I'm searching the web, but honestly not finding much information on how pregnancy can effect existing back injuries, such as herniated disks, etc. Why is there so little information?

If anyone knows of any sites with good information please pass it along.

sorry--i've searched every searh engine and can't find any info

jamy

Thanks.

Unfortunately, that's what I figured. At least I know it's not just me, or that I have poor research skills.

But you would think there would be some information out there. It CAN'T be that herniated disks ONLY happen to women who've already had kids, you know? There HAS to be more of us out there who've been through this, you know, been through a pregnancy with a herniated disk.

Ugh. So much for the internet being useful. It's so frustrating and isolating.

Anyhoo, thanks for letting me vent at least.

Hey, Hotsong http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

All I can tell you is that I have a friend due in December that has/had a herniated disc and she is doing fine. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bang.gif Her disc, however, had been pain free for about 7 months before she got pregnant - perhaps healed or something prior.

Not sure the basis for your question, but maybe this helps!

Husker ............. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/round.gif

Husker,

Really? That is just great news! Has this friend had a lot of trouble with her disk, or just one episode, or what? Is her herniated disk in her lower back too?

I haven't had any problems with mine since the last mild flare up in May of this year. I did have two other major flare ups with it though: the first one in 1998, and the second one was summer of 2001. So maybe I won't be too bad as long as it doesn't act up between now and whenever I might get pregnant?

BUMP

Hey, Hotsong http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

I'm glad you bumped, I would have missed your question. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bigcry.gif Yes, her herniation was I think L4/5. Plus, L5/S1 had naturally fused together in her childhood that had also caused her pain in her back prior AND... her hip rotates quite often. NONE of which has acted up at all since she got pregnant. She was in constant pain for 6 months prior to the MRI showing the herniation and probably 3 after and had episodes of back pain prior as well.

She is due in December, is showing quite alot and still has had no pain. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dance.gif She is very faithful with the stretches and exercises she learned in pt and is trying not to gain excess weight.

The gal at MedX just had a baby, had back pain (never had pictures or anything, though so the source is not known) prior to her pregnancy, NONE http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bouncing.gif during and now has pain again after delivery!

Also, I just saw a show on Discovery Health where there was a gal with a lumbar fusion that had a pretty uneventful pregnancy and then had a C-section so as to not cause stress on her back.

Everyone is different, but be of good cheer, girl - it will work out! Be sure to talk to your doc.

BTW: I can't have any kids because of some STUPID decisions http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/hammer.gif I made when I was in my late teens. God has given me two great step kids, but I have always regretted not being able to have my own.

Let us know how things go and what you decide.

Husker ........... http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/round.gif

[This message has been edited by Husker (edited 10-09-2002).]

Husker, I'm sorry about your situation. I can't imagine how tough that must be for you. Thankfully you do have your step children, although I know it's not quite the same. I have a 6 year old stepson myself.

Right now I'm burned out on trying to research all this, so I'm going to take a break on it for a little bit. My OB/GYN appointment is next month and I will ask her about my situation and see what she says. I will also see if she can drum me up some information, or at the very least point me in the right direction.

I will keep you posted as things progress. I have a feeling it might take a while to reach a final decision on this.

If it helps my mother had several herniated discs (upper & lower) from a severe car accident. Her injury occured when she was 24 & she had me at 27 & my brother at 31 . She never really treated her condition & still has flare ups now & then...but she's managed. She does have an extremly high pain tolerance however. This is a person who gets her teeth drilled without any anesthesia & I think one of her pregnancies was with only local anesthesia.
She was also in labor with me for 23 1/2 hours narowly missing a c-section. Is this too much info?

As I have similar injuries, I am hoping to deal with it as well as she has.

Hi hotsong,
I have a torn, not herniated, lumbar disk (L5/S1). But I had the disk problem for about six months before I got pregnant (with my second child). During pregnancy my back pain went away completely! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif And I had a smooth, drug-free, quick labor. But then a few months after the birth, as I went about my normal chores, including lifting the increasingly heavy baby, my back pain returned and has been getting worse ever since.

There does seem to be very little medical information on many complications of pregnancy. I had a condition that I am pretty sure was related to pregnancy, but I could find almost nothing about it on the web. And my (male) doctor was convinced it had nothing to do with pregnancy. I don't think there are a lot of medical studies of pregnant women. Maybe the docs are worried about liability. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

Good luck!
Telzey http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/heart.gif

Thanks for the information you guys provided me! By the way, one question: what is the difference between a torn disk and a herniated disk?

