Anyone else with pain around sacrum?

[Mackrelmint]

I've had pain around my sacrum, especially when walking, for the whole pregnancy (now 27 weeks). It seems to have spread recently to right side of my lower back, and also muscular pain in right buttock.

Was thinking of going to see an osteopath but just thought I'd ask in case anyone else had similar and any good advice on what worked for you? Thanks

cranial sacral therapy worked v. well for me. good idea to have it sorted now as pregnancy a big strain on you.

Go to a physio or osteo as soon as you can. I ignored back pain until it got really bad and am now suffering the consequences as physio says baby is so low she can't do all the manipulations that she wants to! Osteo also told me off for not going sooner

On the plus side I have found that the belt and exercises helped a bit, so hasn't been totally hopeless. And the osteopath I saw this week managed to un-trap a really horrid trapped nerve for me so well worth seeking help however far along you are.

I find that rolling my hips around, backwards and forwards and sideways on a birthing ball really helps, don't over do it though. Also, massaging with arnica muscle cream helps.

This is all part of Pelvic Girdle Pain. I've had it fairly badly since 16 weeks. It's a total nuisance. Look up pelvic girdle pain and follow some of the advice or ask your midwife to refer you to antenatal physio.
People tend to know about SPD and think it is all about hurting at the front, but the pelvis is all connected and it affects the sacro-iliac joints at the back too.

Things I find that help are:

1. Full body maternity pillow plus extra pillows to maintain properly aligned side sleeping position. In particular having pillow between knees.

2. Spending some time each day in hands and knees position, often supported by birth ball or big heap of cushions on sofa. You can even watch telly comfortably like this and it is less stress on your pelvis than sitting.

3. Cowboy position using a dining chair (the one where you turn the chair around and sit backwards) Again, weight is not on your bum, which can dangle nicely off the back of the chair. You are also resting some of your weight on your arms.

Basically the motto from the physio lady was that the bump should be dangling so it isn't resting on your pelvis, your bum should be sticking out and some of your weight should be on your arms!

4. going upstairs slowly one at a time, leading with the left leg as I find the right side more painful - this avoids putting weight on the right side. Use the handrail to pull yourself up.

5. If it hurts don't do it. I find it hard to bend over forwards. kitchen cupboards have now been re-arranged so the day to day crockery is in a mid level cupboard. Only one load of washing per day and one dishwasher load maximum gets done. if more needs doing, I'm not doing it! Avoid long periods of either standing or sitting.

Thanks v much everyone - this is really useful. Kat - yes, I had assumed SPD was just pain around the front of pelvis, so didn't think it was that. I have instincitinvely been crawling around on all fours when playing with DD a bit, as it feels like it is helping, so that makes sense.

Have GP appointment next week so will ask if there's any antenatal physio I can be referred to, and look into osteo/cranio-sacral too - I understand c-s is very gentle which sounds appealing; I've had good results with osteo in the past, but don't like the cracking!

I get loads of back pain, but since seeing a chiropractor, it's pretty much sorted. I also wear a belly bra/bump support/maternity support belt, which is really brilliant.

It could also be to do with your sciatic nerve, so definitely get referred.