Pelvic pain -should I make a GP appointment?

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I'm 13 weeks pregnant with my second. With DS I was lucky and didn't have any pelvic pain at all. This time around I have been getting the odd twinge just to the right of my tail bone in the buttock area. The last two weeks this has become much more frequent and most evenings I have a couple of occasions when I have a sharp searing pain there after moving. The pain is sharp enough that I need to stop until it subsides. The pain is by no means constant though and for most of the day I'm fine or have just a dull ache.
I'm presuming after googling that this is whats called pelvic girdle pain. It is managable at this level so I was going to wait and see if it gets worse before going to the GP. However I have read lots of comments about it taking ages for a physio referral to come through. Is there any chance that it wont get worse or is it inevitable that I will probably need to see a physio?

Hi. I am due on Friday and had pgp since 20 weeks. I've read many different experiences of it but would definitely recommend getting a referral for physio. I am afraid it will probably get worse. Although since about 36 weeks i have been in slightly less pain. Perhaps due to positioning. I saw a useless physio but did have more luck with a chiropractor (expensive though). Strong pkillers didn't even touch it and just made me vomit. Ice pack took the edge off on an evening. Try not to lift anything heavy, ask dh to do food shop and hovering too if you can.

Thanks merlin! Was your pain always that bad or did it get worse gradually?

I had pgp when pregnant with ds, I called my midwife and she referred me to the women's health physio at the hospital. Might be quicker to do that than see your gp.

It got gradually worse, in particular on the front pubis bone. I had a very easy first pregnancy and had never even heard of pgp before. I just thought at the start of the pain it was horrendous low back pain. Then i started to read up. I can honestly say my gp and most midwives I've had have been so unsympathetic. Just been told to put up with it. Its tough if you have kids already too because the chance to rest is near impossible but I would really try when you can. I have been quite down with it because even basic stuff like walking around the shops, driving, sitting at my desk have been v.difficult. Hope you can get to see someone soon. Main thing though seriously is not to overdo it. The inflammation can easily get worse. Invest in some ice packs!

My mw referred me to the hospital physios, who were nice, but pretty useless. I paid to see an osteopath (with varying levels of success), but what really worked for me was acupuncture. Some hospitals will refer you to this for PGP. I found an excellent acupuncturist locally who runs what's called a 'multi-bed clinic' where it's much cheaper. I had pretty bad PGP from 18 weeks onwards, and the acupuncture really worked to keep it manageable.

I would get to the GP now if I were you. Go armed with information from the Pelvic Partnership website and be prepared to insist that you want to see a physiotherapist if you are sure it's PGP.

I had PGP when I was pregnant and thanks to reading that website I was pretty sure I knew what it was. The GP tried to tell me it could be sciatica, which didn't fit my symptoms at all. I was referred quite quickly to a physio who confirmed PGP and gave me various exercises. I did them every 15 mins - had a pinger come up on my computer as I was working. They were ones I could do sitting in my seat if I recall correctly.

I had three appointments with the physio and by the third my pain had gone, thanks to the exercises. Before being seen by her, I was in crippling pain if I moved into the wrong position. It made me cry, it was so bad.

First pregnancy - PGP kicked in at 13wks, didn't realise what it was until 22wks. GP messed up physio referral. Wasn't seen until 30something weeks, and spent last eight weeks bed and wheelchair-bound. Symptoms carried on after pregnancy.
This time - PGP started at an unreal six weeks (am hypermobile though I have discovered through a consultant, so this is a bit unusual). Now 36wks pregnant and still mobile! Okay, so quite a bit if discomfort but nowhere near as bad as last time.
I found a great osteopath, which has made a massive difference this time, as has a Tempur mattress. The latter is an expensive luxury, but got it half price and as a self-employed person, has meant I have been able to work longer, so worth the investment.
Try an osteopath who specialises in pregnancy-related conditions. Physio was as hopeless for me in this pregnancy as it was in the last one. not helped by the awful attitude of the practitioner

Positive physio story here, got a referral from my GP and it really made a difference. Had a series of exercises to do at home plus a support belt. Try not to separate your legs, eg. Going up stairs one step at a time like a toddler does, sit down to put your trousers on rather than stand on one leg, when you turn over in bed stick your knees together while turning, when you get out if the car twist your body round with your legs together. Don't go on any long walks and take small steps when you do walk. With my second pregnancy I was aware of what to do so was careful earlier and it helped to stop it becoming so debilitating. The support belt made a huge difference, without it I wouldn't have been able to walk very far.

If you can't afford the mattress mentioned above I managed with a single duvet under my sheet, it helped take the pressure off my hips.

Thank you everyone. Going to make a GP appointment today.