I'm sorry I haven't responded in a while. I had to take a break from worrying about it for a bit. I was just stressing myself out over it. I have my OB/GYN appt. on Nov. 11th, so I'll start there and see if she can point me to some medical information as well.

Hi i am so sorry to hear about other ppl who have been through what iam giong through. I was pregnant with my 2nd child when i herniated my L5/S1 and i have had constant prob with my back i have bad feelings in legs and feet
(muscle cramps, pins and needles, muscles tightening and clammy sensations ) i was 6mths into pregnancyw hen it happened the only probs i had with the pregnancy was a few false labours and alot of pain. The docs suggest i dont have any more as i could end up in a wheelchair. they refuse to do any MRI or anything to find out what is wrong. although i had 2 ctscans done. I would like to have another one and i have been told the risks and still would like to. My doc recons with my injury i have a higher chance as i have dificluty walking, and is a severe case. Mine is a internal bulge into the spinal cavity and has effected the nerves. My two disc above the one that is still there r healed now but the other (L5/S1) has not changed since the accident 2 years ago. I hope this doesnt put u off having another a child. After the accident my pregnancy was pretty normal apart from the pain. Good luck and keep smiling. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

I thought I'd take on this challange, but you are ABSOLUTELY right!! I even looked in the main medical OB texts and couldn't find anything specific to this. So little info out there. I'll keep looking at other places and see if I can dig up anything else

Good luck.

KM

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[This message has been edited by moderator2 (edited 12-08-2002).]

Trace73, I'm sorry to hear about your situation! When you say yours is going into your spinal cavity, what exactly do you mean by that? My disk is herniated at L4-L5, and it is a central herniation going straight back into the spinal canal. The doc didn't tell me if it was large or small, though. I imagine it couldn't have been but so big at the time, because he didn't recommend surgery at this point. That is why I am so concerned about a pregnancy, the fact that I have a central herniation instead of to the right or the left. I've never had children before, and it's starting to look like maybe I won't ever.

My Gyno basically told me that she's never had any experience with anyone becoming paralyzed as a result of carrying a pregnancy with a herniated disk, and that she's had a few patients with that problem. She said I would probably encounter flare-ups of the condition, and that if necessary I could take narcotics within reason, but no anti-inflammatories. If worse came to worse, it would be reasonable to do back surgery during a pregnancy. Basically, she said it's up to me. So, I still don't know. I still want to know how much more serious a central herniation is compared to the other more common types. Everything I'm reading is scaring the **** out of me, like potential arachnoiditis, paralysis, cauda equina, etc.

KaliM, if you can find any other info, that would be great. I haven't had much luck so far.

hi hotsong. i had a discectomy in 98. i got pregnant in 1999. i had no problems with my pregnancy regarding my back. i had a normal delivery and even asked about the epidural (whether it would help with my previous back surgery) the anesth. rambled on about back stuff during my labor when he was sposed to be giving me my epidural. i was swaring at him to shut up already and just get it over with!! wanted to do this to him http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/hammer.gif anyway the epi was fine and everything related to my pregnancy was fine. i had no flare-ups with my back. but as i am so little my problems usually start after. my hips are all screwed up from having 3 children. but i wouldnt have it any other way. my kids are a joy to me. i thank god for them every day. but anyway what im trying to say is I myself had no problems when i was pregnant (and i was 30) and i was really worried that i would. so maybe theres hope?? good luck http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

[This message has been edited by bikerchic420 (edited 12-08-2002).]

Bikerchic, could that be because you already had surgery prior to becoming pregnant? See, my situation is this: I've had this problem for 4 years now (well, off and on) but they just diagnosed it as a herniated disk this past summer. My primary doc kept blowing me off before. I have not had any surgeries so far. But, I don't want to go out and have a surgery that I may not need, that may even make me worse. I mean, right now I can still walk, I don't have any leg weakness or numbness, and most of the time between flare-ups I'm relatively pain-free. So, I'm in a conundrum. Plus, the doctor hasn't even mentioned surgery yet.

What are the chances of me becoming worse during a pregnancy given that I haven't had any surgery?

Hotsong,

Firstly, if you're relatively pain free in the "in-between" periods, I'd STRONGLY caution you about doing anything more than meds, physical therapy and massage unless when you have those flare ups they completely limit your life for periods of time - like you can't get out of bed, can't sit in the car long enough to get to the grocery store, etc. I injured my back in 1997. I had flare-ups occasionally and pain when I was on my feet too long, but otherwise was okay. A lot of times we have injuries which show up on MRI's, but which do not need invasive treatment. I think the number is that 40% of the population will have "injuries" on their MRI's and be asymptomatic. If you've been able to function well - do every day things like clean your house, wash your hair, shopping, gardening, etc - you may not have any problems (other than the normal aches and pains(A&P)) during pregnancy. The real PROBLEM will then be realizing what is normal A&Ps and what is d/t your back. Don't be quick to assume it's your back (when you do get pregnant and get to that point).

