Back Pain - University Place, WA

It might be muscular, as some have suggested, from holding the baby on one hip all of the time (I always held the baby on the left so that I could have my right hand free). BUT, you won't know unless you go to the doctor! If it's bad enough for you to break out the heavy stuff, you need to get evaluated. If the Dr. clears you of any issues (such as the kidney infection suggested below), then look at chiropractor/massage. With back pain, though, there is always a chance that there is something really wrong that the chiropractor won't see because they won't do x-rays or an MRI, etc., so better to start with the MD.

Go see the Chiropractor...nothing will solve the pain better and more long term. You don't have to sign up for a long term plan if you don't wish a few adjustments might do the trick but they wont last forever. If you want the pain gone and feel better long term then you need to see the Chiropractor more frequently. Chiropractor is way more healthy then taking percocet!!!!

Hi N.,
I got back pain when each of my daughters was about this age. Three sessions of acupuncture cured it completely.
J.

Dear N. - A physician has no training in how to fix back problems - only how to cover up the painful symptoms of what's wrong. You need to see a chiropractor. If you don't have insurance to cover it, then tell the chiropractor that and ask to work out a plan with his cash discount. (I do billing for chiro's and this is common.) Don't expect to go once and be cured, either. It took months or years for your back to be pulled out of alignment, and it takes months to get it right again. (Holding a child on the same side all the time is usually a culprit of single side pain in mom's, too!)
You should take your daughter, also. Our three girls have been adjusted since birth, and they are so healthy and hopefully will never have to go through all the "fixing" we've had to because they stay in alignment with periodic maintenance checkups.
Stop spending money on medicine and massage chairs and fix the problem, that's my advice!!!

Hey N.. I don't know if it's the same of course, but I got terrible back pain in the middle upper left of my back too and so did a girlfriend of mine. We figured it was from constantly holding the baby in one arm or other and from constantly looking down and craning our neck around when looking/talking to the baby. I remember it was excruciating and constantly there whether I was holding the baby or not! I don't know the answer but maybe taking a little time to yourself to just relax and STRETCH!! Everyday- after all you ARE constantly working out now. If you have the time and can afford it maybe a yoga class would help. Good Luck!

Hi N.--

have you thought about acupuncture? I went to an acupuncturist when nothing else helped my back. Well, massages were great, but they didn't seem to have the same long-lasting effects. My acupuncturist is great and much more affordable than any I have heard about or seen. She is located in the SW area on the edge of Aloha and does take many health insurances although still affordable out of pocket. If you are interested, please let me know and I will find her information. I hope you will be pain-free soon. So hard to take care of yourself when you have a little one, but so necessary!

Take care!

A lot of lifting,body changes, and the nursing position can hurt bad! Use ice, not heat, that will lead to more inflammation! Have you tried chiropractic and massage? Both used together will help tremendously!!

Back pain might be common, but it is NOT NORMAL! The Percocet won't get to the root of the problem; it can never do more than temporarily mask the symptoms. If your MD could do anything to help you, he would have done it by now. Please consider going to a Chiropractor. It's well worth it to do something that will actually move bones in your spine to their proper place so they don't press on discs, nerves, or block their proper functioning.

If your ins. doesn't cover Chiropractic care, just consider how much it will cost to have someone else care for your new baby while you are laid up in bed. Some Chiropractors have sliding scales for those with financial need, or they may provide financing plans.

Also, for pain due to inflammation, ice packs are supposed to be better than heat. Just don't leave ice on for more than 20 mins at a time. Bags of frozen veggies (inside a ziplock) make for cheap, reusable ice packs.

You should get your back checked out by your primary care provider. If you're pumping a lot, you may be holding yourself funnily and you probably just strained some muscles. It wouldn't be related to your epidural or c-section. It sounds like you're doing all the right things. You might consider seeing a chiropractor, too. Again, it's probably a positional thing. P.S. Your husband doesn't really have a right to get upset with you for treating your pain. Tell him to chill out about that.

This is NOT normal! You need to go into the DR. It is possible that you pinched something without realizing it. I had a client that ended up with nerve damage because she could not feel it happening with the epidural. Her's was in the hip area from pushing.
I know someone else that pulled on her neck during the pushing stage, and she ended up with damage to her neck, and had to wear a brace thing.
So I would go in and get it looked at.
B.

I've dealt with chronic back pain for years and have tried many things including chiropractors, massage, hot and cold packs, rest, pain killers, internal specialists, and orthepedic specialists. The ONLY thing that has ever worked for me is physical therapy. You don't have to go to a therapist and pay a bunch of money for sessions, just learn the exercises on your own and do them every day. I read a book called "Taking Control of Your Back Pain" and picked up some good information and exercises from that. You can get more ideas from the internet, just Google "exercises for back pain". Seeing your Dr. may be a good place to start, just to rule out other problems. But I really believe keeping your body strong and flexible is the key to feeling better in most circumstances. Good luck, I hope you feel better soon. Chronic pain is so frustrating.

