Think I have PGP - grateful for any tips

[StargazyDrifter]

I'm only 13+2 but, having googled a bit, I think I might have PGP.

Although I've had a very restful Christmas break and only walked for about 20 minutes yesterday, I've been in quite a lot of pain today, which doesn't seem to be going away. The pain is on the inside and outside of my thighs and in my buttocks. Sort of feels like I've been to a boot camp or been riding for the first time or something. It's really uncomfortable to walk (I sort of hobble, much to DH's amusement), and hurts to sit down (sitting itself is fine once static). Dreading going back to work tomorrow!

I'd be really grateful for any thoughts or experiences of PGP. Does this sort of thing come and go, or is it permanent once it's set in? Will make a GP appt tomorrow but unlikely to be seen for a couple of weeks. ☹️

I'm going to my first 'group session' tomorrow morning feels like a waste of time. I was still managing modified pregnancy Pilates hope I'm not any sorer now to restart next week.

I find sitting at desk at work and the evening the worst but if I'm home all day can manage as little pain as possible doing nothing!

This is what I picture in my head when I read about the group physio!

Reassuring to know that the birth isn't necessarily affected.

We just sat a circle. We were shown a few moves/ exercises either the caveat 'but everyone is different.'

If you can afford it go to a private physio recommenced by the pelvic partnership (on their website). Honestly it's the best money I ever spent. I got PGP at week 15 and it was agony. She made such a difference and by week 25 I was able to go back to some level of normality. A lot of the NHS ones don't know much about pregnancy and PGP so a recommended private physio is more likely to help you.

I paid £45 for the initial consultation and £35 for a few follow up sessions. She told me the worst thing you can do is to plod and shift your weight from foot to foot - you should walk as though you are a bucket of water and don't want to spill any.

Things that also helped me:

• aqua natal
• birthing ball
• one of those long u shaped pillows for bed time
• limiting movement for a while
• avoid standing on one leg (so sit down whilst putting on shoes etc.)
• avoid stairs

Yoga actually made me worse so I had to quit - but everyone is different!

PartridgeJoan thank you very much! Rest all day yesterday does seem to have helped and I'm a bit better today.

Do you happen to know if you're particularly flexible? Like can you normally touch the floor without bending your knees etc? I am and I wonder if yoga isn't going to help for that reason. I've got a one off trial booked in so will see.

Very helpful on plodding, that's exactly what I've been doing!

@stargazydrifter - Re the flexibility question, my osteopath said that people who are quite stiff tend to find that during pregnancy the relaxin helps them feel more mobile. If you are flexible already in your hips (not your hamstrings that would help you touch your toes) which means for example if you sit crossed legged and your knees are very near the floor - the relaxin can make your hips over mobile which puts pressure on the surrounding ligaments and muscles to stabilise your pelvic girdle.

So you could be experiencing this because of flexibility but it would be about how flexible your hips are, not your hamstrings if that makes sense?

Makes perfect sense, thank you! Really useful to have that info. The hamstrings wasn't the right example, I agree. I'm flexible all round and it's always been a plus, until now!

I had/have PGP as well which appeared almost overnight at around 30/31 weeks. I'm apparently hyper-mobile as well (news to me) and have always been quite bendy. Not such a good thing it turns out!

I second all of the advice that PartridgeJoan gives. I had to take 4 weeks off work because I couldn't sleep due to the agony of turning over in bed plus no way I could have physically travelled into work on train/tube. GP was very pessimistic about the chances of any improvement but I'm 35 weeks now and went back to work this week so it's definitely possible to get rid of the pain.

The best things I found were seeing an osteopath who specialises in pregnancy plus an obstetric physio who gave me strengthening exercises (eg. pelvic tilts on birthing ball, hip stretches etc.) and a pelvic binder to provide some support. Plus lots of rest is always a benefit.

Also the midwife saying that 10 miles a day the week before PGP struck.

It is shit though so I really hope you get some relief, take it easy and be kind to yourself and your poor pelvis.

@StargazyDrifter I'm not that supple - have never been able to touch my toes! Whenever I went to yoga I ended up aggravating my PGP despite being super careful (I was probably doing it wrong!)

Hope you feel better soon, PGP is horrid!

magdela thank you for adding your experience, and really glad to hear you're doing better.

PartridgeJoan thanks you 😊 I'm always mortified of doing stuff like yoga wrong, those kind of instructions-based things are definitely not my forte. I will tread carefully with that trial.

I will report back as the weeks progress.

I had PGP in my last pregnancy. The physio recommended strengthening my core muscles with some simple exercises, such holding them in whilst counting to 10, large hip swivels on the birthing ball, simplified cat movements. I found they made a massive difference, just 10 sets of each, morning and night. My midwife did say however, that I was the first person she’d Ever had who said physio had been helpful!

I’m struggling with PGP too! I’ve had a pelvic issue for a while anyway, which I’ve been having treatment for, but PGP kicked in quite early (can’t be sure exactly, between 8-10 weeks). I’m 23+5 now and am feeling quite uncomfortable, especially on the stairs - sorry to all the commuters I was holding up this morning at the station!! I feel the pain in the front of my hips, sort right inside the ball and socket and joint. I don’t know what exercises to do to help will take a look at the Pelvic Partnership website though.

