Sacroiliac Joint pain - two years post partum **Thread title edited by MNHQ**

[GrungeSponge]

As the title says I'm still getting joint pain. If I sit for any length of time I get pain, although it's not excruciating.

I sometimes feel like my lower back/tailbone has gone numb and I can feel the blood coming back to the area.

I had physio while pregnant for the condition. I no longer get any pain when opening my legs or hips in anyway (which was a symptom during pregnancy)

Sometimes randomly get a shooting pain but generally goes.

Basically makes sitting at work uncomfortable, oh and driving as well.

Should I go See my GP? I feel they will just fob me off. Anyone else experience this?

Ok...the title should be post-partum not post party!

Gosh yes make an appointment to see your gp. Ask for referral to physio and if it doesn’t get better ask them to refer you to a specialist.

As an aside, it may also be worth consulting a chiropractor. Depending on the exact problem they can often work wonders.

I had it from running and moving from an active job to a sedentary one. I was referred to a physio who gave me two very simple stretches and exercises. Worked a treat!

I'm glad physio improved it Intents, how long was it before you saw any improvement?

Guineapig I have been wondering about a specialist but I don't know what area this is classed as?

I imagine orthopaedics would be the starting point but your gp will be able to advise further

I have sjd- have had injections into the area and physio. Don’t go to a chirp until you’ve had xrays/ mri scan to confirm the diagnosis. You will most likely need to see an ortho- far more qualified than a chiro to advise and refer for suitable treatments

Thanks for that guineapig.

CatToddler what injections did you have? I've had physio previously, but it was part of a general back group.

Nerve block and steroids into joint
I also sit on a memory foam cushion at work with the spine hole to relieve pressure

Same as QOD- nerve root and steroid. Unfortunately mine didn’t provide much relief

Have you had core stability physio?

I did have core stability physio in between my pregnancies, but that was over three years ago now.

I guess I'm going back to the GP.

Core stability should be done daily ideally- can also be done just sitting on the sofa or standing up washing up. If you look on spine universe there are some excellent resources on there 😊

Thanks for the recommendation, I will look at Spine Universe!

I'd pay for a private Physio tbh
Nhs physios are either crap or the waiting lists are very long!

I'm still struggling 7months pp
Have now finally found a private Physio who knows what's happening and I'm hopefully on the long road to recovery
But if I had just listened to the two nhs physios who told me there is absolutely nothing wrong with me and I would be pain free if I stopped breastfeeding were wrong

What part of the country do you live? X

I live in the NW. That's interesting what you say about Private physio, I concerned the physio I've had hasn't really looked at the big picture with regards to my issues.

I have struggled with SIJ pain for years both pre and post partum, and several physios have told me it's exacerbated by the fact that I'm hypermobile. The thing that has helped me more than anything is regular pilates with a teacher who understands SIJ issues. She (and the physios I've seen) have all stressed the importance of strengthening my glutes as well as my core.

EvilHarpy Thanks for your reply, I think I am hypermobile as well! How did you find a Pilates teacher who understood your issues? Was it luck of the draw or did you ask specific questions?

It was completely luck. It was the first pilates class I'd ever been to. I've since been to a couple of others and realised quite how good the first teacher was, and I've stuck with her ever since. She would ask at the start of the class whether anyone had injuries or ongoing conditions she needed to be aware of, and then when starting an exercise she would explain which muscles it was targeting and whether anyone needed to make any adjustments to protect an injury. She's very knowledgeable. I'm generally not too bad these days but occasionally it will flare up and she always gives me either an alternative or a modification. She also watches her students like a hawk and adjusts them where necessary if their form isn't right.

One other class I went to had a teacher who did not do any of the above.

The various physios I've seen over the years all gave me exercises to do that are pilates-based, although I didn't know it at the time.

Hi grunge, how are you getting on? I’m another one with hyper-mobility and SIJ problems. During and after my pregnancy (10 years ago) the right SIJ would shift and cause muscle spasms in my lower back. That stopped after a few years and lots of osteopathy. Now it’s moved to the left side and causing excruciating sciatica. I am receiving good nhs physio (after a v long wait) and waiting for scan reports. The pain can be extreme but I am hopeful that it is ‘only’ hypermobilty causing it rather than something underlying- because physio is an effective non-invasive treatment for it. My advice would be to push for referrals - it has taken me a year to get to this point. Good luck!

I'd hopefully thought maybe injections might help here but yes, hyper mobility and Pilates / physio from someone who gets it is the cure.

I did sign up to MUTU when it was half price last summer (on her birthday) and I have to say I'm finding it a really good core and glute strengthening thing that's helping.

I have to be mindful of how I sit. (Pilates sit.) I also use an si belt when I feel it's flaring badly but only short term. I sadly can't wear jeans anymore as the pressure exacerbates it.,

What prompted me to start this thread was I am never entirely comfortable when sitting or lying down. Driving and sitting in meeting room type chairs do seem to affect me the most.

I've been trying to get an appointment with the GP today but I couldn't get through, so will try again tomorrow. In the meantime I've been looking up Pilates classes, but yoga is so much more prevalent in my area. I tried yoga about a year ago but the class wasn't right and I was worried about doing more harm than good. I defo need a teacher like EvilHarpy's above!

Lying down is often a problem with a wonky SIJ... putting pillows under your knees helps a lot.

My pilates teacher says if you're lying on your side in bed to put a pillow between your knees as it helps keep your pelvis properly aligned.

Sitting in a car seat for a long time really makes mine flare up, I really struggle with long car journeys.

I broke my coccyx in labour and it did take about two years to be pain free and apparently that's not unusual - I also opted for a section the next time as I was scared of it coming back. I know your problem is different though so I would go back to the GP.