Hip pain when in sleeping

[TheOnlyWayIsEnfield]

Hello everyone,

I have had really sore hips, particularly my right. It is mainly when I am actually in bed. When I get up, the pain wears off after a few hours, but then comes back again in the middle of the night. I have tried sleeping with a pillow between my knees, but it doesn't seem to be helping.

I have had pain in my sciatic nerve before, and it doesn't feel the same as that.

Anyone got any tips for how to reduce it. Would a hot water bottle help?

Thanks for any suggestions...

[ZhenXiang]

When I was pregnant last time I bought an extra thick mattress pad and slept on that, it helped a lot with the hip pain I was getting, also by the end I had a cushion under my left hip (sleeping on left side as per advice by that stage), two between knees to keep hips in line and one between my ankles.

At points, when sleeping on my side, my top leg would go dead so I would swap sides for a bit or take a walk around whilst on a trip to the loo.

[cheekyginger]

Have a go with the hot water bottle certainly cant do any harm.

If your in alot of pain and have a wee bit of cash you could always pay for a private physiotherapist to have a look at you and see if they can give you ideas to reduce the discomfort?

[goodnightmoon]

yeah i'd say try whatever works! i have it more on my upper thighs but my osteopath says it's still to do with sciatica. I actually found it worse to put a pillow under the affected area but i do sleep with one pillow between my knees and another sort of propping my belly.

[Oeisha]

Dreamgenii pillow all the way, seems expensive, but totally worth it. Is also a BF pillow. You don't say how far along you are OP, but swimming crawl (though I do breast stroke) is meant to be good - general all round pelvic goodness and encourages leg muscles too. I like having heat on my achey bits, so a HWB will help, but be careful you're not overheating/dehydrating and look for signs of tissue damage (usually a mottling of the skin where bottle gets placed). It can take ages to go if it happens.
Have a look at this thread too. Popular complaint by the sounds.

[Woodifer]

Do you have a spare duvet? I'm sleeping on a doubled over duvet under the sheet on my side of the bed.

[Crosshair]

I stuck a flatish pillow under my hip and another between my knees, was back to normal again after about 5 days of doing that.

[wompoopigeon]

I have one of these memory foam leg spacer pillows and it is utterly utterly amazing. A hundred times better than a crappy floppy pillow.

I realise that is an American site but with a bit of googling I'm sure you'll find someone who delivers to the UK/ a UK equivalent.

Re. Woodifer's idea, that's a good idea. If you do't have a spare duvet I fashioned something similar out of a pile of beach towels. A bit like the Princess and the Pea but with more complaining and heartburn.

[somewherewest]

I have this too and was diagnosed with mild SPD. I didn't realise how much of a difference mattresses made until we spent a few nights sleeping on a foam mattress when visiting friends and the pain was much much less. Our decrepit sprung mattress obviously wasn't helping! I also found that the pain was worse if I'd been on my feet a lot during the day.

[aquavit]

Mine improved in first pregnancy when we got a new mattress with a memory foam upper, so def worth investigating new mattress/mattress topper/memory foam pillows I think.

I am getting it this time round too (despite my lovely mattress!) - have just started swimming again which helps me no end.

[TheOnlyWayIsEnfield]

Thanks so much for all the suggestions. I have a memory foam pillow actually, so I will try that for sure. Hadn't even thought that spending a lot of time on my feet might be why - I am a teacher and have just gone back to work, so it could well be that. Back to my pilates class this week too, once my teacher returns from her holiday, so hopefully a bit of exercise will help.

Really appreciate the advice.

[Oeisha]

If you're finding being on your feet difficult due to PGP then your employer (Local authotiry?) should be risk assessing it. I have a 5h max (in any day, rather than 'at a time') standing allocation, and that's without any significant PGP/SPD.
With Pilates, it's brilliant, only wish I could still go, remember to tell your instructor about your hips. They should be able to alter the exercises to keep your hips/girdle safe.

[TheOnlyWayIsEnfield]

My pilates teacher is amazing, so she will definitely sort me out - I LOVE her! I have done a risk assessment with my boss. Also, I get the train (no fucker gives up their seat for me!) and walk to work, and hadn't thought about how that might be affecting my hip pain, duh! I just thought the bit of exercise would be a good thing.
On the plus side, I tried some of the suggestions last night, and have already noticed an improvement, so thanks a million.

[Woodifer]

Try to keep as active as you can without overdoing it.

[SoupDragon]

Good lord, I remember this "fondly". I had to keep switching sides throughout the night which was rather like raising the titanic each time. I hope you find the solution!

[aquavit]

glad that you've had some improvement Enfield. Does your train have any priority seats? If so do ASK the people sitting in them (unless they need them more than you!). If not, ask for any old seat - I've started doing this on the bus and people are usually pretty good about moving even when they don't offer in the first place. No point being shy about it.

Hope the pilates helps too - I've been so much better since picking up swimming again...