got worse. I'm moderately okay when walking but when I'm sitting it is terrible. And that's putting it mildly. It feels like I have knots in my back but DH has tried to massage them out and there are none. Initially it felt more upper back but now it seems almost middle back. Luckily I have my next doctors appointment on Friday so I can mention it if it continues but I pray it doesn't. It's seriously some of the worst back pain I've ever had. And I'm only 20 weeks so I don't think it's belly related or anything either. Anyone else have this?
-
I got a back lumbar pillow which really helps with the pain. For me, it was sciatica pain.
-
Could be just things inside are changing to accommodate baby, combined with the travel and long time sitting.
-
@cascademom: I think/thought sciatic was lower back and/or radiated?
@pui: Ugh, well I sure hope it's temporary if that's the case. This is bad enough to almost have me in tears at times.
-
@LindsayInNY: I'm not sure that sounds pregnancy related. The baby wouldn't be big enough yet to be putting much pressure on anything in your upper/mid back.
-
Even at 20w everything is starting to loosen up and your ribs are moving a lot to make room for everything that gets squished up there. Is easier to hurt yourself now. Get a massage, take a bath and do some yoga.
I have had upper back pain for already half this pregnancy, it comes and goes, but sucks and make sitting at my desk super hard... I feel you!
-
I've had a ton, and I'm just 16 weeks. It's all the relaxin making your muscles all loose - easier to strain. It's driving me nuts.
-
I got it around that time (16weeks). Sitting still was hard! I expected it to get worse as my pregnancy continued but actually it started to go at 26weeks and now at 41 it is but a distant memory! The best thing I found was a hot water bottle.
-
I had terrible upper / middle back pain from about 30 -36 weeks, sounds similar to what you describe. I started seeing a physio once a week who would work on the area and also gave me exercises to do daily. It got a lot better around 36 weeks, I think partly due to the exercises and partly due to baby dropping down and altering the strain on my back.
-
Have you bought new bras lately? If not, an improper fit might be causing strain on your back. While your belly probably wouldn't be big at this point, your boobs would have grown quite a bit. Try getting sized and see if that helps.
-
Might be a posture thing from how you were sitting for so long. I've definitely found that I'll hurt easier than before I was pregnant. I don't know if you've looked into a yoga class but that and foam rolling (with occasional bath and heating pad) helps a lot with my back issues.
-
I have had pain like this a couple times, once while I was laying down and asleep! That first time it was excruciating and was also connected with throwing up - not sure if I threw up from the pain or if my body was tensing up because I needed to throw up and was trying to avoid it. Then a few days ago I had pain like that on just the left side, near my ribs. Drinking a ton of water seemed to help that, and I've been using lumbar pillows more. It's also become really hard to find a comfortable position to lay in, and I'm only 23 weeks! Hoping you find a good solution soon!
-
I had such horrible pain in my mid/upper back. Almost as if it was at the bottom of the back of my ribs. It was so uncomfortable I had to lay down by 5 pm on my side and DH would massage me nightly. We watched a lot of movies in bed. I think it was just my muscles adjusting to all the weight pulling me forward- it was truly terrible, I hope you feel better soon!
-
Even though you're only 20 weeks, your body is still changing. The baby bump along with loosened ligaments changes your posture and causes you to slouch more, which puts a lot of stress on the upper/mid back. Especially with all the sitting you did. Try massage, heat, and/or PT/Chiro.
-
@travellingbee: I wasn't convinced it was pregnancy related. But, it's over a week later and my back is still killing me.
@Bubbles: Is a physio like PT? I'm going to ask my doctor tomorrow because this is terrible.
@Astro Bee: I haven't but I don't think it's a bra thing? My boobs haven't grown all that much and my old bras still fit.
@Eko: I've considered yoga since there's a prenatal class offered near me every Saturday. Just haven't gone yet!
@BeachMama: I've been trying heat and night. Might need to look into other things now...
-
Bumping for more input... It's mid back pain, occurring just about anytime I sit for more than just a passing time. By the afternoon it's much, much worse. I asked the OB at Friday's appointment and she said anything that helps is fine (ice, heat, Tylenol, etc.) but could also prescribe chiro if I'd like. I'm trying to avoid that, if possible. It's weird because walking, spinning, etc. doesn't aggravate things. It almost helps?
-
I had pain like that when I was pregnant and it was really uncomfortable but went away afterward. It was the only time I've ever had upper back pain.
-
I had bad mid back pain during pregnancy and my belly was huge. It never went away, but things that helped:
Get a ball to sit on. I quit sitting on the couch or hard chairs and sat on that thing all the time the last half of the pregnancy. It helped so much.
Walking. I took a walk every night and it helped.
Taking a bath. I took a warm bath with Epson lavender salts every night.
Upper body exercise. The best defense to all the weight pulling me forward was to build up the muscle there! I did a lot of light weights focusing on the upper body.
I hope you get some relief soon!
-
@LindsayInNY: why are you avoiding the chiropractor?
-
@MOMTOLITTLEB: Did you do anything for it while pregnant?
@Tanjowen: I'll have to look into the ball at work! Walking definitely helps. I don't know if it's alleviating it or just taking my mind off it but it helps.
@Ash: Not really sure? Never been before and worried about finding someone pregnancy-friendly and fitting it into my work schedule. Have you been before?
-
@LindsayInNY: I went prior to getting pregnant with #1, all throughout my pregnancy and I'm going again during #2. Honestly, I think I was comfortable for the entire 9 months because I was going regularly!
-
@Ash: Do you need to find a pregnancy-specific chiro or can most adapt treatment? How often do you go?
-
@LindsayInNY: I just kept going to my regular chiro but he adjusts me differently when pregnant. I go once a month until 3rd tri and then it's about every week/other week. But that's just for maintenance. I can go more often if I feel it's necessary.
-
@LINDSAYINNY: No I never figured out much to do for it. It did seem to be worse with sitting like at work so I tried to move around. I did get bigger bras because I thought it might help, it didn't help with that but was more comfortable overall. I was pretty uncomfortable during my pregnancy. I ended up gaining 50 lbs and having an 8 lb 10 oz boy- so I chalk a lot of the discomfort up to being a little lady with a giant baby.
-
I had a lot of horrible back pain during my pregnancy starting at like 15 weeks. I went to a chiropractor who specializes in pregnancy and it was seriously a game changer. I don't know what I would have done without her!
-
@LindsayInNY: i was going to suggest the chiro before i even read through! definitely find one trained to work with pregnant women, children. it made all the different in my pregnancy/post partum life. once i found someone who did gentle adjustments, rather than cranking on my neck, it made all the difference!
this site is a great resource!
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
25 comments