Do you think this is sacroiliac pain?

[Hopeitwontbebig]

Hi, just want some advice really. Not one to make a fuss, but DH has insisted that I go to docs.

I'm 20 weeks with DC3.

For the past 3 evenings I've been having intense pain in my lower back on the left hand side. I have awful trouble turning over in bed, it's really painful. This morning I've woken up and the pain's still there. As I'm sitting here typing I can feel a dull ache in my left buttock

I had similar problems during my last pregnancy but it was right towards the end. I also had pain in my pubic bone.

At the moment the pain is isolated to my back.

Does this sound like sacroiliac pain? I've googled it, and the diagram of a skeleton kind of 'hits the spot' so to speak.

Any advice for treatment?

Bit worried, because isn't this a bit early to suffering from this?

Thanking you in advance lovely ladies...

Can I just add.... since having DS2 I cannot lie on my back on a hard floor. It gives me intense pain in my lower back. I had DS2 nearly 8 years ago.

yes it does

mine started at 16 weeks with dd3

I had something else though not spd, will try and find

Thanks Enid

posterior pelvic pain

Posterior pelvic pain during pregnancy
Posterior pelvic pain (in back of the pelvis) is four times more prevalent than lumbar pain in pregnancy. It is a deep pain felt below and to the side at the waistline, and/or below the waistline on either side across the tailbone (sacrum). This type of pain may be experienced on one or both sides.

Posterior pelvic pain during pregnancy can extend down into the buttock and upper portion of the posterior (in back of) thighs, and does not usually radiate below the knees. It can be associated with pubic pain. The pain does not quickly resolve with rest, and morning stiffness may also be present.

Posterior pelvic pain during pregnancy can be brought on or exacerbated by the following activities:

Rolling in bed
*

Climbing stairs
*

Sitting and rising from a seated position (such as getting in and out of cars, bathtubs, bed)
*

Lifting, twisting, bending forward
*

Running and walking

A job that involves prolonged postures at extreme of ranges (such as sitting at a computer and leaning forward, standing and leaning over a desk or workstation) increases the risk of developing posterior pelvic pain during pregnancy.

Unlike many other forms of low back pain during pregnancy, a previous high level of fitness does not necessarily prevent this problem.

Thank you SO much for that Enid. SOunds like that's what I've got doesn't it.

I'm glad it mentions previous fitness. I like to think I was very fit before.

What about treatment?

I saw a physio (£££ - but really helpful)

I also had a pelvic belt which was like a bra for your expanding tum = helped a lot

when it was really bad the physio used to strap me up with bandages .

it went really quickly after giving birth - use it as an excuse to do bugger all while you are pg!

Hi there, I have sacroiliac pain too, which started about 16 weeks (I'm now 28 wks), and it is just as you describe it. I saw a private physio (much quicker than waiting for a referral from GP or midwife, even if more £££) weekly for 4 sessions which really helped, she manipulated the joint a little and taught me some exercises & massage to help (which my DP can do with me). It got better for a bit but has come back with a vengeance now, and so I am being given a support belt which should alleviate some of the pressure in the joints. I really recommend getting to see a physio ASAP, even if that means going to find a private one.

I would try to describe the exercises but they are quite complicated so without diagrams I'll fail!! My physio said to sleep with a pillow between my knees on my side, and when rolling over to pull my tummy in as I did and go very slowly. Also when lying on your back on the bed try raising the knee of the offending side and pushing that side of your hips down into the bed- this will help stretch the joint to give a little relief. Finally try to get your DH to massage that area when you are lying on the other side (with pillow between knees) as it should help release tension. Good luck it can sure be a killer- I also can't get up off a hard surface for the pain!!!

Do mention the pain to your midwife as you should be able to get a support belt on the NHS. Good luck xxx

I got this at about week 15. I saw an osteo once a week for over a month. Cost a bomb but it really really helped. It's coming back again now, but I can hardly complain since I'm 32 weeks and it's still not as bad as it was. Well worth the money.

Sympathies Hope, I've had this sine about 10 weeks! Have you tried an osteopath. I saw one a couple of times and he was fab but said that what he did wasn't going to help much as I appeared to have a weak hip muscle and until that was stronger manipulation wouldn't last. Saw physio as well as they seem to be pretty good and available at my hospital. Hasn't helped much unfortunately and still very up and down, but she did say that if you were pretty fit before being pg and then suddenly stop (i.e. coz you have morning sickness and are so bloody tired!) its common to get these sorts of aches and pains. Sorry none of that is much help, but feeling your pain (quite literally!).

Thanks for that madmumNika, I spoke on the phone to an obstetric physiotherapist who gave me the same advice that you gave... apart from the lying on back with pillow under offending side. Will give that a try tonight. Thank you again, really appreciate it. Hope this doesn't get much worse

x

Thanks bump and corrie too!!