Have you considered that you may have an UTI (bladder/kidney infection). I get at least 1 kidney infection a year and it almost sounds like that may be the culprit of the back pain. Of course I can't see where it hurts but the general area sounds about right.

Massage--a gift card from your husband for a real professional massage. Acupuncture. Hot tub. A talk with your chiropractor?

But realize all mother have back pain. It is kind of a join the club emblem. Is your back pain on the same side as the side you are carrying your baby, or opposite?

But really, talk to your chiropractor if none of these solutions work.

Good luck.

Hello, I suggest you get your hormone levels checked. If you didn't injure your back, you might have pain due to too much or an imbalance of progesterone. This is the same hormone that contributes to lower back pain and round ligament pain during pregnancy. Good luck in finding answers to your discomfort.

I've dealt with back pain for all my adult life and most of my teen life. I don't know how much your breasts changed when you started nursing compared to what they were before you were pregnant, but My size changed from a 32B to a 32DDD throughout the year and a half I nursed my son. Let me tell you, just the weight from that alone sent my back into fits. I have not read the other responses, but I can suggest a couple things besides what you have already been doing. First, start sleeping with a pillow between your knees, or better yet, you can get one specially designed for that at someplace like Bed, Bath and Beyond. Doing that, especially if you are a side sleeper will help keep your spine aligned properly and take strain off of your muscles. I would guess from your description that you are a side sleeper and you prefer one side to the other. Try not to cross you legs when you sit (I am very guilty of this and can't seem to stop)...that will help align everything also and relieve undo stress on those muscles. When you lay on your back, put a pillow under your knees so you are not stretching your legs straight out. The main focus of all these things is taking strain off of your back muscles and realigning your joints. I am not a chiropractor or anything of the sort, but from my experience, if things are not aligned properly, the pain just gets worse. Also, try not to spend extended periods standing or sitting in one position (piece of cake with a baby...right? I know), but this will also help keep those back muscles from getting too tired. If you are having the kind of pain that you need percocet for, I would go see your doctor, chiropractor, or a massage therapist. You may even be able to get your doc to prescribe you massage so your insurance will pay for it.

Might be way off, but could it be your kidney and not your back at all? Kidney infection can feel like back pain and it hurts something awful!! Your dr can check your urine for one..

Try back stretching exercises. (see http://www.bigbackpain.com/back_exercises.html#backstretc...) If that doesn't work, try a chiropractor. If that doesn't work, try acupuncture.

However, chiropractor should alleviate the pain after 1 visit and probably cure the problem within 2 visits. When you give birth, the center of gravity is thrown off and can cause VERY bad pain, like I had with my 2nd child from taking her in and out of the car set in the back .

My chiropractor is wonderful. She's in Mountlake Terrace, WA. I'm not sure where you are. Her name is Dr. Mary Wright.

Talk to your doctor and describe the pain you're having, as you might have gotten a hematoma from your epidural...if you do, you need to take it really easy and not lift anything.

That is pretty extreme and not at all normal. You need to see a doctor or chiropractor.

Maybe up your water intake...might be a kidney acting up..any problems with UTI? If you are having pain when urinating or anything that might be the case..however even without it that might not be the case. I never feel pain..(except low-middle back pain) for a short time right before they get bad..then they get really bad.) I had kidney stones last time...and basically depending on how you respond to antibiotics that might be what you need. You can treat at home for a few days with Cranberry juice, or better yet cranberry pills. It will make you pee a lot..however..if there is something needs flushing that's the best thing for it. If its not you may have "bent a muscle" when you were doing something at one point...or perhaps a disc slipped and is putting pressure on something..another possibility is that now that your tendons in your hips are tightening back up..that your hip bones moved a bit and are pressing on something (my oldest kicked my hip right out of the socket), so that's possible too..all the things you have been doing sound good..but if daughter refuses breast it may be an infection and your body is producing more antibodies than hers can handle? It might change the milk taste a little. Also, have you had a period yet? Is it possible you could be preggers again? These are all things to consider I would imagine. I know it can happen while breast feeding though I have heard its actually better birth control than the pill for some women. I'd simply pay real close attention to things with you for a bit...take notes if ya need too..and breaks. Sounds like it could be as simple as being an overtired muscle or something. Good luck..if it doesn't go away, you should see a doctor if possible.

I don't know how you feel about chiropractic treatment, but it sounds like you're out of alignment. I had (and still have sometimes) the same problem, mostly because I carry my daughter on my left side so I can use my right hand for other things. Now that she's exploring on her own and doesn't need as much carrying, my back doesn't hurt so much. Labor and epidurals can also put stress on the back muscles because they disrupt the natural tension in the back. A couple of trips to the chiropractor and learning to alternate sides when holding baby should have you right as rain.

I agree with PP... my first thought was kidney infection. You should consider seeing your doctor.

N.,

Please GO TO YOUR DOCTOR. Back pain in the region you mention can be very serious. I did not have this, so can't speak from experience if/how the labor and delivery could effect it. Good luck and please take care of yourself - for yourself and for your family.

