Hips/thighs in agony at night - please help!

[Billyjoearmstrong]

I was in tears all night.

I’m 32 weeks and over the past week the pain in my hips abs thighs in bed is unbearable. I’ve got a pregnancy pillow and other pillows to put between and/or under my legs but nothing helps. I am switching from left side to right side constantly and I’m exhausted.

If only I could sleep on my back.

Any tips? It’s making me miserable.

Its my fault, I’m 16 stone so weight doesn’t help

I’m only 24weeks but hips/legs are killing me at night, not unusual for me to nearly fall over when I get up for a wee and I’ve got a pregnancy pillow too that doesn’t seem to be reducing it. Sometimes when I’m napping in the day I prop myself up with pillows and sleep on my back but sitting up...I haven’t tried it at night as not sure what my husband would do/where he would fit in with the fan of pillows around me- but if you’re really desperate maybe you could give it a go. Good luck!!

Try putting a spare duvet under the sheets for extra softness?

Do you have a serola belt or other hip/bump support that you could try sleeping in to hold things together?

Try some gentle stretches - anything that gently stretches your hamstrings (Down the back of your legs) - a lot of the pain might be from tension that build up & needs regularly releasing.

Ask someone to massage your things/bum/hips with lots of oil to get the circulation going and release spasm

Good luck x

Oh I remember this well. I think I would naturally roll onto my back whilst asleep no matter what I did because of the discomfort. I have no advice I’m afraid but I am sorry you are having a hard time. Having a bed to yourself definitely helps if you can manage that!

And don’t blame yourself. I am not overweight so I don’t think that’s got anything to do with it.

Dont blame yourself, it's not to do with weight. I have the same but just my right hip and it's so horrible. I find a long bath and putting a pillow in between my legs helps. If it's really bad maybe try some paracetamol before you go to bed

Thank you.

I already sleep on top of the duvet with a blanket as I get so hot.

I think I’ll have to take paracetamol tonight I can hardly walk at the mo it’s still so painful.

You could have PGP, it's worth getting a referral to get it checked out. I'm seeing a specialist osteopath for mine (private as I didnt want to wait for nhs) and it's helped so so much.

Hi sorry don't have much advice but I am suffering the same. I really don't think your weight is causing it, it sounds like spd. I was about 10 stone before getting pregnant, then had hyperemesis for several weeks and dropped down to 9 stone. Loosing weight made the pain worse as I seem to have lost mostly around my hips, thighs and bum so now I have no "padding" lol. My pelvic area and thighs are painful all the time due to spd but at night it's worse because the extra weight from the bump is pushing the bony bits of my hip and thigh into the mattress. I also keep unintentionally rolling onto my back during sleep. Tried all sorts of pillow arrangements but nothing is comfortable. Only thing that helps slightly is if you need to turn over, keep your legs together it's a bit less painful.

vimeo.com/428512117
pogp.csp.org.uk
Sorry I don't know how to make these hyperlinks, but my very pregnant sister has found these videos and leaflets really helpful.

I was similar and got a referral to physio which helped, not sure if that's happening with coronavirus. It was SPD/PGP but mainly affected me lying down. One thing to try is always press your knees together (with pillow between if needed) and tense your bum/stomach as you roll over. Try and use your bum and stomach muscles to help you get up. The physio said the issue is that your pelvis bones become unstable and you need to strengthen and work the muscles around them to help stabilise it. I found popping a pillow in the small of my back so I could lie on my side but rest back on it helped. I also took paracetamol sometimes. It got a lot better once baby was born.

Seconding @umberta's suggestion of an osteopath.