Growth spurts?

I'm coming on 27 weeks and the last few days have been hell.  My back is killing me and my abdomen has been very sore and tight.  I'm thinking this is a growth spurt?  Definitely feel like I look bigger.  Up to this point I was looking pretty small (1st pregnancy) and suddenly I feel very strained if that makes sense.  Is this a normal time for a spurt?  How long should I expect it to last?  Just hoping it will die down a bit because the whole thing is very uncomfortable.  My mom says she doesn't remember anything like this during her pregnancies...though it was decades ago for her.