As for your gyno talking about surgery during pregnancy - NOT optimal!!! You want to avoid having any type of surgery that does not have to be done during pregnancy. You also want to avoid taking any medications other than Tylenol during pregnancy. Yes, there are certain things that are okay - sudafed, codeine-FREE cough syrup, etc - but it is best not to take anything. Taking narcotics can do lots of things (we just won't even go into this right now).

The more important thing is - what are your flare-ups like? Are they so excrutiating you can't get out of bed, or are they simply annoying and make you want to skip exercise that day? If you can do certain things before you get pregnant, you may put yourself in a better position to get through a pregnancy without inflamming your back: get to a very healthy weight, eat REALLY HEALTHY! (weight watchers is an awesome program for anyone even just wanting to eat well), take vitamins (you should be doing this anyway if you're interested in getting pregnant in the next year or so - be sure you have a good vitamin with folic acid/folate in it!, exercise and get in (or stay in) shape! and VERY importantly, do back exercises!! Flexibility is very important as well - especially when you get to delivery stage. If you like Yoga, more power to ya!!

I'll keep looking for info for you, though. I do remember one patient we had about a year ago who had really bad back pain during her pregnancy (rarely is the patient's back pain so bad they have to go to ortho). I saw her several months ago and asked about the back pain - she said it had gone away since delivery.

But, I really would start training for that "Big Day Marathon" (aka "delivery day"). If you do that, you'll be so much ahead of the gang.

If you have a chance to answer some of my questions above, please do. I'll try to get back with you later this week. (Bump again if you get low on the list - I usually don't get past the first page when I log on).

Good luck!

KM

KaliM, to answer some of your questions:

Well, it's only during acute flare-ups that my activities are severely limited. During these flare-ups I can still get out of bed, but it's extremely painful to do so, especially first thing in the morning. As soon as I stand, the pain makes me nearly pass out for a few minutes. It only gets slightly better once I move around for a bit, and of course take my meds (Darvocet, Flexeril, and either Advil or Vioxx). During these flare-ups I can't do any kind of exercise except walking. Initially I can't even do my back exercises, until it calms down a bit. These flare-ups usually last a good 2 months. That being said, I'm only in this predicament during an acute flare-up. Now, I can still drive, I can still grocery shop (although the hubby normally does this anyway), as long as I rest frequently and don't overdo it. I can still shower, but I can't "linger" for 20 minutes..I try to keep it within 10 or 15 minutes. I can still work (I have a desk job) as long as I get up and move around as often as I can. I have had 2 major flare ups and one very minor one since 1998. In between these, I'm pretty much okay except for occasional achiness if I overdo something.

My OB/GYN told me that yes, narcotics are okay within reason...meaning, as long as I'm not popping them like candy, and I keep them at a minimum. And yes, if I flare up like I normally do, I would need something stronger than Tylenol...even before my back problems started, Tylenol was like drinking water for me. It does jack poop, nada, nothing. She didn't say surgery is optimal during pregancy, but if it was absolutely necessary, then it could be done with little risk to the fetus. Again, that would be a last resort thing.

As far as what I do "in-between" flare-ups. Well, I try to go to the gym and workout at least 3 days a week, if not more. I am trying to lose some weight, also. I walk the treadmill, or do the elliptical and I do machine weights, relatively light ones. I do my stretching, I do ab work and back strengthening exercises. Unfortunately, I still have not made much gains as far as flexibility...my back does severely limit me there. I've been taking a good multi-vitamin for over a year now. I am trying to eat healthy, too.

I cannot run or do any jumping/jarring type of activities, or else I will flare-up.

I have a central disk herniation, as opposed to right or left of the midline...doc says it's going straight into my spinal canal, and, from that, I also assume dangerously close to the cauda equina. Which is why I'm so worried about a pregnancy. The weight will only push the disk further into this area as far as I can tell.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

[This message has been edited by hotsong (edited 12-09-2002).]

