Pelvic pain

[FluffyCloudsInTheSky]

I am 28 weeks pregnant and really struggling with pelvic and lower back pain. I have made the lifestyle changes suggested on the NHS website and now have a pregnancy support belt (soft stretchy material so can be work standing or sitting). This was given at a group physio class so I have also referred for 1:1 physio.

The belt isn't making any changes and I also have a pregnancy pillow. If only arrives yesterday so I used it as suggested and found it gave me hip pain, but I'll try a different position tonight.

My MW said yesterday if I can't get the pain under control I'll need to be signed off work and that the pain can affect my mental health (have previous PND but under control via medication). I do not want my MH to be affected or to be signed off. GP has now prescribed codeine for me to take to see if that helps, today is the first day so hoping that makes a difference. I'm very worried though about the fact that can be addictive.

Does anyone have any hints and tips that work? I'm in pain constantly and also exhausted as the pain is keeping me awake. My previous pregnancy was easy with only back pain at the very end.

Thank you in advance

Pgp is horrible. The pelvic partnership website has some useful hints and tips. Pelvic partnership recommend seeking private manual manipulation therapy and has a list of recommended practitioners.

The pain will mostly or entirely leave after you give birth. I entered hospital having been on crutches for 3 months and walked (albeit very slowly) out!!!!! It had definitely affected my confidence to leave the house, and I still find it tricky sometimes...

6 months on, I still get some painful twinges when I walk over a mile or stand wrong. I'm seeing an osteopath on Monday to see if it helps. I found physio to be a total waste of time, but others swear by it!!

Fluffy, might be worth seeing an osteopath who specialises. I had horrendous pain about 6 months into first pregnancy, was doing yoga, walking, etc but had to stop as was so difficult. It was like a shearing pain like I was being pulled apart. MW put it down to loosening of joints/muscles and that I would just have to bear, part of being pregnant. Just didn't feel normal though and nothing like others experience. This was nearly 20 years ago though. Same thing with second child, but this time, a friend suggested seeing someone and literally, after 2 sessions, pain went completely, couldn't believe I'd suffered before. Last two months second time round were bliss, pain free, was able to do yoga and delivered fine. He said it was something to do with misalignment of pelvis if i remember correctly.
Hope you are able to find relief.

Thank you everyone.

The pillow is hit and miss. Sometimes I think it helps my pelvis and other times it seems to just create hip pain!

Poor DH has to listen to me moan constantly.

Holy shit - I went to an osteopath today, 6 months postpartum. I have zero pain. Zero. I haven't been pain free for about a year!

I don't really have money to throw around, but this is so so so worth it. I wish I'd bitten the bullet during my pregnancy.

The osteopath I saw says there's loads they can do during pregnancy. She says it's not uncommon and totally treatable.

Wow that sounds amazing if one session made a difference. Do you mind me asking the cost? Also is it normal that one session would be sufficient?

It's probably normal that one session will help, but you may need several. I am not in London, and it was £52 for an hour. I did have the baby 6 months ago, but was left with a few niggles, etc...

I suppose how many sessions you may need will depend on how far along you are, and how bad your condition is! Many women find improvement on giving birth (I know I did!!!!) and for some, they will be completely back to normal. Others (like me) will continue to have some pain. Hence why I sought out an osteo...

Thank you I'll look into it

Definitely look at McTimoney chiropractic and crainial osteopathy, and find a practitioner that specialises in pregnancy, there are lots around! Also look at taking up pilates or pregnancy yoga, can help so much!

I had been really suffering with SPD and bad hip/back pain, but got my physio appointment through for last Friday, and honestly I think she worked wonders! Turned out my right hip and become hitched up higher than the left side. (I normally sit quite “wonky” and have a collapsed arch in my left foot, both of which probably made it all worse.) She did some manipulation and instantly it was so much better. She then showed me some exercises I can do at home to help keep my pelvis level and stable. I had hobbled in to the consulting room and managed to walk out normally, it felt like a minor miracle!! Now I just have to make sure I don’t lapse back into my “wonky” habits to make it worse again!

What I meant to add at the end was that hopefully physio would have the same effect for you

Thank you! I am awaiting physio and have booked an osteopath. I have everything crossed one cures me!

I am also going through this, my hips and pelvis are now clicking when I walk. I find it uncomfortable to sit down for longer periods but also to move about so it is a catch 22 situation.
The worst is at night though, I am just exhausted from it all now :(
I work in a physically demanding job too, i dunno if I can last another month there now as the pain is getting so bad.
Hopefully you will find either the physio therapist or osteopath helpful. I have a gp appointment next week so will see what they can do to help with me.

Acupuncture. Game changer.

I have the osteopath next week so have everything x'd it works! I'm still on the waiting list for 2 hospitals for physio and have been signed off work until next week.

Painkillers and pregnancy band don't help. Pregnancy pillow helps sometimes but other times I'm not convinced it's helping consistently! It's gotten worse in that I'm now experiencing outer hip pain.

I'll check back in and let you all know if the osteopath helped, right now the hope it helps is keeping me going as I'm miserable. Feeling so guilty for being off work just now and feeling like a dreadful mummy too as I can't do normal things like bend/play on floor so feel I'm always saying no to DS