pelvic pain since childbirth - any advice ?

[maloosak]

I had my DS last June. Immediately after labour (approx. 17 hours - 6 hours spend in a birthing pool - no pain relief other than gas/air - gave birth on Dutch birthing stool) I suffered from very severe pelvic pain. I could barely walk for the first 7 days after the birth. I was limping and found it impossible to go up and down stairs.

An NHS physiotherapist was sent to my home (after I had to beg my GP !!) and the only suggestion she made was that I do pelvic floor excercises. I didn't really bother (although I had done the exercises regurarly when pregnant) as the pain was really bad and I didn't think these exercises would make the pain go away. Six months later, I still have quite bad pain on and off. I feel the pain mostly after carrying DS for long periods and when sitting down for long periods. I can actually feel and sometimes hear a "clicking" sound in my pelvis (sorry, right at the joint of my bum, where the pelvis would have stretched to let baby out).

Has anyone had a similar problem and what did you do to help ease the pain ? Do I need to be X-rayed ? I can't really afford expensive physio sessions, can I get treatment on the NHS ?

I had this problem but when I was pregnant with my fourth child. Apparently the pelvis can loosen up too much. I found some days better than others for no apparent reason. I saw a physiotherapist on the NHS but on a good day so I wasn't really able to show her what movements were painful. She gave me crutches but I didn't use them much even though I was supoosed to use them all the time. I didn't find they helped and I looked so stupid walking about on them.

After the baby was born, most of the pain went away, but I still have twinges if I try to push anything sideways with my legs (shifting furniture say). The baby is now 21 months old and I am beginning to think this pain will never go away.

I think it is worth you going back to your GP and asking for physiotherapy (If nothing else, I got a list of dos and don'ts). It is available on the NHS. You shouldn't have to suffer.

Hi - I sincerely hope you won't be lonely this Christmas!
Thanks for the advice. I shall have to go back to my GP and beg again. It seems to be the only way I can get treatment.

Hi, Is the following the symptoms you have?

Inflammation of the sacroiliac joints and associated ligaments are very common, especially following pregnancy where the hormone relaxing is released and this results in the relaxation of ligaments in preparation for childbirth. In most cases the causes of sacroiliitis are mechanical, however there may be other medical inflammatory conditions present such as Ankylosing Spondylitis as well as others which will need attention.

Symptoms include:

Pain located either to the left or right of your lower back. The pain can range from an ache to a sharp pain which can restrict movement.
The pain may radiate out into your buttocks and low back and will often radiate to the front into the groin. Occasionally it is responsible for pain in the testicles among males.
Occasionally there may be referred pain into the lower limb which can be mistaken for sciatica.
Classic symptoms are difficulty turning over in bed, struggling to put on shoes and socks and pain getting your legs in and out of the car.
Stiffness in the lower back when getting up after sitting for long periods and when getting up from bed in the morning.
Aching to one side of your lower back when driving long distances.

If so, it is something I had (but not from childbirth) and the osteopath sorted me out in two sessions. I remember the pain so vividly - it was worse than childbirth! The osteopath actually came to my house as I could not walk well enough to get to his rooms.