my back is killing me a the end of the day

I love holding those babies...I try to do it on a rocker, not really walk them around a lot..but just the fact that I'm always bending down
or lifting them up by the end of the day my back is suffering big time. I used to go ta chiropractor...but that ended when I stayed
home alone with them :-( I don't think they would be patient in their stroller waiting for mommy to get a massage and get adjusted...

 

I have two herniated discs in my lower back that will be that way the rest of my life. I have to watch how I pick up Max & Lily or I won't be walking for a week. I stretch every morning, sit in the Homedics massage chair/cushion each night, and when it is really bad I have an RX for a muscle relaxer and Vicodin. I also go to the Chiropractor every other week. About every 3 months I get a cortisone shot in my lower back to help with the inflation. I have been told surgery will not fix my issue, so I must learn to live with it. The funny thing is they all tell me to try not to lift the babies, yeah right :rotflmbo:

I also do things like keep a folding chair in the living room. I place it infront of thier swings, jumperoo, or exersaucer and then sit in it to get them in or out. This helps with the back strain a lot. DH thinks it is silly, but I figure if I can have a day with minimal or no pain it is worth it.

Good luck on finding what works for you. It seems to get worse for me as they gain weight. My nephew is 35 lbs. and wants to be picked up all the time and I can even imagine when Max & Lily get to that weight.

 

I sometimes wake up in the night and cannot move because my lower back is in so much pain and all cramped up. I have a lady come to the house on occasion so I can get a massage. She keep suggesting that I go to the chiropractor. I just cant find the time.

I would like to get a heating pad, have you tried that. Maybe keeping it in the bed and laying on it when you can could help. Stretching and laying flat on the floor and breathing seem to help.

 

My upper back has just been killing me too (my lower back is titanium reinforced, so no big issues there.) I found these stretches:

Pain relieving stretches

And I am kind of shocked at how well they're working, particularly the "huched over" and "picking up" stretches

 

The stretches are a great idea. I would also recommend the chiropractor but for those who cannot go, perhaps your DH or SO could give you a massage? I also highly recommend soaking in a warm tub, that helps my back pain. Good luck!

 

I just asked my nurse practioner about this yesterday! I wake up every morning feeling like I can't get out of bed, and I've never had back problems before.

She said that the biggest culprit was carrying all of the accessories, particularly the carseats. She said to try to carry them as close to your body as possible and to lift with your knees as much as possible. If you can get them into the car without stretching or twisting, that is even better.

Sometimes I wish I had a drop-rail crib... I can't get them out of their cribs without bending.

Bekkiz, thanks for posting that link, I will definitely check that out too!

 

I broke my back in 2002 so I know how hard back pain is to deal with. After the boys are in bed I like to sit in the tub and soak in HOT water, it seems to relax the muscles and relieve some of the tension. Stretching a bit in the morning helps (the ones posted earlier in this thread are really close to what I did in PT so they should work for you) as well as trying to always lift with your knees and trying not to twist while carrying them etc. Some of the other things I do are use a heating pad, have DH give me a nice rub down, not use so many pillows at night so that my spine stays more in line and use a back support.

As a side note the surgeon who fixed my back told me to be very careful in choosing a chiropractor. Make sure they are reputable and have good educational credentials before going because if they don't know what they are doing they can cause more harm than good. I LOVE the one I go to, I just wish I had more time to actually go!

 

I too, have a LOT of lower back problems. . .There are some days when I cannot stand up straight. . .ICE packs work well when the muscles are spasming.

For more long term relief, the pelvic stretches and exercises are a must! Its hard to find the time sometimes to do them with twins (and a toddler) but try to do them as often as you can. . .They really do help. During pregnancy, our hormones loosen and stretch the muscles in our pelvis to get us ready for childbirth. Well these same hormones ALSO stretch and loosen your back muscles. . .That is why so many women have back problems after giving birth (aside from carrying around the kiddos). . .

A reputable chiropractor will also help, if that is possible. My health insurance co-pays are pretty high for the chiropractor, so we can no longer afford for me to go to the chiropractor unless I am REALLY miserable.

Good Luck!

 

It's my upper back that kills me. I actually lay on baseballs to stretch the muscles and sometimes "pop" my back. It does help (even though it sounds weird!).

 

My mid-upper back hurts often too. It makes it difficult to sleep at night sometimes. I keep a mental note: push up with your legs, not your back. I also put pillows behind every chair I sit in now - especially while feeding them.

Baths might help too if you get an opportunity to do so.

Yoga!

I don't really know what else to tell ya. When it gets really bad I take some advil before bed to make it easier to fall asleep. Also, a good nights sleep does the trick too.

GL!

 

What are you doing for exercise? (I mean non baby-lifting exercise.) Swimming has always done wonders for my back - I couldn't have survived my pregnancy without it! And even walking gives me some relief. Yoga is another great idea. And just stretching. Counterintuitive as it sounds, exercise can actually help relieve the pain.

Beyond that, you just kind of get used to it... I remember kvetching all the time about my back during the first year, but now it actually bothers me less, even though I'm constantly lifting and carrying ~25 lb toddlers.

 

I had hideous sciatic pain constantly for over a year and yoga helped...

 

QUOTE(Rach1137 @ Jan 16 2009, 04:20 PM) [snapback]1149744[/snapback]
I broke my back in 2002 so I know how hard back pain is to deal with. After the boys are in bed I like to sit in the tub and soak in HOT water, it seems to relax the muscles and relieve some of the tension. Stretching a bit in the morning helps (the ones posted earlier in this thread are really close to what I did in PT so they should work for you) as well as trying to always lift with your knees and trying not to twist while carrying them etc. Some of the other things I do are use a heating pad, have DH give me a nice rub down, not use so many pillows at night so that my spine stays more in line and use a back support.

As a side note the surgeon who fixed my back told me to be very careful in choosing a chiropractor. Make sure they are reputable and have good educational credentials before going because if they don't know what they are doing they can cause more harm than good. I LOVE the one I go to, I just wish I had more time to actually go!



Amen to that, Rach! I would recommend, rather than a chiro, that people use an Applied Kineisiologist. The adjustments are much smaller and gentler and can help with a myriad of other health issues as well as your back pain. I'm here to tell you, my guy savedmy life!! I feel like a different person!