Heya Hotsong,

Sorry about the websites. I read the rules and read the rules and still can't get them all straight. So, since we can't share websites, do a search on a good engine (I prefer google) - (moderators - to my knowledge google does not advertise anything) - and look up the words "disc herniation" and "pregnancy". Unfortunately, just like I did, you'll have to spend a good bit of time weeding through the crap to find the good stuff (medically sound). But again, since we can't share that info, you'll have to do it again yourself. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif Sorry. If I find anything else online I'll just post the whole thing here for you instead.

KM

BUMP

Oops, didn't see your reply, Kali. You replied exactly 1 minute before I "bumped"!!! LOL!!! I've tried Google before, without having much luck. But, when I get a chance, I will try it again for s**ts and giggles, you know, throw it out there and see what sticks and all that.

Keep me posted if you happen across anything as well. Believe me, it's greatly appreciated!

Hi its trace here. I am not sure that all cases r like mine i have a central herniation on 3 of my disc at the time of the accident 2 have healed but one hasnt. My doc told me not to have anymore as the risk is greater for me(I dont understand y) i know the pressure of carrying could do more damage. Someone put a comment in about painfree eposodes. I have none of that i am in pain 24/7. Mine might be a lot diff to u
I am not sure but i am giong to have another child anyways i think the risk is worth it on my point of view. But everyone is diff and u have to decide what is right for u way up the options and risks. I have been told that if i take it easy dont lift anything, Once i start to show then not to walk to far cause of my legs giong on me allthe time could cause a fall and hurt myself and baby. But i look at the result at the end of it. The docs have known to be wrong before and i think it is up to u on what u want to do knowing the limit u can go to in urself. With my son i had no pain releive while having him so it didnt make much diff in labour as such. I think the word is be careful in what u do when u r .I hope everything goes right for u and good luck http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Trace73, I also have a central disk herniation, although it's only one disk, not three. In my situation, I don't think it would be worth it to me to disable myself if I can avoid it...yeah, I know children are special and all that, but what good is it when you can't enjoy them, or take care of them? It would all be left to my husband, and I honestly don't think he'd be able to handle it. Hell, he can't even handle being alone with his son from his 1st marriage very long, and he's almost 7!!!! So, I know he probably wouldn't do too well with an infant PLUS possibly taking care of a disabled wife. It would be to much for him.

I don't know, maybe I'm projecting too much. All my orthopedic doctor told me when I asked him about pregnancy was to go for it, but he couldn't guarantee I wouldn't have back pain. He didn't give me much info. But then again, he also said there's no side effects to ESI's, either...so he's just a barrell of good information, right? Don't get me wrong, I'm still glad I went to him...he was the first one to actually order an MRI at least.

Hi hotsong!
Still on this subject huh?!
I think I have decided not to have children. I hate to have made a final decision but I just don't think it would be fair to put a child through the misery of not being able to have their mother take care of them the way she should. And, I have enough pain and problems. I just and too fearfull.
My doctor also said go for it that I would regret it. I just don't know about his advice!

Hope you come to a conclusion eventually!!

Christina http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/heart.gif

ChristinaD, I'm glad you made a decision that is right for you. I'm still struggling with it, I'm not all that good with decisions anyway; so major, life changing ones like this...I seem to struggle with even harder. Plus, I feel pressure because I'm already 30, so it's not like I can just put it off a few more years THEN decide. I pretty much have to decide within the next year or two. I do not want to be an older mother like my Mom was with me. If I do have kids, I want to have some semblance of energy to raise them with. LOL!! Not to mention the generation gap that me and my mother could never transcend.

But yeah, still on this subject. I hope I'm not boring people to death with it.

I'm actually not sure that the decision is right for me or my fiancee. We are having problems because of my whole situation. Going through some tough times. I just seemed like everything was so great when we bought our house and go engaged in the spring then I hurt my back and everything came crashing down.
I have been a royal b**h and miserable. Our sex life and all that has been terrible. It is all my fault I know I just hope I come out of all this. I have been very slowly feeling better in very small bits.
We were suppose to get married June 7th and we have put it off because of my situation. We fear that I won't be better in time and want to make sure I'm better first. I think the thought of me possibly not having children scares him too and I know he wants them. Oh, the things we go through! I just wonder what it was like when I was fit and healthy!

Well, my situation is slightly different in that my husband has been married before and already had the "childbirth" experience with his first wife, so I'm sure it doesn't affect him the same way. I mean, he already has a child, so I don't think it matters too much to him if he doesn't have another one. I mean, he says he wants another one, but I don't think it would be as big of a disappointment if we didn't have kids as it would be if he were childless. Does that make sense? So basically, it's all up to me. So if I do have a kid and end up in a wheelchair, I guess that would be all my fault, essentially.

