Back surgery
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Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20895
Printed Date: 22 August 2025 at 7:45pm
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Topic: Back surgery
Posted By: solitairediamond
Subject: Back surgery
Date Posted: 13 September 2008 at 3:04pm
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Just wondering if anyone out there has had back surgery in the past and is pregnant/has been pregnant since... How have your pregnancies gone in regards to back pain and did you go on to birth naturally, have an epidural, have a caesar? I had a prolapsed disc- L5-S1 and had a lumbar discectomy just over a year ago.. Thanks! ------------- [IMG]http://lb2f.lilypie.com/9p2jp12.png [IMG] |
Replies:
Posted By: Danaj
Date Posted: 13 September 2008 at 3:35pm
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Only thing I've had is a benign tumor removed from my spine ages ago. Can't say it's changed anything but a prolapsed disc sounds incredibly painfull!!!! have you tried a back support harness? ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wyI1oWn/"> 
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Posted By: kakapo
Date Posted: 13 September 2008 at 7:37pm
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A friend of mine had back surgery a few months before falling pregnant, and ended up having a (planned) natural home birth in her housebus. She did go to see a cranial massage therapist about midway through her pregancy to have a treatment on her back, as was in a bit of pain at that stage, but she swears that once she had that treatment the remainder of the pregnancy and birth were back-pain free. I haven't had back surgery, but squished a disc in my lower back several years ago when horseriding and suffered a bit of back pain during pregnancy. During labour (natural birth in hospital - drug and intervention free) the pain of each contraction centred on my lower back and I hardly felt a thing out front. A few months after the birth I went to see the same cranial massage therapist, had four treatments on my back (as backpain was preventing me from sleeping at night) and have been pain free ever since - yay! All the best for your pregnancy and here's hoping you get to have a natural birth. |
Posted By: kmarie
Date Posted: 13 September 2008 at 7:54pm
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I haven't had back surgery either, but I was diagnosed with post traumatic chronic pain syndrome a few years back. It was the result of whiplash in a car accident. It put me flat on my back for nearly a year and after that it was rare to have a day without painful back/shoulders/arms/neck.
At the end of last year a mother of one of my students put me onto a cranial osteopath and I can't believe the difference it has made. This pregnancy has been so easy to manage - and I haven't had tjhe excessive back/neck pain I was expecting at all! I definitely recommend it if you're in pain and looking for relief that is safe during pregnancy. If you keep on top of it during your pregnancy, I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to give birth in whatever way you choose? All the best  ------------- 
twins in heaven Oct07 Is 40:11 "He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart." |
Posted By: mummytobesep08
Date Posted: 13 September 2008 at 8:55pm
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hey again solitaire, you've been busy posting lately!!!
have you had any pains in your back yet? You might be lucky and get away with nothing happening! I didn't have back probs, but had adhesions in my bowel that caused heaps of probs pre-pregnancy. I was really worried about them coming into pregnancy, with all the tugging and pulling that your abdo does, and was referred to hosp and stuff, but turned out all to be fine, which was very surprising! I hope you're this lucky too 
Have you asked your MW? Mine referred me to CWH just to get a docs opinion on the subject. Maybe she could do that with you too? Amelia ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
Angel babes '07 & '10- <3 <3 |
Posted By: solitairediamond
Date Posted: 14 September 2008 at 5:45pm
Hi guys, thanks for the info. My back hasn't been too bad so far surprisingly- has its moments though. I've been going to a chiropractor but haven't been to an osteopath, but might have to give that a go if things get too bad.. Was thinking about a back support belt or harness thingee too. Eeek I hope all my contraction pains won't be centered in my back  Will talk to my midwife about things and find out her opinion too. Thanks again! ------------- [IMG]http://lb2f.lilypie.com/9p2jp12.png [IMG] |
Posted By: solitairediamond
Date Posted: 05 October 2008 at 1:04pm
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Hi everyone, sorry to bring this topic back but was just wondering if there have been any more experiences in this area? Seeing its been a few weeks since I've asked and there might be some new members since then My back has been really good so far so am mainly now just wondering about the likelihood of it messing up in labour or during pushing etc? A lot of American women it seems, automatically get a c-sec if they have had back surgery...? Thanks! ------------- [IMG]http://lb2f.lilypie.com/9p2jp12.png [IMG] |
Posted By: jaz
Date Posted: 05 October 2008 at 4:18pm
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I can't help on back surgery but am rapidly becoming an expert on hip surgery. According to my OS the weight gain is the biggest stress on pregnancy not childbirth itself. But this was his advise for hips. I would get in touch with your surgeon and get some advise. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: coldfish
Date Posted: 06 October 2008 at 5:30pm
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Hi Solataire,
I've had 2 back surgeries, the first was a discectomy on L4-L5 and then in 2004 I had a spinal fusion from L4-S1, so 2 levels fused. The fusion was a great success, I was almost a cripple beforehand and now I have zero back pain and can live a normal life (though I am still very careful not to do anything to silly or streneous to it of course) I am 14 weeks pregnant at the moment, it is my first pregnancy. The back is holding up so far but I'm starting to have troubled sleep when I go to turn over in bed. I don't have pain, just more of a stiffness or ache. It's a bit of a worry because I still have 6 months to go! Any weight gain has always made it a bit stiffer and so in the past I'd just exercise more and eat healthy til it came right, but of course that isn't going to stop me putting on 12kg during pregnancy so I'll just have to wait and see what happens. I was trying to ask questions when I was thinking about getting pregnant too because it was a real concern of mine, and still is a concern to be honest. But it's one of those things where you have to take the gamble because some people are fine and others aren't and you don't know how you'll turn out yourself. I've heard that it can be hard having an epidural after a fusion, seeing you've only had a discectomy so far hopefully you'll be fine. Closer to the time my midwife is going to get me to see an anesthetist and my xrays/ct scan so he knows what to expect before labor. I hope your pregnancy keeps well, you're further along than I am so not long to go now. On the positive side, at least you've been through back pain before and survived it, and so you know you'll be able to go through it again if it comes to that. At least thats what I keep telling myself :) All the best, Debbie |
Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 06 October 2008 at 9:06pm
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In June 06 I had a prolapsed disc and sciatica for over 2 months. The surgeon decided not to operate as in my case he said the length of recovery would be the same regardless of whether he operated or not.
Part of the disc ended up breaking off and siting on top of the sciatic nerve. I had an anesthetist appointment scheduled before my due date. I brought along my MRI scans so he could see exactly where it was. For different reasons, I ended up having my twins by c-section at 35weeks. I was so worried that I'd end up with back pain during my pregnancy but luckily I didn't have any at all. |