Very bad hip/pelvis pain, is this normal?

[StarsInTheNightSky]

Hello everyone,

I'm 23 weeks pregnant and for the past couple of months I've been getting very bad pains in my hips, specifically in my sacroiliac joints.

The pain is on both sides, although slightly worse on the right hand side. It is a sort of hot ache which is always present, but if I try to do too much I get very sharp pains (a bit like sciatica) in the joints and down the back of my thighs to my knees. For example yesterday I had a rare day of feeling mildly perky (I still have HG and can't get out much) so I drove to the supermarket (30 mins round trip) and hobbled around doing the shopping having to lean on the trolley, and today I'm in so much pain I've spent the day on the sofa. My hip/pelvis joints seem to keep locking, or seizing up when I move today too, and this is the same everytime I try to do something for a few days afterwards.

I have a pretty high pain threshold, but the past few weeks the pain has been getting worse and worse, and any driving or walking is agony. Also, I find getting up steps and picking my legs up is becoming very difficult as my legs just don't seem to respond very well, and it's very painful.

I haven't said anything to our consultant/GP/midwife, as I have some existing hip/spine damage which I thought was responsible for the pain, and I thought that it was just general pregnancy achiness, but I am wondering whether I should mention it at my next appointment.

Does anyone know if there's anything they can do about it? Does it just sound like general pregnancy stuff? I don't want to hassle any medical staff about it if it's just normal stuff, and will happilly suck it up an get on with it if that's the case, but it seems to be getting a lot worse quite quickly, so I am feeling a bit concerned.

Any advice greatly appreciated thanks!

I think you should mention it, even if it is due to a prior condition you shouldn't just put up with it if there are ways to help you.

If sounds like it could be SPD and they may refer you to a physio who can give you specific exercises to stop it progressing or even improve it and also a pelvic belt, etc.
Do a search for SPD threads on here as there is lots of good advice on them.

That's great, thanks very much for the reply MeeWhoo I was a bit concerned they'd think it was just me making a meal of it. I'll mention it at my next appointment and have a look at the threads you mentioned

Stars - you need to ask your GP to refer you to a specialist obstetric Physio straightaway. I had a historic problem that I aggravated by doing massive walk at speed around 16 weeks- went to local Physio at my gym thinking I should nip it in the bud before getting later in pregnancy and it go sooo much worse. Ended up as sacroiliac joint disorder. A month later was walking half my usual speed, taking steps using only only right foot up... Eventually told GP and she gave out to me for not asking for referral first.
Dont want to scare you too much but as pregnancy progresses this will only get worse as your joints loosen up more so you need to see a Physio to treat the problem and advise you on how not to aggravate it. Standing on 1 leg, getting in and out of car, bath etc all have to be done with care.
If you can do pilates that will help as it builds up your core and bum muscles. I'm 21 weeks on my 2nd pregnancy and bar a few twinges have kept the pain at busy, probably because of Pilates (recommended by Physio postnatally).
There is help out there but you must ask for it urgently!