High risk pregnancy due to narcotic pain meds?

[liltabasco]

I am 28 yrs old. I had my first child 2 yrs ago. During the pregnancy I had extreme back pain. After having my child, I find out I have 3 herniated disks and 3 bulging disks. I very very much want to have another child. However, I do not see any way to do that without putting the fetus at risk from medication. Currently I am seeing a pain manager who has me on oxycotnin 30mg BID, Skelaxin 800mg, and Flector patches. I want to know how it would be handled if I were pregnant. I'm sure I am not the only woman in the world who has back problems like these and want to have more children. Please share what information you may have about such situations. Thank you.

[liltabasco]

Thank you for your comment. I wanted to specifically ask you about your TENS unit though. I have been researching and working on getting a spinal cord stimulator. I do not know if you have ever heard of it but it works much like a TENS unit does, except it is implanted. I had high hopes of being able to use this during pregnancy. However the company that makes them informed me it is not safe for the baby? I do not know if they know as well as maybe a high risk ob would so although i believed them; I have recently wondered about the accuracy of this. Just wondering what you know about this. Thanks again for your comment it has really enlightened me about pain meds and pregnancy.

[SunWorshiper_26]

So glad I ran across your post!  I have two spinal fractures, severe curvature of my spine, my vertebra are fusing from a condition called ankylosing spondylitis and I have a fractured pelvis. I am 25 weeks pregnant with my first child.

Opiates for pain management in pregnancy are possible. They can switch your pain patches to the lidoderm patches. I know they don't work as well but they are safe. Also a TENS unit is safe I got mine from EMPI Recovery Science. I also am doing physical therapy mostly ultrasound treatment, heat and light stretching. I also take a warm bath every night with Epsom salts and sleep with a heating pad. I'm not going to lie it DOES hurt. But with proper pain management it's possible to do :). If you are in the Chicago area direct message me and I'll give you the info of my dr. She is the chief of surgery and specializes in treating pregnant women with spine and pelvic problems. She does study after study on spinal health in pregnancy. She also has been able to work with my OB as a team.

Oh also I did some research while ttc and found that anesthesiologists will want recent xrays and MRI's prior to pregnancy so they know what they can and can't do. So you will want them done within last six months.

Good luck and private message me if you have any questions :)