How is everyone else feeling today?

Sorry, ball and socket and joint

Waggily that's very encouraging! Thank you. 😊

Frazzy sorry you're in the same boat too. I've been more or less on bed rest the last 3 days and it's definitely helped minimise the pain. That said, I'm only 13+6. Worried it'll come back again when I do my usual commute etc next week. I've been looking at the Pevlic Partnership and I think I'll see an osteopath sooner rather than later.

Whoever said about walking like you've got a bucket of water was so right- I think it's really helped the pain not to waddle.

I’ve been trying the ‘bucket of water’ thing too and it definitely helps! I’d rather look a bit silly walking all stiff than looking silly and be in pain hobbling!!

I’m nearly 35 weeks and have had PGP from about 16-20 weeks. It started as a sort of pain in my inner thighs, as if I’d been exercising the day before, and now it’s more firmly in my pelvis area. Sometimes the whole pelvis / thigh / buttock area hurts but I’ve almost got used to it now.

I haven’t seen the physio. I meant to but haven’t got around to it and now not sure if I’d even be seen before the birth unless I saw someone privately.

I’ve found that avoiding being on my feet and walking for too long helps. Those days that I do walk a lot or been on my feet doing housework for a while has led to a lot of pain the next day from the moment I get up. Now it’s more immediate eg twice this week I walked to the shops at lunchtime and was walking (slowly) for about 1.5 hours and by the time I got back to work I was exhausted and in pain.

In bed turn with your knees leg together if you can and get up off the bed and out of the car etc with your legs together.

Sit down to put your trousers on and avoid standing on one leg. I personally haven’t found stairs an issue but I have heard it’s best to avoid them and I take the lift at work.

Sit down when you need to sit down.

For me it gets worse if I overdo it.

Thanks AliceRR, those are really helpful!

After a few days at home and little pain I started wondering whether I maybe over-reacted and it's not PGP. I walked for about an hour this evening, roughly 6km. Slower pace but fairly average distance for me. Yup, definitely hadn't over-reacted. The pain is real. Time to get onto that osteopath!

@StargazyDrifter I dream of walking 6km... I'm so so bloody sick of this endless pain. I defo think an osteopath will be able to help you if you have this level of mobility.

I tidied the kitchen cupboard this morning for 15 mins and the pain in my hips has been so horrendous ever since I can barely get up for the toilet.

I feel like it's not even my body... I'm woken up in someone elses :(

I had it and I’m sorry to say nothing really eased it. Turning over in bed was the worst. I bought a support belt to wear as my Hospital Trust no longer supplied them.

I had physio but she was quite honest with me that she wouldn’t be able to get rid of the pain. The physio worked on my hips a bit as she said I was overcompensating because of the pain and one leg was longer!

It didn’t totally go after childbirth, I was a bit stiff and achy for about 6 months after but mostly brought on by pushing the prom.

le42 I'm only 14 weeks, I'm sure it'll only deteriorate. I hope you manage to find some comfort for the time being. What about floating in a warm (not hot) bath? It is that likely to be tricky to get into?

DarkDarkNight thanks for these, really appreciate an honest view. I had suspected that it might not be that easy to shake. I will still try but mainly to keep myself sane/see if I can stop some of it progressing. Glad to hear it does go away eventually!

@StargazyDrifter oh I really hope it doesn’t get worse for you, I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed 🤞! I’ve got a spa day tomorrow so I’m going to float about in the pool! 😍

Thank you, that's very kind. 😊 Enjoy your spa day, how lovely. I will be thinking of a stranger from the internet blissfully floating somewhere as I shift uncomfortably at my desk at work!

Thank you ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Osteopath
Yoga
Swimming (not breaststroke)
Not carrying a heavy bag on one arm
Listening to my body and resting
Birth ball sitting/ bouncing

All helped me-
And it resolved 100% as soon as DS wa born (natural birth, very mobile during labour and delivered lying on my side).

Hi all pgp sufferers (or former sufferers). I'm just asking if I'm mad to want to get signed off work for pgp. I'm due to start may leave feb 1st and I just don't think I can make it. I've also resigned when I start mat leave (it wouldn't cover the cost of childcare, which I'm sad about as it's one of the best jobs I've ever had!!).

My job involves involves walking lots (10000 steps or more) and carrying things (which generally aren't heavy). But I'm on crutches and they aren't helping much anymore...

I want to be at work because it keeps me busy, the people are great, I can generally work at my own (slow) pace, and gets me out of the house the two days a week that I work. But I sometimes can't move for two or three days after my two days at work (and I'm worse now than that last time I worked just before Christmas). My husband thinks I'm mad to be thinking about trying to go in and even my boss was asking if I should really be there before the holidays.

Do I make a gp appointment and get signed off until my maternity leave? Would they sign me off? I'm also thinking of asking for some stronger pain relief as paracetamol doesn't help. But am I wasting a gp's time??