Any ok Pain Medications for SEVERE back pains while pregnant

[Cubana]

I've lived w/ severe back pain for as long as I can remember. Had my 1st son 8 yrs ago-after birth(thought I was going to die from pain during those 9 months!)saw MANY doctors - been told I have Spinal Stenosis, Fybromyalgia(SP?),Degenerative Spinal Cord Disease...Had back surgery 7 yrs ago-no help-Was on 120 MG of Oxycontin 2xs a day & 350MG of Percocet 2xs a day - then we found out we were pregnant. A real blessing, very happy but now Pain Management Doc is weening me off meds 20 MG @ a time. Currently on 40MG(Oxycontin)2xs a day 9 1/2 weeks pregnant. OB says Oxycontin is ok only side affect is baby will have withdrawal symptoms like crack babies/Pain Mgmt doc says no not good(I agree)- we have been trying to find an alternative. The pain is becoming extremely unbearable no matter what I do (was expecting this) Anyone know / hear of pain meds taken while pregnant, side affects...etc..There is no research done on any pain meds & pregnant women - maybe real life experiences can help us find something. I don't want complete pain relief - just enough to be able to work & live w/o crying in pain all day or wishing things that I shouldn't be.

[Sandybv85]

Oh this is from 2006... Idk if I'll get an answer here but I'll try. I suffer from fibromyalgia. I just found out I am preg with my first baby (8weeks). I cannot begin to describe the unbearable all over pain, but the one that is driving me insane is my back pain. I was taking tramadol 100mg 3 times a day and 2mg of clonazepam at bedtime. Not anymore... I was taken off these meds, along with my chronic migraine meds. I am allergic to codeine so anything containing it is completely out of the question. I have not always had this allergy and Vicodin would help me get though the day, not any more. I am still looking for an obgyn. I have tried heat and cold on the spots that are extremely sore and that helps for like 5 min. Please if someone here found comfort for their pain and your baby is healthy plz help me by giving me a bit of advice. Thank you so much in advance!!

[kmull9]

My name is Kim I'm 28 yrs old and currently 19 weeks pregnant. I have had severe back pain since 2008 and have been on pain medications since. Hydro and Oxy 5 mg for break through. My OBGYN and the high risk specialist at the hospital told me the medications were safe for the baby and should not be stopped, but my pain management doctor dropped me as a patient when I told him I was pregnant. No this pregnancy was not planned but i refuse to have an abortion! I just don't know what to do. I can't find a single doctor in NJ who will treat a pregnant woman! I have not had a minute to enjoy this pregnancy between fear and pain. If anyone knows a doctor who can help me or has any advice PLEASE let me know.

[kmull9]

I saw your post about pain management durring pregnancy. I dont know where you live but I am in freehold NJ and I can't find a pain management doctor who will treat me. My current pain management dr dropped me. Would you mind if I asked who treated you durring your pregnancy? I really need help.Thank you
Kim

[sheenabean12]

I realize you have had your baby already. I hope you figured something out to deal with the pain.  These people who are telling you to meditate, breath, maintain good posture etc have NO idea what it is like to have to live in the  kind if pain you are living in.  I do, however, and I have never had a child because of the pain in which I suffer.  You ARE a brave woman!  I know that Demerol DOES NOT cross the placenta.  I don't know if it is available in a dosage form other than an injectable.  However, because it does not enter the baby's blood supply, and is therefore safe for baby, I think they should be working out a way to make it available to pregnant women whoi are in chronic pain, to use to control the pain.   Also nerontin, and lyrica, do not work as well as well as would like to say they do.  Most of the time they are taken along with opiates.

[mrscoop23]

I'm 13 weeks pregnant 26 yrs old and about to cry.  I have had the hardest time finding anyone who understands the complications of wanting a baby but dealing with chronic pain.  I have spinal stenosis due to three herniated disks in my lower back.  Right now I am just having the beginning aches associated with the later flair ups.  It's so scary because I am not even drinking caffeine.  I want to do this as chemical free as possible.  One thing that has already helped me even more than pain meds is weight loss.  If you've had steroid injections like me it makes you gain too easily.  The better shape you are in the less your pain is because you back is supporting less weight at any given moment.  I know tyonol is safe and that it prob has more of a placebo affect than anything.  I'm going to check with a doctor on IB Profin.  That has helped me before moving on to stronger medications previously.  

