Fractured my back... just need to whine

Rebis58 · May 2014

On Friday morning, after H left for work, I was walking down the stairs holding LO. My feet slipped out from under me when I was about 5 steps from the bottom. I cradled DD to my chest to protect her and I guess I must have twisted while doing that, because when I landed on my butt I felt/heard a pop in my back and then felt horrible pain. It was all I could do to lie DD down on the carpet before curling into a ball and crying, it hurt so bad (DD was totally fine). I called H and he came home from work to bring me to the hospital. Turns out I have a compression fracture in one of my thoracic vertebrae. Thank god it's stable so I was able to go home. The doctor says these types of fractures heal relatively quickly on their own, but I'm not allowed to do any heavy lifting or exercise at all until my follow up x-ray in 3-4 weeks. I can pick up DD, but nothing heavier than her.

I'm in a lot of pain and can't really take anything because I don't want to stop breastfeeding. The doctor gave me T3's but they told me to use it sparingly and monitor DD for any drowsiness. My dad (he's a doctor) told me he wouldn't recommend me taking them while breastfeeding if I can help it. That makes me nervous so I'm relying on extra strength Tylenol instead, and only taking one T3 right after her last feed of the night (I was told the med would be out of my system after 4 hours and DD usually sleeps for at least 5 for the first stretch).

I'm so frustrated. I feel like I was just getting into the swing of things - DD sleeping well, the housework was under control, I was starting to exercise again, and H and I were starting to reconnect to how we were before DD was born. I was feeling social and back to "normal", and now I've got this huge setback.

Anyways... no real point to this post, just needed to vent/whine. H is being amazing and taking such good care of me and DD, but we don't have any other family in town so when he goes back to work tomorrow it'll be just me and DD for a good chunk of the day, so I'm feeling nervous.

ETA: Super long, sorry - if you stuck through to the end good for you!

kiki1978 · May 2014

I'm so sorry that you are in pain. I hope you heal up soon.

MiaMyPuggle · May 2014

Oh, man...I'm so sorry...I'm hoping for a speedy recovery.

Rebis58 · May 2014

Thank you ladies! Yes @allyerrn I am going to take it easy. I have a really hard time asking for help and not doing things myself so it will be a challenge, but I definitely don't want to risk any complications especially with a back injury.

Tylynngrace · May 2014

I'm sorry you're in pain! Hoping you heal up quick.

teacher0708 · May 2014

Hope your recovery is fast

RedSaffron · May 2014

Praying a speedy recovery!

ababymaybe · May 2014

Oh man. Ouch. T3s are what they gave me after both c-sections, it's standard practice here and that's with a newborn (smaller/metabolizes slower than an older baby). So I would definitely take the meds if you need them. Feel better soon!

bensmommy518 · May 2014

I am so sorry and I hope you feel better fast! Are there any friends around that can help you out, even for just an hour or two?

SandFHasse · May 2014

I'm so sorry.

Rebis58 · May 2014

ababymaybe said:

Oh man. Ouch. T3s are what they gave me after both c-sections, it's standard practice here and that's with a newborn (smaller/metabolizes slower than an older baby). So I would definitely take the meds if you need them. Feel better soon!

Thanks! I'll keep that in mind if I have an especially rough day. So far the extra strength Tylenol is dulling the pain enough for me to get through the day, but if I need something stronger I will consider taking the T3s during the day

Rebis58 · May 2014

bensmommy518 said:

I am so sorry and I hope you feel better fast! Are there any friends around that can help you out, even for just an hour or two?

I do have friends who are around and could help, but unfortunately they all work similar hours to H so when they would be available, H is around anyways.

NenaMarie84 · May 2014

Wishing you a speedy recovery!!

km_md · May 2014

Oh I'm so sorry! That sounds really painful and it is so awful when those things happen just as you are getting back on track. I hope that you recover quickly!

Rebis58 · May 2014

Thank you everyone for the positive thoughts - means a lot!

MrsW062610 · May 2014

So sorry! This sounds horrible! Hope you get to feeling better soon!

ChuggingWater · May 2014

Oh no. Feel better!

worleygirl · May 2014

Uh, miserable. Hope you feel better soon.

CopperT0p · May 2014

I think the meds can effect babies differently. After my c/s with DS1 they gave me oxycontin and then T3s and DS1 was absolutely miserable with gas pain. Within 8 hours of me stopping taking any pain medication his gas was significantly reduced. Might have been a coincidence, but it was enough that I went pain med free from about 36 hours post c-section.

Would anything non-medicinal help with the pain like a heating pad or ice pack for times when you don't want to take meds?

Rebis58 · May 2014

CopperT0p said:

I think the meds can effect babies differently. After my c/s with DS1 they gave me oxycontin and then T3s and DS1 was absolutely miserable with gas pain. Within 8 hours of me stopping taking any pain medication his gas was significantly reduced. Might have been a coincidence, but it was enough that I went pain med free from about 36 hours post c-section.
Would anything non-medicinal help with the pain like a heating pad or ice pack for times when you don't want to take meds?

Yes a heating pad or ice pack probably would help. I haven't tried them yet, but I probably should have used an ice pack on day one to help with inflammation. I'll unpack my heating pad tonight and see if it gives me any relief. I'd like to soak in a hot bath but our tub is small and not the most comfortable. I wish we had a hottub! Maybe I'll go to the hottub at the pool next weekend when H can stay home with DD.

CopperT0p · May 2014

I realize it isn't a muscular injury, but would a topical cream like Voltaren perhaps help? I have no idea how much of the medication from that goes into the blood stream and BM, but I would think it will be less than taking an oral medication?

peanutmuse · May 2014

That fall sounds terrible. I've had compression fractures in my spine before, I feel your pain.

ccip82 · May 2014

Oh my goodness that sounds awful! Sending positive vibes you heal quickly.

Just wanted to let you know after my C/S, I was prescribed prescription strength pain meds and I never noticed a difference or any side effects with my DD. I think it is pretty standard practice in the US to prescribe pain meds after a C/S.

peanutmuse · May 2014

I agree with @ccip82. I took Percocet for about 10 days and was BFing the whole time. I can understand not wanting to take them on a long term basis, but short-term is not the end of the world. You have to sometimes take care of you too!

OSUWifey09 · May 2014

I'm another that was on pain meds [T3] while BFing, and I also didn't notice a difference in DD. I get your hesitation to take them, though.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. I hope you're up about about soon, and that you heal quickly.

Rebis58 · May 2014

@ccip82, @peanutmuse, and @OSUWifey09, the doctor and pharmacist (and my dad) did say that I could take them while breastfeeding, but their warnings to monitor DD for any side effects and to avoid taking them unless I really need to did get into my head and scare me a bit! You're right, though, that I need to take care of myself to take care of DD so I think I need to get over that. I also wasn't prescribed strong pain meds after my c-section (I had a suppository prescribed which is slightly stronger than Tylenol but no narcotics) so maybe my doctors are a little more conservative or cautious. Maybe even a little TOO conservative and cautious since it sounds like most others had stronger meds prescribed even while breastfeeding!

Thank you for the advice - I will keep it in mind and take the T3s when I need them. I have been taking one dose a day before bed which has helped me sleep.

joshsmandy · May 2014

I hope you start feeling better soon. You are ok to take the T3s while breast feeding, they gave my LO that for her surgery at 6 weeks so take them when you need pain relief. Hugs

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