Pregnant but have degeneration of spinal discs

[naimah]

Hi guys, wondering of anyone can help me. I was diagnosed with degeneration of spinal discs after my fourth daughter. I was refered for physiotherapy which didn't help at all and was given one shot of epidural. After that the doctors just stopped helping me. I've got severe sciatica aswell and found myself in such pain I couldnt even hoover, mop or walk longer than 5 minutes. I was given morphene patches which I wore every day and I started to manage.
Now I'm pregnant again (no it wasn't planned). I cant wear the morphene patches anymore and I'm completely useless I can't move anymore I'm in such pain. My GP said if I can't deal with the pain I can have a termination (I'm only 10 weeks gone).
I'm so scared that as the baby grows the pain is going to become unbearable. I'm taking co-codomol at the moment but everytime I take it I start being sick and get constipated, but I've been told it's my only option. I don't want to have a termination but I don't know what my options are. Can anyone help me please, I would be ever so grateful for any advice pr comments. Thank you very much for your time,
Kind Regards Naima

[martikadragoon]

Naimah~ You need to get a referral to pain management. it IS possible that you would need to take prescription pain meds during your pregnancy. No it won't  cause birth defects.
narcotic pain meds can cause depressed breathing if it's taken shortly before the baby is born and if it's taken during pregnancy can cause dependancy in the baby.

When the baby is born they can treat him or her for the physical addiction to the med and help wean him or her off slowly enough that there are very little withdrawal symptoms.

I speak from experience. When I was pregnant with my now 4 month old son I had to be on norco and then towards the end of my pregnancy I was on oxycodone 80mg/day.

if I didn't take it I couldn't function. I couldn't eat and I couldn't sleep and I couldn't care for my 19 month old who has special needs. If your GP isn't willing to treat you get in to another doctor. Get a referral to a HIGH RISK Obgyn and then the OBGYN can help you to get into a pain mgmt program.

Every medication has risks, but the rule is that the benefits must outweigh the risks and right now it seems like the benifits far outweigh the risks for you.

When my 2nd son was born the pain mgmt doctors had been slowly weaning me down off the oxycodone and when I felt like I was going into labor a couple days before he was born I lowered my dose and then after about a day was not taking anything. When my son was born I had been medication free for over 24 hrs. His breathing was ok and he didn't seem to suffer any withdrawals. doctors aren't sure what amount of med can cause withdrawals so there is no definite number for you just as they don't know how much alcahol can cause fetal alcahol syndrome.

You need to be seeing a doctor who will listen to you. In the meantime get your other children to help you as much as possible and explore other treatment options for your pain like hot showers, ICYhot rub, and other things like that.

you can't take ibuprofen during pregnancy because it can cause heart problems and can make a special vein in the heart close prematurely but tylenol is fine.

[squirtatious]

I'm so sorry for ur pain *hugs* have u tried a chiropracter? They are experts in the muscular skeletal system and I believe one would help to give u relief. They are safe for pregnant women, just do ur research first. Id recommend one who practices The Pettibon System which is a full spine rejuvenation program. Id also find one that practices decompression therapy. Greatest blessings to uu hun!!