spasm or cramps

Body: 

Last night I had another round of spasms/cramps. This one lasted about an hour. I thought I would be good for about a month because I just had a round of these cramps about 10 days ago. The pain is so bad I can do nothing but soak in a hot tub or just lay there and wiggle around in pain. I am wondering if this is related to the prolapses and an unstable pelvis. I can live with the daily pain in my back, buttocks, rectum, etc. However, these cramps are for the birds. It's like being in labor. I think when I am not nursing the baby any more I might ask the doctor for some muscle relaxants for when this happens. The funny thing is I have building tightness for a few days leading to these episodes and can almost tell when they are coming. Then after they happen I usually feel better than I did the weeks before. However, the relief is short lived. Could this possibly get better on its own since I am now only 7 months postpartum?

Melissa

Hm-m-m...it could be anything, Melissa, and I couldn’t find again where you initially posted your symptoms, but have you read about Levator Ani Syndrome? This is a common, mysterious disorder that is thought to be related to the pelvic floor muscles.

If that is the case, I would think gentle stretching - probably while you are not having symptoms - would help. Any forward bend is good: either sitting on the floor with legs stretched out in front and gently bending as far forward as possible; bending all the way forward at the hips from standing position; or the downward dog pose of yoga.

Hope it resolves - I’ve had excruciating spasms at the level of the cervix/high rectum a few times through the years and it is no fun.

Christine

well I don't know if you have taken any of the previous advice- the tennis ball idea- chiropractic- acupuncture- massage-
but if you can feel it coming on- that is the time to act.
yes it can get better on it's own- but it also can get worse- and you have the ability to do something now- so why wait. and besides massage feels so dang good!

Your body makes oxytocin while you are nursing; it is the hormone that triggers the let down reflex. It also happens to be the hormone that induces labor contractions. This is not an accident. Nursing a baby is designed by nature to clamp down your uterus so you don't bleed to death in the postpartum period. However, 7 months later is a bit long to be experiencing very severe cramps. You might just be on the top side of the bell curve with intensity in response to this hormone. If so these should stop when you stop nursing. However, if you have not done so already, you should run this by your doctor to make sure nothing more serious is happening.

I have spoken to my doctor about this so many times that I have given up on her and taken matters into my own hands. Maybe it is oxytocin. I am hoping once the baby is finished nursing and my cycles resume, my hormones will even out a bit. I suffer from an anxiety condition so I think that makes the muscle spasms/cramps worse. I worry about them a lot and what will happen if I have one when I am alone. I'm trying not to think that way anymore. I am spending more time focused on my kids and not my conditions. I also got the book and feel a sense of power over the prolapse situation. I continue to pray that as the prolapses stabilize the spasms will decrease or disappear altogether. It's a day by day thing.