[KaTieLvsMiKe]

Hi. Im katie, I'm 25, my fiance and I want to have a baby like... yesterday! lol but he doesn't know that Iam severely addicted to norcos, ambien and/or any type of narcotic.. the one I specifically take are these (hydrocodone 10/325) given to me by doctors and ill take anywhere from 4-6 in a 16 hr day...now, I suffer from severe cervical, thoracix, and lumber back pain, as well as recently being diagnosed with fibromialgia  :(   (ya it sux) and ive tried to get off the meds but not only does my pain go from severe, it goes death pain, Im worried that when/if i get pregnant if ill be allowed to take the norcos? And I wonder how harmful they are to the fetus.. if anyone has some help or tips please please help me..

[SinSue]

I have had two children while on pain meds. The first one I was taking percs and tylox, she had no problems at all and is a beautiful 9 year old. The second they put me on the duragesic patch. My daughter had to stay in the nicu to be withdrawn but is an amazingly smart 7 year old. I do not recommend the patch at all. I can't remember much of anything from when I was on it and the withdrawal was the worst experience of my life. I am now pregnant again, only 6 weeks. I currently take oxycodone, and I'm not sure whether it is safe yet or not. I go to the ob next week. I hope this helps you!

[White_Witch8]

Just a quick note to say hi.And I agree with you when it comes to methadone... I dont want to scare these pregnant pain patients more than they already are.. But I almost died on methadone, I fell asleep in the bath tub for four hours.. And woke up in cold water... My son was 5 at the time, and I was a single mom... I know many who have died on methadone from an overdose... As you know it is one of the longest acting opiate pain medication available. It accumulates in your system, and if your not careful and dont research the medication your taking you could easily overdose from methadone, ... It also takes the longest to withdraw from. I have experience with every pain med out there... The one I was on when I got pregnant was fetanyl and norco..It was an unexpected pregnancy, but needless to say I was excited, and also very nervous too, because of the medications... I went through a very difficult withdrawl with the fentanyl but stayed on the norco throughout my pregnancy, 4 or more  a day 10/325 depending on pain..And also took Effexor XR for depression....My son came out healthy and fully alert... With no withdraw effects..He has had no ill effects from the pain medication, and an antidepressant... My son is now almost 7 years old...If  anyone wants to talk I have had eleven years experience with pain, pain meds, pain management, and pregnancies while on pain medication... I am currently pregnant now, and have been taking nucynta off and on throughout the pregnancy when my pain is unbearable... Its a new drug, it has less side effects than the other opiates out there, and also less constipating... It also helps and works as an antidepressant, which is all to well known with a disability, depression plays a part as well... I am really nervous about this new drug, If you or (any one) else has experience in your field with this drug, the more knowledge the better.... With my experience it is hard for others to understand, when it comes to pain medication. If they themselves have never been injured with a  physical disability , and living in pain everyday...Not to say you are.. I am just saying, some people really don't have the experience that you do, on the medical side of things,  We all need a supportive knowledgeable person like yourself, to inform us.. Its hard enough living in pain everyday, but to be pregnant too, is really stressful... , I think it is important to be sympathetic, especially with pain patients...The person you responded to, sounds like she doesn't have the right information, and is a bit ignorant on the subject...(No Offense To her) We are all here just trying to help each other with information, and personal experiences and ... I am grateful to this site, I wish I knew about this site a long time ago, than I wouldn't have had to suffer in silence.. It helps so much to know that your not alone... That there are others that are experiencing what your going through... So if anyone would like to talk about any of these subjects, I would be more than happy to be there for anyone who needs to talk.. I know what it is like to have no one there that understands what you are going through... I really want to be there for others, no one should have to suffer,  alone!!!! But unfortunately, even though I still had my family and friends around, I still felt like I was suffering all alone... I felt that there was no one that understood how hard it is to be a single mother, and only having the use of one arm, without pain medication...     I am really glad you spoke out about Methadone, with experience its worst than Oxycontin...
A wonderful web site that helped me, have a voice, and get off of Oxycontin was prescriptionaddictionradio.com

[motherhen72]

Sure, bigrigmommy, methadone is safe for YOU, the MOTHER. Your baby however can experience WEEKS of screaming, tremors, feeding disturbances, diarrhea, did I mention SCREAMING to the point where he/she needs morphine and ativan to keep him calm, again taking weeks to taper off? Seen it dozens of times as a NICU nurse. Once you are pregnant, honey, it ain't all about YOU anymore, so consider the other life you are affecting.

