Back spasms and contraction question

2moms2b

Yesterday I was put on Flexeril for back spasms.  I went to the doctor after having them for two days, and the doctor put me on a monitor for an hour.  He said when my back would spasm I would have a small contraction.  I told him I have been feeling BH when the spasms get really bad and he said they are probably actual contractions but I cannot feel the pain or pressure due to the back pain (or can't tell the difference).

They checked my cervix and it has shortened (right under 3cm) but is still firm and closed.  He said he is hoping with rest and the muscle relaxer that my back spasms will stop and not cause any more contractions.  Both boys are doing great with heart beats of 154 and 150 and both have plenty of fluid and movement.  Our A/S is next Thursday so he wants to follow up then.

He said modified bed rest is the next step if I continue to have either the back spasms or contractions.  I also now have a belly support belt to help take some pressure off my back.  He thinks as both the boys are very low this is causing the spasms in my back.  I am 20 weeks tomorrow and he told me yesterday I am measuring 31 weeks based on fundal height?!?!?!?

My question is has anyone else been put on Flexeril or similar for the same issue?   Should I request to see the MFM or should I just wait and see where we are next week?  I am just to rest as much as possible and not worry too much.

Thanks so much in advance!

lcbourgeois

Do you work?  I'm just wondering what may be causing your pain.  Are you not able to relax during the day?  I was a SAHM already when I became pregnant with our girls and I relaxed all day and it still hurt like a *******.  I did take pain medicine sometimes and honestly I wish they'd have given it to me all the time, but I didn't really want the girls addicted to anything and the pain wasn't causing real contractions when they monitored me.  I just had an irritable uterus?  I felt like crying every time my Dr. would tell me that.  The pain was excruciating and I had never felt chronic pain before in my life.  I was also carrying really low.  I remember reading that too much pain can cause contractions.  I'd do exactly what the Dr. says...take your medicine & try to relax.  If you're working or on your feet a lot...prepare yourself now for bed rest.   Unfortunately it may be ahead...  

2moms2b

Luckily I mainly work from home. I am out of my house one day a week in the "field" which means I drive from site to site and do meetings while on each site.  He said that will be my saving grace to avoid bed rest if I am able to avoid it.  He is talking about taking me off the road around 28 weeks though as I will drive sometimes 300+ miles per day and that is very painful on my back.  I did go into this pregnancy knowing that bed rest was very possible, I just didn't expect this level of pain this soon.  It through me for a loop frankly.

They did offer me pain meds and for now I have turned them down.  He did say irritable uterus yesterday a couple of times and said only time will really tell if it is truly irritable or was it simply caused by the back spasms.  He did tell me irritable uterus is more common in pregnancies of multiples and could more likely mean bed rest or other precautions due to contractions but said he didn't quite want to put that label on it yet.   He did say I need to call immediately if I start having regular BH (more than 5 per hour) or any pressure. 

Also he said any further cervical change would mean probably some type of bed rest.  I did think it was funny as he spoke directly to the boys and told them they had 16 more weeks until they are set to arrive and at least 8 more until we will even think about delivering them so they better get comfortable. 

I haven't taken the muscle relaxer yet as I am terrified it will knock me out and I still have more work to do today.   That is what I think I am most worried about is I need to be taking it especially over the next few days to bring it under control but I won't be able to work coherently on it.

mrsjami

I took flexeril last year after I threw my back out after my m/c. It really didn't help it just knocked me out. I would talk to MFM and see if a chiropractor or massage would be ok. I went to weeks of PT and took the meds and what really helped was rest and a very aggressive massage. GL I know how uncomfortable you are!