I've had these back problems our entire relationship, and the disk problem since right before we got married, and it does affect your relationship. No one who hasn't been there even comes close to understanding the amount of pain you can be in, and how little things like mopping the floor can set it off again. I try to explain that to my husband, and I get the "Well, sometimes my back hurts too", like I'm just being lazy or some insensitive bulls**t. Sometimes I swear I could pop his a** upside the head. Grrrrr. Sorry, didn't mean to go off on a tangent like that but it's frustrating when no one really understands except another "backie".

Yeh, I know, it's hard to get them to figure it out. I guess I would be clueless if I "healthy", just the thought of it would be heavenly! My fiancee is so fit he works out two hours a day except Sunday then there is me. It is so hard. Sometimes I just want him to read everyone elses posts but he doesn't have an interest as this has been such an old story. He would just say we are all a bunch of hypochondriacs just as I am. I understand, I can't mop the floor either without sending myself back down the hill just when I think I am feeling somewhat better. It is a vicious cycle isn't it!
Well, I guess the key is to be optomistic and that is just what I am, although it doesn't sound like it sometimes. I am really trying to have faith. You do the same!!!!
I took 2 months off work and I have been back since last week and seem to be in better spirits than when I left and it seems that I am having a little better time of it rather than when I left.

Just think positive!!!

Christina http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/heart.gif

Well, I can mop the floor, but sometimes it does make me achy afterward for a day or so. Not unable to move or anything, but just achy enough to where I have to pop the Advil and Flexeril. What is confusing is sometimes I can mop and everything's fine, and other times, not so much. I guess that's part of the reason why he just doesn't get it: why am I fine sometimes, and other times I end up in pain? I guess trying to look at it from his point of view, I wouldn't understand that, either.

That is the wonderful part of having a back problem, you just never know what to expect! And don't think that it doesn't stump the doctors either because I believe that there is so much to know about the central nervous system and spine that the doctors only know a small portion of what is going on in there. Just like the diseases of the nervous system, MS, MD and all those, they can't figure them out either. No cure! Of course there is cancer and aids that there are no cure for either, but just like all these that are alike they can lessen symptoms and possibly make it go away for a length of time but they cannot cure it. It is no fun but I think that once you are blessed with these wonderful problems you have to accept it!

Dear hotsong, I feel for u and know how hard the situation is for u and what it would be if u decided to go and have a child. Having ot deal with this and the options hasnt been easy for me nor my partner it has effected us in such a way i woulnt wish upon anyone. Like someone has pointed out the effect on there sexlife, it has had a major effect on ours also, but i think(this is my opion), that my relationship has survived this and it will no matter what comes up i go throught iimes i cant walk already and it will make no diff to us weither i take the risk , my huuby and i have discussed this and we both agree that this is what is best for us. Only u & your hubby can decide what is best for u both. These kinda things havent been reasearched tothe point they can tell u that it is safe or not. They cant say yeah go ahead it is not giong to hurt u because it opens them to legal stuff then if it does hurt u they have to point out the options for u and what it might involve. The docs dont know what will happen everyone is diff and there bodies react to diff things in diff ways. Maybe if u feel to have a child then look at other ways of diong so maybe having an other person that u trust having it for u in a ivf kinda thing so u can get the enjoyment of having kids and diong all the fun stuff u would like to do. My kids r missing out on most of the things that i cant do with them but i am here for them and that is what matters really i can still hug and tellthem stories and be here for them if they need me. I know it is hard in other things and i do know how muchit hurts. I hope that things do work out for u in everyside of ur relationship and what u decide to do. keep smiling http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

sorry me again. I want to know where the coucellore r in this has anyone gon to see one, i think we all need help to accept this (iknow it is hard to) and for our hubbys, b/f whatever they may be to go also and they might be able to understand what we go through everyday. I have arguments with my hubby all the time about things that have to be done around the house, It would take him less effort to maybe vacumm then what it takes me to do it. I constantly get angry and depressed about it. Which in turn gets him upset. I am at the stage i need to go and see a councillor about my feelings and maybe to try and help me accept what is giong to happen and make it easy for me to live my life. My docs i think seems to think that i imagine the pain i am in but he has never had this so he doesnt know what we all go through. The constant pill taking and not being able to go to the mall with out being pushed over or ran over by other ppl, constant critasism from ppl about things not being done. I would be a hell of a lot easier if they could understand, but without us teaching them and maybe telling them how r they to know?I would encourage everyone if possible maybe to see someone to talk to and try to help themselves and help there family before they end up taking their own lives( like i have tried to many times) cause i am giong to. Please keep smiling and share u feelings http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

BUMP

The latest on the baby thing. I talked to an spine surgeon's assistant yesterday about this, and of course not having my MRI in front of him he answered the best he could. I got basically the same answer, though, that I've gotten from all the doctors I've talked to about this so far. Basically, if I want to get pregnant, than go for it...don't let having a herniated disk stop you. I even asked him about how mine is herniated centrally, and he didn't think that would be a problem, either. He did say things could flare up during pregnancy, but he didn't think I would be at any greater risk of Cauda Equina Syndrome or anything.

