Worrying about a couple of health issues

[fizzymoon86]

So I’ve generally kept my health anxiety in check by avoiding dr google, not self checking constantly and deep breathing etc but I’ve got a couple of health issues that are really worrying me and I’m finding it hard to control this now.

I’ve suffered on and off with sciatic back pain for a few years now and having a baby 9 months ago hasn’t helped as it was a traumatic birth resulting in a forceps delivery in theatre with a spinal anaesthetic. The pain has been awful more recently and I’ve got two main concerns:

1. Ovarian cancer - hear me out. One of the symptoms is lower back pain, and I’ve also had some bloating and pelvic pain on occasion. I also have polycystic ovaries.

2. Cauda equina syndrome - I’m convinced I have numbness in my legs and I’m terrified this is what I have. I’ve seen it misdiagnosed as just sciatica and the patient was left paralysed. I’m terrified.

I explained all these worries to a dr this morning and he was so lovely he’s sending me for a blood test including the CA125 blood test and he’s referred me for an MRI on my spine.

He said he has no reason to believe anything sinister will arise from the blood test but I clearly want answers and this will give me them. He said the MRI is necessary because the pain has been ongoing for a while now so it is warranted.

I’m now lying in bed trying to decide if my leg feels weird because it’s in my head or real. It’s been a rough few days and I’ve struggled to care for my baby girl fully because I can’t lift her. I’m lucky to have my parents in my bubble so they’ve helped me today and taken her so I can rest but my head is just not in the game right now.


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[ankietyjoe]

Stop googling.

If you weren't googling you wouldn't have even 'seen' cauda equina syndrome.

Lower back pain is the most common symptom of being a human being over the age of 25.


But also....don't underestimate the long lasting effects of a traumatic birth. It can be with you for years, both physically and mentally. Let yourself recover from it slowly.

[fizzymoon86]

Stop googling.

If you weren't googling you wouldn't have even 'seen' cauda equina syndrome.

Lower back pain is the most common symptom of being a human being over the age of 25.


But also....don't underestimate the long lasting effects of a traumatic birth. It can be with you for years, both physically and mentally. Let yourself recover from it slowly.

Just to clarify, I didn’t need to Google cauda equina sadly, I’m a solicitor and I spent 6 months in the clinical negligence department during my training and we had a client who had back pain misdiagnosed as sciatica and is now in a wheelchair for life. It’s a rare case I know but that’s the only reason I know that [emoji85]

I do agree that the lasting effects of my traumatic labour could also be playing a part. My contractions were allllll in my back, felt like it was breaking.


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[ankietyjoe]

Just to clarify, I didn’t need to Google cauda equina sadly, I’m a solicitor and I spent 6 months in the clinical negligence department during my training and we had a client who had back pain misdiagnosed as sciatica and is now in a wheelchair for life. It’s a rare case I know but that’s the only reason I know that [emoji85]

I do agree that the lasting effects of my traumatic labour could also be playing a part. My contractions were allllll in my back, felt like it was breaking.




Ok, well it may not be google, but you still have access to information that you are now relating to your own symptoms, despite having a monstrously obvious and logical explanation for.

But yes, traumatic births are brutal. Even watching (which I have sadly witnessed) was horrendous, so going through it requires lots and lots of self care and time.

I dunno how you ladies do it.

[pulisa]

You only gave birth 9 months ago and having an epidural can aggravate pre-existing conditions in the lower back, such as sciatica.

I'm sure you know the red flags re cauda equine and you haven't mentioned them here so I wouldn't even go there with the ruminations.

I had a very traumatic birth with my daughter and needed an emergency hysterectomy there and then. It takes its toll on you physically and mentally. Give yourself time to heal .

[fizzymoon86]

You only gave birth 9 months ago and having an epidural can aggravate pre-existing conditions in the lower back, such as sciatica.

I'm sure you know the red flags re cauda equine and you haven't mentioned them here so I wouldn't even go there with the ruminations.

I had a very traumatic birth with my daughter and needed an emergency hysterectomy there and then. It takes its toll on you physically and mentally. Give yourself time to heal .

I suffered with PGP and sciatica throughout pregnancy and I’m sure one of the things read out to me before I signed the consent form for the spinal/forceps in my hazy state was back pain. Rational me knows this, anxious and panicky me forgets this from time to time. Pretty sure I’m feeling psychosomatic numbness.

Yeah I do know the red flags for CE and I don’t have any of them apart from sciatica.

I’m sorry your labour was so traumatic, that sounds awful. It’s hard to heal with a 9 month old who’s trying to crawl and is getting heavier by the day, it’s a struggle.


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[pulisa]

I'm sure it must be..Have you had any advice from a physio on trying to manage your condition with a growing and active baby? Particularly one who specialises in helping Mums following childbirth and the months ahead?

[fizzymoon86]

I'm sure it must be..Have you had any advice from a physio on trying to manage your condition with a growing and active baby? Particularly one who specialises in helping Mums following childbirth and the months ahead?

I have - I saw a women’s health physio for a few sessions when I was 4 months pp and she advised strengthening pelvic floor etc. I’ve been waiting to get in for another session with her but she had to close during lockdown. She should be open again now though so might give her a call.


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[pulisa]

That sounds like a good plan. She sounds as though she could help you and she'll have far more knowledge than a GP about pelvic floor muscles and the problems they can cause when they play up or need toning.