[jenbug_21]

i am 26 weeks pergangt i will be 27 weeks monday .... i have had sever tooth aches. i have a ab sect tooth and the denist cant pull it so i have been taking a half of a hydro 7.5 a day 4 like 3 weeks now and im so scared im hurting my baby boy.... i know the first trimester is the worst to take anything so i never did but my tooth hurts so bad that tynoel does not help at all.. will this hurt my baby

[alish401]

my doctor thinks the narcoticics will hurt the baby, but i can bearly move most of the time. i had a l1-t12 fushion and am now almost 7 months pregent what can i do?

[sedder]

hello
i am 23 years old and i am fourteen weeks pregnant. i was happy to see a blog like this because i feel that i can relate to many women whom in which are in similar situations as myself. i was in a severe car accident 2 1/2 almost 3 years ago right before my birthday which was almost fatal. fortunately i recovered due to many miracles i think:) however, i shattered 4 vertebrae and broke a few ribs as well as my arm and bones on the right side of my face. everything else has healed very well but i was told that the only way i would walk again was to have a very intense back surgery- a Thoracic Fusion. the fusion would be two rods and 8 screws that would connect the 4 missing vertebrae to the other parts of my spine in order to 'fuse' them back together again. this was done in a series of two separate very very painful (and long long recovery periods) surgeries. i am very lucky and can almost do anything that i used to do..i am a full-time college student and will have my masters' degree in one year and i work full-time as well. however, my OBGYN had even looked at me and said...."Sarah, if i had 4 shattered vertebrae among other problems that you have suffered from that accident and someone told me that they were going to take away the pain medication that you are on...i would strangle them."
Now, i do not in any way shape or form promote taking a narcotic while pregnant. this is not about me anymore and i realize that. but if you are someone who has never suffered an injury such as this or even similar then you have NO IDEA that the pain is do debilitating at times that i cannot even get out of bed. i will be honest, atleast 5 days out of 7 i cry and ache so bad that i dont want to move out of my room; but ironically..the best thing for me is to actually keep moving! once i lay down it hurts worse..(usually) unless i absolutely have to lay down. so anyway, yes i am working with my doctor to wean down on the medication...i am on 10/325 mg of percocet 4 times a day, but have been told that if i can get by without increasing this medication or even lowering to twice a day...then everything should be just fine. my mother and twin sister are both registered nurses and among other studies where doctors have monitored pregnant women on medications such as these, the main risks are involved after the child is born. which again, does not make it a better situation...or does not make it 'ok' but...like i said, you cant suffer too because that will put stress on the baby as well. so doctors know what they're talking about and just because people read on here that a woman is on a 'DRUG' or 'NARCOTIC' they flip out and dont fully understand the situation. hope this helps:) thankyou

[bigrigmommy]

Doctors are terrified of methadone and prescribing it, and normally associate it only with addiction, therefore with pre-conceived judgment. The truth is it's one of the safest pain medications a pregnant woman can be on, with data begin reported since the 1950's. Even pain management doctors would rather prescribe proven-addictive amounts of oxy-and-roxy and hydro-codones in the 80-120 mg range, or 6 pills a day at lower doses, instead of one pill every 24 hours in the 10-40 mg range. 40 being, by the way, an extraordinarily high dose for someone without an addiction problem.

Intense pain, acute or chronic, cause stress and, well, intense pain, which increase miscarriages and fetal complications. A doctor allowing someone to suffer mentally or physically violates their Hippocratic Oath.

If you would like to know the truth about the safety of methadone, and pain management, especially if you are facing a life-long pain problem, contact a methadone clinic. You don't have to go there, but they have plenty of documentation, and often a pre-made pregnancy folder/pamphlet, plus information for other health care providers. For the one nearest you, contact samhsa.org. They are much more well informed on the safety of use during pregnancy, and do not have pre-conceived judgments regarding pain control, it's potential ramifications, and the pregnant patient. And their patients are at dosages usually 8-12x the dosage prescribed for pain management (or what any doctor would tell you is safe for you or a baby.) If a pregnant woman on methadone maintenance can have a healthy birth and a baby who doesn't suffer withdrawals at 120mg a day, why on earth would a pregnant woman with a pain condition taking 10mg 2xday expect any problems?

By the way, phenergan, which they prescribe during pregnancy for nausea, usually without you even asking for it, is a category C medicine. I think that's proof doctor's are terrified of understanding and controlling pain properly in a pregnant woman if the medicines have the same risk.

I wish you all the best. Please utilize the internet as the tool it is, and inform yourself. You deserve it, and well as your future baby(ies). I know mine hiding in there at 6 weeks does.

[RoxyAngel]

I am so glad to see this site. We are currently trying to get pregnant and have almost all the same questions that all of you do. I was given tylox while pregnant with my first and it just barely helped. The pain for me is so bad I can barely move at times. I have been told that percocet is okay.