How about any of you guys? What have your doctors and OB/GYN's told you about pregnancy with a bad back?

mmmmm. Well ppls if u would like to know what happens then i will give u upto dates during this since i have just found out that iam 3 months.
So far nothing abnormal has happened i lost usage of my left leg last week but it has happened before when u first had the accident. Other than that just a swap around in tabs and i am on my way take it easy says the docs. Wish u all luck and i will keep u all posted.
Tracie

Hi All,

I personally, am done with having babies. But my niece has a herniated disk and had a baby a year ago with it still there. It was double the pain during labor...but otherwise, she shows no signs of worse wear. She told me it was gnarly giving birth, but she IS up and around today! And she hasn't had any kind of surgery yet either. I hope this information puts your mind at ease a little.

successtory

Trace73, just to clarify, I haven't been in an accident, nor have I lost use of my legs at all so far. Or were you talking about yourself?

Definitely keep us posted as to how your pregnancy goes along with your back problems. I for one REALLY want to know.

Wishing you the very best!

Hi Hotsong,

First, I would have to find out how advance is the pregnacy. Most pregnant women will have back, legs, neck, feet, abdomen, shoulder, etc. pain. It is not uncommon. They are most definately related. If the pregnacy is not advance and is in its early stage, you can use my technique show below. If to advance, you should see a Massage Therapist to help out.

Only if early stage of pregancy and if you are willing to try our my suggestion, I may be able to help you out to partially or totally relive the pain / problem:

It seems that she isexperiencing Sciatic Nerves entrapment. These Nerves start from your lumber area ( L5 / Sacrum ), go through your buttocks area, around the upper leg bones, splits in two, go around both side of the knees, down on the outside of the lower legs and to the feet. Any of the pain that these nerves are causing will be felt in all or partially in those areas. By the way, those Sciatic Nerves, at your buttocks, are almost the size of your thumbs. It is the most common type of Back Pain and easy to have. It does not require very much strain to have this Injury / Pain. If caught early enough, it is the easiest one to fix otherwise, it may require many sessions of Massage Therapy. If you are willing to try this Method that I am using on my wife and many of my Clients: " It requires three person, including yourself, to use the special technique. On a very stiff bed, you lay straight on your side, bracing yourself with one hand to sturdy yourself, one person puts his/her hands against your lower back spine so that it does not curve and the third one grabs both of your feet together and brings them forward as far as possible toward your belly then, brings them back down in the same manner to where they were. You then, lay on your belly, the second person holds your lower back spine again and the third person grabs one leg at a time, does not matter which one that you start with, moves it straight outward as far as possible and back then, the other leg in the same manner and back. At that point, you should lay there for a few minutes to catch your breath and then, get out of the bed from your left or right side and not forward. This method should fix your Sciatic Nerve entrapment.

The next thing that you should do and it is extremely important, is to get on a kitchen table and do the following exercise that I will try to describe to you as follow:

Lay and rest your upper body on the table;
Extend your arms forward to hold yourself on the table;
Put both of your leg and feet together;
Lift both of your legs/feet up slowly as far as possible;
Hold;
put both of your leg and feet back down slowly;

Do as many as you can and repeat as many time during the day and for many more days to come. You will have strenghten your back and as long as you exercise, this Sciatic Nerve problem should not reoccur again to you. You should keep doing this Exercise to keep your back in shape.

You should print this technique so that you do not forget the way it is done. If this technique is not followed to the letter, you will get a lot of pain by its improper use.

Hope that you follow it properly and that it works for you.

Good Luck and God bless

trace73,

I have been reading your posts and you seemed to have had a herniated disc L5S1 and went through pregancy.

Can you tell me if you had sergury, how was your pregancy, what did you take, how were you able to cope with pain?

