I asked my doctor if I could sleep on a heating blanket and he told me that I didnt need to use a heating pad or a heating blanket...

The pain is not from being pregnant. I have been having really bad back pains long before I got pregnant and I dont know what else to do. It hurts alot. I guess I can call my doctor tomorrow morning and see what he says I can do about it and I just deal with the pain for one more night.

I see no reason why you couldn't use a heating pad! My back hurts quite a bit too but it is from being pregnant, anyway my dr told me to try to the icyhot patch, so maybe that would work for you.

I'm not sure. It would be smart to ask your doctor.

You can use a heating pad on medium for 10-15 minutes and then put ice on for the same amount of time. That should help. I had really bad sciatica pain when I was pg, that helped big time.

Back pain.Don't get me started. Oh my.... I was finishing using the toilet the other day, and ended up on all fours calling out to my husband for help. Major excruciating lower lumbar pain. I was told by one chiropracter, that I had a slipped disc. The latest one says I have a spine that drifts to the left a wee bit. Anyway what I experieneced was a portion of my psoas area being pinched! It's a core muscle area, that has many nerve endings.

Anyway, the chiropracter really helped, I cannot reccomend one enough!! You will not be able to have a x-ray. They are great at sussing out where the pain is coming from. I have a sleep # bed, and have made it alot firmer, it's helping. The chiropracter suggested using a "body" pillow, and stretching. I have major pain at night and when I am not moving about. Bad news it, it's here to stay until the baby arrives (march 22nd is my due date).
Fyi, don't use a ice pack fro more than 20 minutes, it could cause more problems. It makes the muscles contract more than necessary......Oh, and swimming will bgecome your favorite form of excersize!

Im 21 weeks and have had severe lower back pain for the last 4 days!. Went to work yesterday and I felt like I was gonna die eventhough I only worked 4 hours! Thank god I dint have to lift anything. What could be causing such pain? Ive heard of back pain during pregnancy but I didnt think it would be this bad! What to do? It hurts so bad and tylenol (the only med to take during pregnancy) doesnt seem to help! :cry: I dread going back to work! Anyone know what could be causing the pain?

yes, you should ask dr, cuz even a "too hot" bath can be bad for the baby. I read in pregnancy journals. Please ask dr first

No don't use a heating pad. I'm 34 weeks and I have really bad back pains too. I asked by doctor if it was okay and he told me no. I forget the reasons why he just told me not to do it again.

I think the heating pad will only eleviate the pain for a very short time. So it's probably not worth it. It would be great if you could just ask your doc for some morphine to knock it right out. Lol
many people don't like chiropracters but both my mom and dad go for their neck and backs and they have so much less pain now. They swear by one.

I got some answers on my back pain today. The pregnancy has softened up all my core muscles. What I am experiencing is pain due to periods of rest. The muscles shorten up and contract. When I roll over in bed, the spasm. That's the pain I am feeling.
My doc approved some meds, and I am taking one pill tonight. It's a type of antihistamine, supposedly it will relax the muscles. It's a shot term deal only.

He also nixed heatpads, he did say the low heat that the thermalcare heatwraps emit is fine. I've had mine on since 11:30 and feel much better. I got the knock-off ones from walmart 2/$3.97 they work for 8 hours. Check them out, a great non-drug way to get relief.

I'm from australia and i'm so shocked at the different advice your amercian doctors give you compared to what we get. You can use a heating pad but what you have to watch out for is that if you raise your body temperature that you also raise your babies. This is why long hot baths are out during pregancy. This can cause birth defects. This only means that limit the time you use the heating pad and keep it on a lower setting so your core body temperature dosen't rise.

Thermacare wraps are a low level heat deal. Perfectly safe, my doc is just out of his residencey, and up on all latest trends. Scary how factoid obsessed he is, good though.

I have scoliosis so I know all about back pain. I am also 36 wks and I have a two year lod that always wants mommy to hold her. My doc says that a heating pad is okay and so are those heating wraps. So I live in them. You just don't want the heat too high and entense. I was going to a chiropractor but can't afford it right now but, they can really help you out too. Unfortunatly the pain really only gets worse as you get further along. I tried taking warm baths but I can't get in and out of the tub with out hurting myself or pulling the shower curtain down. But you might try that for now it really helps to relax all of the muscles and relieve the tension. Just make sure you let your doc know what you are up to. Have a wonderful pregnancy. (well try to); )