[melissasw]

I have a very similar scenario...had my son Jan 2006...the entire pregnancy I was on 10mg percocet, 3 * a day.  He was born a few weeks early via c-section because he herniated 3 discs while I was pregnant and I couldn't go through a vaginal delivery and risk him pushing out the discs further....

I am now pregnant again, about 8 weeks...I am on 7.5 mg percocet * 4 times a day.  I am also on Lyrica, 2 times a day for nerve pain.  

My son did not have too much of a withdrawal symptom, because the c-section was scheduled, so for the last few days, I limited my percocet intake...so it wouldnt be as bad for him when he was born.  He did sneeze alot and was a little irritable, but other than that, you wouldnt be able to tell.  My doctor also worked with me...he said that if my son had too much of a withdrawal symptom(s), they can gradually wean the child off the drug as well...they simply give the baby a LITTLE bit of percocet, to wean him.  There is a special log they keep and they watch the baby and they symptoms when they are born.

Both your pain management doctor and your OB should be working together to make you comfortable during your pregnancy.  I agree that too much of the medication can cause more of a withdrawal and make the baby extremely symptomatic when born, but there has to be a way to make you comfortable.

What about trigger point injections?  have you had them?  they worked incredibly for me when I was having alot of pain, and because the needles arent guided by x-ray, but simply where you tell your pain mngt doctor where the pain is...

Hopefully, they can find something to work for you.  Lyrica and trigger point injections, with percocet as my regular medication worked incredibly for me, and I was having a tremendous amount of pain with my son.

Good Luck!

[deezbeez]

I am 27 years old and was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia about two years ago. For those of you who do not know what that is, it is a widespread, chronic pain condition, for which there is no cure and medical professionals aren't really sure what causes it. I am currently on several different medications to lessen the levels of pain in my body. These medications include, oxycontin, percocet, and Lyrica.
My husband I would like to get pregnant and have been trying off and on for the last two years, to no avail. We want more than anything to have a child.
I have done research on taking these meds while pregnant but the reviews are mixed. I would like to know if there is anyone out there, who has FMS and has been on these medications or similar type medications and has gotten pregnant. I would like to know what, if any, meds you can take while pregnant. I do not want to harm my baby if I were to get pregnant but am also concerned that if I am in a tremendous amount of pain that I will be bedridden for 9 months and crying all day. The pain is just too much to deal with.
I did do some research on FMS and pregnancy and here is what I have found from the studies that have been done:
-Studies show that with female, pregnant FMS patients, the FMS symptoms/pain levels increase drastically while pregnant, especially during the third trimester.
-FMS also makes breast feeding more difficult as there is an increased amount of pain in the woman's body.
-There is also a greater chance and increased cases of women with FMS having postpartum depression after their pregnancy.
-The pain levels for the FMS after pregnancy continue to be greatly increased until about three months after the baby is born.

If anyone has any information that might be helpful to me and has experienced what I have written above, please post a response and let me know. There is not much information or studies on pregnancy, FMS, and the types of medications that can be used while you are pregnant. I am also very concerned because someone mentioned in another post that a mother with chronic pain who continued to take these meds while pregnant, had her baby taken from her after the baby was born because doctor's tested the baby for the medications mentioned above and showed the baby was positive for them.

I appreciate any information anyone has to offer that might be helpful for me.
Thank You!

[katrn17]

Very little methadone is found in breast milk, especially at low doses. Its a long acting pain med, I know it has a bad reputation as a drug for druggies, but it does work well., so you won't, if hardly need a back up prn. Palliative medicine came in to see me as soon as I started getting ready to deliver to start getting a blood level for me. Sounds like they should just wait, but when you're within a few days of delivery (2 for me) you're not introducing enough to the baby for it to develop NAS. You can take oxycodone safely, but if you take too much, the baby WILL be born with NAS and need to taper down off on methadone for a few months. I know this first hand. If I get pregnant again, I know not to listen to the PM doctor like NOTHING will happen. She just gave me any old dose. Im sure if you took under 20mg /day there would be very little if any symptoms.What really needs to happen in PM, is PM during pregnancy. You can't even take motrin during pregnancy because of the bleeding factor. Having chronic pain is so embarrassing especially when you tell people what you take. I feel pain and shame at the same time. There's only one thing in the world Im allergic to...Lyrica, my ONLY chance to not be on a narcotic...such is life

[Hayley723]

i was able to take tylenol w/codeine (3) when i was preg...good luck

[kah2009]

I'm a 22 yo female and I have been suffering with severe hip/leg/lower lumbar pain since I fell down our porch steps while I was pregnant with my daughter a year ago and the only thing my doc could do was send me to a chiropracter(which makes it worse) and put me on soma's that made me way too sleepy to care for my child, I had to stop taking it all together. I'm pregnant again and I just know that the pain is only going to get worse....what should I do? I don't want to sound like a narcotics addict (due to my age)  if I ask a doc for it, I just need some relief....Any suggestions? Thank You In Advance!!