Please let me know,
raiza

ChristinaD

I was reading your posts, how are you doing? did you decide to get surgery? How is your husband taking it? Is he being more supportive? I am contempalting getting pregnant with a terrible pain of a herniated disc. I had surgery back in July 03. Just improved about 40 to 50 % still very very painful.

-R

I am getting in on this conversation late in the game, but find the discussion helpful because I too have searched unsucessfully for info on the web about pregnancy and disc herniation.

I had back pain for over a decade and probably had a bulging disc over the years but I was able to maintain the pain through exercise, etc. But once pregnant I stopped most of the exercise and put on my 30 lbs. I was in pain the last month of pregnancy and then after an MRI indicating a serious herniation I had back surgery when my newborn was 2-months old. It was very manageable though - honestly the most difficult part was the emotional piece because I wasn't able to carry my baby for the first 1.5 months post surgery. I'm on my way toward being painfree. And my advice to those in pain and pregnant is DO NOT STOP DOING YOUR BACK STRENGTHENING EXERCISES! This was my big mistake.

The doc says there's no reason to not have a second pregnancy as long as I maintain the strength of my back & ab muscles. These days there are lots of exercise programs for CORE strengthening adn Pilaties - which is the same as back & ab strengthening.

I was wondering that too, but more on the degenerative side of discs. Another reason why I am having afusion at 27-it I waited, and we got pregnant and my discs were still crap, I don't think my body could handle the weight. And I have spoken with people who have had fusions and done just fine carrying and delivering. We don't want kids for another eight years, and we don't even know if we will then. But, something you HAVE to consider. Very good question.If I find anything else I will pass it on.

Hi Everyone,

I had discectomy 5 months ago. Now i am getting married in June 2005 then trying for a baby. Knew this so thats why had operation so quickyly as wanted to try to get over it as soon as possible, so would not have problems when pregnant.

Anyway spoke to the specialist and my phisio about the whole thing. I was told by my specialist that carring a baby with a herniated disc or after operation on spine will be fine as when you are pregnant your body naturally produces a chemical that strenthens your muscles in your body to protect and help you when pregnant. One of those natural things. So because of this you should be protected whilst pregnant.

The problem i was told is once you have given birth! The body then realises that baby is out and the chemicals it had produced then stop so this is when your back is at a very high risk and you have to be careful, especially as you now have a baby to look after. I was told just to make sure after have baby be careful with lifting etc.

However was told that is why it is so important to get your inner core muscle strong before you try for a baby then it will protect your back even more and should be fine.

I am therefore trying to do the exercises i was given for strethening inner core muscle to help support my back. It consists of holding the lower abdominal muscle in for periods of time then releasing. Not your upper muscles the very low ones each side of pelvis.

anyway thought may help you all. Just what i was told

Good luck with all you broody people

I didnt' realize this thread was two years old :)
I agree with you about the herniation, I was told the same. But when I found out about the DDD the docs changed their tune, and asked me if I was planning on getting pregnant anytime soon, when I said no, they were eased. So, I wonder now if the kind of injury can make a difference?????

Hello guys, Well, I had my hemilaminectomy/discectomy almost 17 months ago. It is a lot better. However, I still have small/midium flare ups every now and then, which I take Naproxeen Sodium and gets good again. I just started TTC a month ago. The "Chile" didn't take, so I am trying again my next ovulation. My OB told me that it may get bad during pregnancy, but my NS says that it should not affect at all. If you are taking painkillers, you will need to stop as soon as you know you are prego. My OB told me if things get out of hand, I could only take Tylenol or Vicodin. NOTHING ELSE.

I have spoken to a lady in the "Pregnancy" section of this forum, which she went through her entire pregnancy taking Vicodin. She had her boy a couple of months ago and he is just fine. She also had a bad disc which she had had operated on.

I decided to start trying cuz I am 38 and never had a child before, nor I have never tried either. I really wonder if I could get prego. In the meanwhile, my OB sent us to have some test to make sure I still have enough eggs and hubby has the right # of sperms. We will know on the 15th when I have my next appointment.

I am excited to do this. I really would like to have a baby.. at least one. The only thing I am scared is being able to make it through pregnancy without experiencing too much pain, and being ok after delivery (meaning, not needing another surgery). My OB told me to continue swimming the whole 9 months. That will be the only thing that may help to have a better time during prego.

I will keep everyone posted.

P.S. Lorry is right, while prego our bodies will segregate something that will make you go trough. Many women that have our problem are surprised that prego wasn't that bad after all. But the key here is after delivery. Will we be OK? We'll see, everyone is different.