I do know that I suffer from 'joint laxity' (all my life, not just during pregnancy), which basically means everything is far too stretchy and I've been warned that I may be prone to problems in later life. To give an example, my knees and elbows bend back too far, and I can touch my thumb on my forearm!!

Wonder if that makes me more vulnerable to this condition?

I had this too, saw an obstetric physio who was crap, then saw a senior physio who had had it herself and she was ace. It totally messed up my muscles, as they work harder to compensate, so she used to massage my muscles with her elbow, sounds weird but kept me on my feet for a lot longer. I had the belt and a pillow between the knees too. Got better quite quickly and went back to the physio to strengthen the muscles and had some ultra sound treatment to reduce the swelling

that would definately make you more prone to problems. i am a chiropractor and have seen and treated lots of pg women with spd and other pelvic problems. i would highly recommend chiropractic treatment (obviously!) especially McTimoney chiropractic (this is the type i do and it is especially gentle so very good during pg).
i am 19 wks pg at the mo, but have been very lucky with all my pgs so far and haven't really suffered too much with back/pelvic pain. (lots of other complaints though!!!)

I had this too, in all three pregnancies and occasionally the pain had me in tears, so I sympathise totally. I didn't find physio particularly helpful until I saw an obstetric physio who was much more useful and organised me a belt which helped somewhat.

The good news is that it disappeared fairly quickly after giving birth each time, althoough I do still get twinges from time to time, but nothing like what it was in pregnancy.

A good tip for getting in and out of the car (which is one of the times it bothered me a lot), is to put a plastic bag on the seat, sit on it, and then swing both your legs in/out together rather than getting in/out one leg at a time.

Good tip aero - plus plastic bag will protect your seat if your waters break

i would very much recommend to try to see a
cranial osteopath.

They would do a very gentle manipulation of your sacrum. It is just amazing what they pick up ! I also suffered like you- hopeiwont be big and found the osteo treatments a godsend.... the same osteopath is treating my ds as he got proper squashed coming out- he seems so relazed and happy after our monthly appointment.

Please give it a go as it is a very unobtrusive treatment... but make sure you visit a cranial osteopath.

All the best!

I'm wondering if this is what I have too now!? I struggle with getting up from sitting down and rolling over in bed, also getting in and out of the car. I hear my hips click if I turn my body and when I get up too. In fact, you have described exactly the things I have been suffering with!

At first I wondered if it was spd but I haven't had any actual pain in my pelvic bone as such. My gp told me it wouldn't be worth going for physio as they don't like to 'fiddle' with pg ladies and the waiting list is three months by which time it wouldn't be worth it! Today, I got sharp pains in my left buttock but thought it was just because I had been sitting at the computer for too long!

Thank you for starting this thread - I'm going to mention it to the midwife when I see her next...

I am 39 weeks now and have had this since about week 12! It is absolute agony at times. It is exactly the same as you describe. I had a referral from the mw to physio which was helpful for a while and it was improved. They also gave me a belt to wear but as I sit down quit e alot at work on low chairs (I am an infant teacher) I found it very uncomfortable. Mine came back with a vengeance about 35 weeks when the baby started to engage and it is really painful now. It was officially diagnosed as sacro iliac joint dysfunction which the physio explained is like spd but at the back of your pelvis rather than the front. I have used heat pads, hot water bottles, pillows, wedges, you name it I've tried it and something seems to work for a while and then I have to change. I am desperately hoping that it all goes away when (if ever) the baby comes. You have my greatest sympathies.

Thanks for the advice ladies. Def seems to be worse at night and in the mornings. I'm going to our local physio department tomorrow because my DH has weekly appointments, with the Manager of the physio dept no less!! We're on very friendly terms with her, maybe she can put in a good word for me!!

Sorry to hear you're suffering aswell Purple , doesn't sound like you're getting much support though

AbbeyLou, I really hope it disappears straight after the birth of your LO... good luck. x

Well, something's going on with my neck now .. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I AM IN AGONY! My neck is SO stiff. I think since my hip has been playing up it's been making me sleep funny, and BOY is my neck stiff, really stiff. I'm just about to google whether I can use Deep Heat. I'm sure it is safe, but wanted to check. [crying/feeling sorry for myself emoticon]

I'm 16 weeks pg and get an intermittent pain around my coccyx, as if I've banged my tailbone on something hard. I also get a pain in my buttocks, like being kicked in the pants. When I get this pain, I feel a bit stiff when walking, but it wears off after a while and then I'm back to normal.
Has anyone else had this??

I had the same problem (started at 14 weeks). I only had to go to the osteopath 2 times before I saw a real difference. I'm 19 weeks now and pain free.

Sorry, must have forgotten to put the watch on and couldn't find this thread for a while!

xx

Have an appointment to see the midwife next week so I will be making a point of bring this up as I've been in agony these last few days!!