[andysgirl]

hey my name is jamie im 21 yrs old and have had  severe back pain for 2 yrs and the doctors say my back is getting worse everyday ive been trying to have a baby for the last year but all my docors advice against it , all my meds were preventing me from getting pregnant lyrica and flexal they are very dangerous the only safe medicine is hydrocodone i take 10 /500 mg 6x day and i have recently found out i was pregnant it was a dream come true i found a good pain mangerment doctor who say i can have a baby i have to be on bed rest and i cant take no meds the 1st trimester but for the 2nd and 3rd i can take hydrocodonebut the problem is im in so much pain all the time i just want to scream i cant stop taking my medicine but im scaried of hurtin my baby so im affraid of tellin my doctor i limited my pills to 3 a day i dont know what to do?

[andysgirl]

hey

[Gidget_2007]

i am 19 and was diagnosed with FM when i was 12 this syndrom has affected my school, social, and future life i have a severe case of Fm and CFS,  TMj i have not been taking medication for about 2 years now, i decided the medicine was causing me more harm then good, i was trying a more natural approach yoga  low impact yoga where deep breathing and slow stretching helped me alot  in certain position you can increase the oxygen flow to any part of your body which will increase the pain at first but after your done you feel revitalized it must be repeated throughout the day, you also need to eat healthy and take a one a day vitamin and a b complex vitamin, maintain good posture, if you are pregnant make sure you are not overdosing on vitamins you can also go to waiora .com and get a zeolite  ( read about it its amazing)  i know dealing with fm and cfs it is very hard to get motivated and the triggerd pain in the begininning is detoring but it is worth it and now i also just recently found out i am about 5 weeks pregnant and my body is relapsing horribly but i will continue to try naturallity because the medicine doesn't really help it makes your body more sick and cause more side effects wich gives the drug company and doctors more visits more drugs for you more money for them "population control" i also suggest reading  what "they" don't want you to know about natural cures and remedies take it seriously! remeber your mind is like a whole nother world so put it to it and you can accomplish anything! you are the only one that can help your self , everyonce in a while i would take  something  before i was pregnant but no matter what i tried, prescribed or not i only got a buzz no pain relief in fact most increased my tmj clinchin of my jaw which increased my head and neck pain and i almost tried everything when i was young...  good luck to you all

[tellybeth]

I am in a very similar situation and am worrying myself to death.  I have severe right hip/leg pain and have been taking pain meds for nearly a year while trying to get diagnosed.  I am now 13 weeks pregnant(not planned but very welcomed!) and still in need of pain med.  I have been given hydrocodone w/apap 5/500 to take 3 times a day.  I only take it 1 to 2 times a day because it causes me so much guilt!  
Even though I need it due to extreme pain, I feel like I am hurting my baby. I don't know what to do!  Please let me know what you find out and I can do the same for you.  It is really nice to have someone to talk to other than people that don't seem to understand.  Most people I try to talk to around here tell me to deal with the pain until the baby comes.  Evidently, they have never suffered with chronic pain.
Please feel free to email me.  I would love to talk and offer any support I can.
***@****

[cugirl]

Lyrica is about the same as Neurontin, its for nerves so I dont know how well that will help with back pain.  Try this website....safefetus.com.  Click on check your medications on the right side of the screen.  Then you can type your meds in and find out what research has been done and the effects of the meds on a fetus and when breast feeding.  Like methadone (methadose) could cause SIDS and neonatal withdrawl.  I couldnt find any thing on Percocet, but I did see Oxycontin and it said:
No fetal adverse effects in animals.
Limited human data but no association with congenital defects reported during, 1st trimester exposure
With prolonged use it may cause neonatal withdrawal.

Check out the website and you can type in other pain meds that you think would help and see what the side effects are.  Maybe ask about Roxicodone it has the same effects as Oxycontin.  
Only bad thing is newer drugs are not found on the website yet.  Best of Luck!!

[MrsGrumpy]

I had a healthy, happy baby boy on 5/500 mg of Vicodin three times a day. I would ask. He was 8'12" and three weeks early even!