Sacroiliac joint disorder - ouch! Any tips?

[pippinleaf]

22 weeks and left butt cheek/hip hurting for a few weeks. Midwife says its sacroiliac joint dysfunction. It's been getting worse and today I'm struggling to walk. She's referred me to a physio but that was a week ago and I've heard nothing. Anyone have any experience of this? How bad could it get? Any tips?

Hi Pippin, I suffer with SI problems on one side due to an injury, so sympathise utterly! My advice is to chase up the physio referral ASAP - a good physio will be able to give you strengthening exercises etc. appropriate to the particular area of flare-up for you.

General advice is to try and tense your left buttock whenever you're going to weight bear down that leg, so any time you're lifting, bending your left knee, even walking. If you tighten your butt check, it supports the joint and stops the excessive movement which is often the cause of the pain. It takes a bit of practice, but it does help! Also try not to part your knees too far, so be careful getting out of cars for example; sviwel on the seat and stand with your knees together, rather than get out one leg at a time. Make sure you wear supportive shoes, especially if you have a tendency to flat-footedness, as this causes your knee to rotate in as you step and your hip comes under stress.

A good pregnancy support belt is also invaluable! You want one that offers lumbar support more than under-bump if possible.

Hope that's useful and you get to see a physio soon!

Good advice from Twiglet. May also be helpful to try some pregnancy-specific pilates, if you can find a local class. One run by a physio has prevented my spd/pgp from appearing this pregnancy, whereas the last pregnancy was horrific. It's hard work but if you do the physio and pilates exercises every day, you really can strengthen your weak side and core muscles. Should help with a faster recovery after too! Just make sure it's a qualified instructor.

I've had this for years, sometimes it's better and I don't notice it, sometimes it gets so bad I can't walk upstairs and have to lift my leg with my hands to get into the car. I had chiropractic sessions but they didn't help at all, made it worse if anything. Mine tends to be worse after a long time walking around. I find pilates helps and short term - rest up. Usually it has died down by the next day.

Over the past there weeks I've had days where the pain has been less but for the past four days it's just got worse each day and it's constant with shooting pains irregularly as well.

Thanks for the support belt tip. I remember my sister had given me one and I'm wearing it now and it does help a little. I will ring the midwife and ask how long the physio appointment should be. I may also see my osteopath as I have great faith in them. Sadly there are no evening Pilates classes near me and my yoga teach says she doesn't think I should come back until the physio has seen me and given me recommendations.

I've dreamt of being pregnant for years and I was really excited to finally be here. I'm disappointed that it's not quite going to be what I'd hoped for but I'm keeping my thoughts on the outcome and that this will hopefully be a shortish term problem.

Hope you feel better soon x

You need the proper belt for this that pulls the joints back together -its not just a pregnancy support belt. The joints are too far apart. My physio gave me one and it was invaluable

Yes I realise that but in the absence of a physio appointment it's holding me together a bit.

I had this both pregnancies :( Don't sit or lie on any hard surfaces - if you have a firm bed then get a topper or put a spare duvet under your sheet. Don't carry any weight on one side and not the other.

....and definitely don't get pregnant again when your 1st baby is still a baby and have to get help as you can't lift him and he is too young to walk :(

Mine are only 13 months apart and that was tough with a OH who worked evenings and weekends and I worked week days - with no family nearby. DS1 had to be taught to crawl up and down stairs and to climb up on the chair next to his cot so I could grab him and help him into bed.

If you can afford it, go to an osteopath. Not a cranio-sacral one but a normal one! The physio was helpful but the osteopath made a massive difference to me.

I'm 37 weeks now and just a bit achy in that area. With my dd, I didn't get treatment and by this point I was crawling round my flat in agony!

Good luck.