pain in the arse...

[jamama]

Hi ladies,
I am 10+2 by current reckonings, and for the last couple of weeks have had pretty bad pain in my gluteus maxima (not sure if that is how you pluralise that, but both sides anyway). I think it started during a weekend away, when we did a lot of walking about trying to find places to eat in the evenings.
Doing piriformis-type exercise does seem to ease the pain, but only temporarily - once or twice I have been kept awake/woken by it, esp if I turn in my sleep.
Is this common or should I speak to my gp?

Can you speak to a midwife or physio for some advice? I've got posterior pelvic pain which you definitely feel in the bum! but at 30 weeks I am a lot further on and not sure if you have the same thing so wouldn't like to advise, try and phone your midwife maybe? Have you had your booking in appointment yet?

Thanks brizzagirl, I am already booked in & going for my scan in a couple of weeks, but mw said at booking that at this stage, all care should be filtered through my GP rather than direct. Am sure it isn't full sciatica as there is no pain in legs or feet yet, will look into posterior pelvic pain, but like you said, am not v far in, haven't gained much & have yet to show, so suspect it is tiredness/hormones vs. real pg-related pb.

Pain in this areas was the first sign I had of SPD/pelvic girdle pain. I had it by your stage, though only on one side. I would ask your GP or midwife for a physio referral, as it's been a big help to me (though at 30 weeks I am on crutches, I'm sure the pain would have been much worse if I hadn't had physio support).

Most places will allow you to self refer to the pregnancy physio who will have more of an idea.

I certainly had sciatica by 11 weeks this time round.

Thanks Mainly and Turtles for sharing your experiences - I spoke to my GP yesterday, who said, given I am still very flexible, able to get on my bike, etc., there wasn't a great deal he could do at this stage. I did explain that a 20-odd min walk last weekend back from our local shops was enough to cause a great deal of pain, but it does still spontaneously resolve at the moment. I am used to being very fit and active, so I think this is a suck it and see thing - at least it is already on my notes, and if I get any worse I will try & see a different GP at my practice. Without wishing to sound harsh, this chap is in a wheelchair, I think with MS (not that it matters), and therefore I feel rather dreadful going in there whinging about not being able to walk for extended periods without suffering :(

Jamama, I started with the pain around the same time as you. It was my bum and lower back mainly as well as my groin and was pretty painful until about 15 weeks when it started to ease off. I tried to not do much walking or things that aggrivated it, like not standing on one leg to put trousers on etc and it is so much better now.
I am now 17 weeks and had my first midwfie appointment yesterday where I mentioned this, and she said lots of people get it around that time as that when the hormones kick in that relax the ligaments around the pelvis which can be painful for some people. She did say if it comes back they would refer me to a physio so we agreed to manage it that way.
I think its important to note that if it hurts don't do it. Good luck and hope it eases off soon :)

Thanks angels. Will bear your experience in mind. Agree that I have to get used to not haring about like a nutcase like I used to for a bit - now I just have to get dh to realise that I can't walk for four or five hours every day when we go away for now!

Plural glutei maximi. Not that it is important. Hope you feel much better soon.

romanes eunt domum; Latin never a strength :o

It is a brilliant sketch though!!!