N.,
Get yourself checked out by the doctor. You may have a bladder/kidney infection. Also, what are you eating? Too many proteins like meat and no vegies are hard on the kidneys and can cause damage. (Like the Atkins diet) The other thing is are you drinking at least 60oz of water each day? Not coffee, tea, soda, juice or sport drinks, WATER. Many times people think they are drinking plenty of water when they aren't. The body reacts to the dehydration by not functioning properly. Medications like Percocet can cause constipation and dehydration especially if you don't drink enough water. Dehydration is hard on the body and can cause headaches, muscle and body aches. Coffee, tea and soda pop cause dehydration.
I also suspect that if you have been taking Percocet while nursing it may be the reason your child refuses the milk. I don't care what any doctor says about the "safety" of taking certain drugs and nursing. If your child refuses the milk then there is something wrong with it. (Drugs usually make the milk bitter in taste versus sweet.)

I would stop taking all the medications to allow your body to work through the healing process naturally. (Sometimes medications inhibit the body's ability to heal itself properly.)
Go get the back checked out for a bladder/kidney infection. If that's not it, then go to a chiropractor for an adjustment. Your spine and ribs may be out of alignment.
Lastly, drink more water if you aren't drinking enough.(Measure it.) If you drink a lot of coffee, gradually try to wean yourself off of it for a while and let your kidneys recover.

Best wishes to you with a healthy recovery.

I'm a PT--

If you are nursing, your ligaments are still lax because of hormones. You may not always be using the best body mechanics and even if you are a baby weighs more the more you hold it:) (It's amazing how strong us moms are!!). You may have a crooked lumbar segment or 2 or pelvis. This is very common. This could be from child birth, carrying the baby, bending wrong, etc............. who knows why. You should ask you doctor for a prescription for a PT (one that does Muscle energy, counter strain or manual therapy) or a good chiropractor. I wish you were close to me--I would love to help you out. Sometimes it's just a visit or 2--wouldn't that be great?? If you have any other questions for me, please email me. Good luck, A.

Hey I am a Physical Therapist and a mom of 2 month baby boy. Your body mechanics may be the problem... my back hurts as well. When I am giving my son a bath, I can see my back being in a terrible position. Also, I never have carpul tunnel and I feel that I was getting one until I realize that could be a bad posture. Sorry if my Enghish is wrong, I am Brazillian.

Percocet works only if the pain is related to nerve. If the pain is related to muscle tightness or other, percocet doesn't work. Ask your doctor for a referal to visit a Physical Therapist. Massage, hot, cold water is not doing nothing, maybe just a temporary fix. You need to find the cause first. My guess is that you have a bad body mechanics.

C.

I would get yourself to a doctor. It could be that chiro. or acupuncture could help, but what if it's organ pain--appendicitis? Could it be something like that?? I don't know, I'm not a doctor! It could be a herniated disc or something like that, that would cause a lot of back pain. In any case the amount of pain you are in means that you need some sort of medical attention STAT. Pain killers are not going to solve the problem. Best of luck. Take care of yourself!

Is it near your epidural site? I had horrible back pain near my epidural site for y second child (not at all for my first). However, mine was gone by 5 months... I would see your doctor and get it checked out. I needed to see the chiropractor several times after the birth of both of my children. I think because my positioning was so wierd while nursing. Pay attention to how your posture is while you are nursing. You might be surprised how you are contorting yourself!
Also, you may be unconsiously always holding the baby in the same position. My chiropractor says he sees a lot of new moms with babies around 18 months (he calls is baby hip!) because we are always holding them on the same side. That was true for me with my first. With my second, my back was just all out of allignment and it took awhile for everything to fall back into place after birth. Just think of how your back is changed during pregnancy, it can take some work to get everthing back to normal. A good chriropractor could be our best friend, but I would check with your doctor first to make sure it isn't anything more sserious.
P.S. I have never found any sort of pain medication to help with this sort of pain.

Seriously try acupuncture! I tried other treatments and this did the trick. Unlike chiropractic which you have to keep going back on a regular basis, I went four times and was amazed at the results. I too had an epidural and almost had a C section because it took so long. I had a head on collision over ten years ago and put up with a lot of pain. Seriously, you barely, if at all feel the 'needles' and it's SO worth it! Some insurance covers, most don't. It averages about $70 with a first time being more. If you're interested I'll tell you where I go. I'm on the peninsula.
Also, try alternating hot and cold in the shower, 1 minute per temp for seven times each. You'll feel like screaming the first few times with the cold, but it'll start to feel good and it does work as well.
Good Luck!!

I strongly suggest that you go see your physician. If the pain is so great that you need prescription drugs to take the edge off, you need to see them. The medication that you were given wasn't for this purpose. Any medication that you're taking has the possibility of passing thru to your breast milk. Your physician was aware of what he/she gave you for after delivery and the period of time they anticipated you taking it, so you need to go see them to find out what's causing your problem. Instead of heat, you might try an ice pack, laying on it with your legs lifted and rested somewhere to take the pressure off your back. But, again, go see your doctor. To continue having back pains months after delivery is not the norm. Best of luck!