-Raiza

well raiza, I hope you have a great appt on the 15th, I have surgery that day so hopefully we will both have a great day. My husband and I want to wait until our mid thirties to have children too. we have reasons-one is we are selfish right now and that is a huge reason, two i need my degree first, three he is working on his masters four, we don't know yet where we want to live, we think we could move four more times before we settle down, five, our pets are hard enough at the moment, and six, we want to get our time first, like traveling and getting all the things we have wanted (goes along with being selfish). we go between wanting and not wanting them at all. I have been told that we would be great parents, one friend even got mad at me when I told her we may not have any. So, we will just have to see, but we figure at the most 8-10 years (I am on depo right now and we use condoms, but if I do have early stages of osteoporosis I will have to stop using the depo). Anyway, got on a ball here, sorry. Anyway, it makes me feel better, and happy that it is easier than thought.

mel1977,
Don't worry what people say. Take your time on deciding to have children or not. Ultimately you and your husband are the one to live with it. My husband and I are together since 1994. 10 years. We thought about getting prego when i was 35 but literately soon after i got this herniated disc and we have to put everything in hold. Now I am in the market (sore of speak) LOL.

Seems like you have many reasons why not to get prego right now. Besides you will be in surgery soon. You will need time to recover. You seem to be young (late 20s?), if so, you have so much time ahead of you. Try to do the advises in this forum. They helped me so much in my recovery.

On the 15 th I will set a prayer for you, so your surgery is a success.

take care,
raiza

I was very interested to see this posting as I have some of the same concerns and cannot find out very much information about it. In 2001 I was diagnosed with having a slipped disk at L5/S1 that was causing some nerve damage in my left leg. I took an epidural shot and was fine for almost a year. Then I had another major flare up in 2002 and was scheduled for surgery that I didn't go through with. I had 2 more epidural shots at that time. Since that last incident I have had several (more than 10) flare ups. Each time I was treated with oral steroids, pain meds and rest alternating with exercise. My doc eventually diagnosed me with Degenerative Disk Disease (keep in mind that I am only 26, 27 next month).

5 years ago I became pregnant with my daughter and had some issues with my back but no major pains. I did however go through 20 hours of back labor that ended with a 10 lbs + baby. After her birth I did not have any troubles until the 2001 incident (in which I just woke up one morning with excrutiating pain, no cause was ever identified). I have major problems with my leg during the flare ups in which my leg is numb and I cannot carry my weight on it. During the last major flare up I was beginning to lose the ankle jerk reflex in the left leg but after the shots were administered it seemed to get much better.

I am now 9 weeks pregnant with my second child. I have slight back pain as well as some leg pain (especially if I am standing or sitting for extended periods of time). I have not seen my OB yet ( appt is the 15th) so I don't have any definitive answers yet as to what this baby could do to my back. I am very concerned that this child will be about the same size as my daughter and my family doctor had warned me about the fact that having another large baby could wreak havoc on this weak disk.

After reading all the posts I have come to see that each person has different circumstances however I was hoping that someone could help to shed some light on my situation as I am very preplexed at what will happen.

Thanks!

Hey there! I just had a baby and I have had a herniated L5s1 for a few years. My pregnancy was smooth sailing and my back was better than it had ever been over the past 4 years. The problems all came back 5 weeks after the baby was born when I was cleaning dog pee (grrrrrr) off the carpet upstairs and I got up the wrong way and that was it for me, I am now scheduled for a fusion on January 19th. Heres hoping your back hold out for you during your pregnancy too. I might have already replied to your thread now that I think of it...I have had a long day with 3 kids and a husband gone at work all day, I am a goof! Melinda

I wanted to get this thread hopping :bouncing: again. How have you all been faring with your pregnancies or deciding about getting pregnant?

I've had two laminectomy/disktomy's in the past 4 months... I'm one month post op now and we are going to start trying to get pregnant. My neurosurgeon and OB said I should be fine....if I don't gain too much weight. I'm going to do physical therapy for my abs and back too...and that should help. I'm more worried about after having the baby, all the carrying, lifting out of the crib, stroller, etc. I have a 2 year old and when I was pregnant with her...I had no back pain at all. Prior to getting pregnant I did have occasional back pain 1 or 2 times a year. So I really think when you are pregnant that those extra hormones do help protect your back. It was after when she was about a year old and 21 pounds that I think my disc herniated at L5-S1. I do worry about pregnancy and after hurting my back and disc again but I'm willing to risk it to have another child. We can't wait much longer. I'm 38 years old. Anyone else struggling with this decision?

You may want to do a search at spine universe. They have a little bit of information.
Tirzah