Pain in left buttock when walking

[Jan21AK]

Hi all. I'm 20 weeks and have recently started to experience a pain deep in my left buttock when I walk or put pressure on the left side. It doesn't happen when I'm sitting laying down nor does it correspond with lower back pain. It's not a muscle pain and I haven't stretched it. It;s quite deep within - almost like nerve pressure. When I walk the pain shoots up/down and I end up buckling my walk. Means I hobble around. Is this common? Has anyone else experienced this? If so, how did you manage it and did it get better? I'm planning on calling my midwife/GP tomorrow about it as I find it quite debilitating. Many thanks in advance x

Sounds like the start of SPD/PGP, you need a physio referral.

Could it be sciatica?

Sciatica

Sciatica, I have this. Apologies for Mansplaining.
It is as if it: Starts deep in buttock then goes down the bone to the foot.
One might even get pins and needles feeling in foot.
The sciatic nerve is under a little pressure somewhere perhaps not where pain seems to be.
If you Google there are pages of it.
Nothing can be done, just have to arrange sitting or relaxing not to aggravate it.

It does fade, sometimes after a few weeks,

Yep I had this, started around 20 weeks too I guess, only got better( instantly) after baby was born! I had physio which helped a bit and you can get special belts for support

@Climbingallthetrees thanks,I'll ask the GP/Midwife tomorrow if a referral is possible
@Wolfiefan & @EmilySpinach - that seems to be the general consensus! Will google some more.
@minimike - thanks for the info - really helpful.

I've just recovered from hyperemesis, which was awful, and this just seems like another thing I have to deal with - not having the best of pregnancies unfortunately :(

x

Sciatica. There are stretches and exercises you can do to help. See a physio if possible or Google pregnancy safe exercises. I also found it helpful using a foam roller on my bum muscles every evening.

@gg321 thanks, good to know it does eventually clear up. Although not looking forward to another 20 weeks of this! I'm planning to get one of those pregnancy balls - maybe that will help with taking the pressure off. What is the belt you're referring to?

@stormtrooperjulian thank you for the advice. I'll google some exercises and will look into the foam roller. Anything to relieve it really. Just makes walking really difficult.

I’m sorry you’re suffering OP. Hope you can get some relief soon.

Sciatica - sounds exactly like what I've had since about 34 weeks (40+1 now). Your description is spot on! GP said there's not much to do at this stage except have the baby - prescribed painkillers. I saw a chiropractor who did a pregnancy-safe massage and suggested to try sitting on a tennis ball where the pain originates and roll it around under your buttock. It does seem to have eased off in the last week or so but scared to speak too soon - it's hideous isn't it, I really feel your pain and you have my sympathies!

@Jan21AK the belt I know of is called a serola but if you google sciatica belts there’s several different ones. I remember the pain starting, very deep in buttock like you described but yeah don’t worry it will go or should do as soon as baby is born, and it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have it in future pregnancy’s, I’m pregnant again and no pain at all this time and I’m almost ready to pop. Good luck and take it easy

I had this, sciatica. It really helps if you get someone to massage your buttocks quite roughly! I remember being in sainsbury's begging ex dp to " punch my bum !"

I'm 21 weeks and for the last couple of weeks have been getting pain in my left buttock. Not quite as bad as yours sounds but getting a bit worse - initially it was mainly on getting up and went away when I got moving, but now is uncomfortableable when walking too.

I'm a keen runner and really want to start again asap after birth so am keen to avoid long term issues. My former Pilates teacher's day job is as a physio specialising in child birth related issues so I've arranged to see her, more as a preventative measure than anything else. I guess it will only get worse as I get bigger!

@gg321- thank you! I'll look that up. Hoping this eases off soon.

@moonriver32 - yes, it's really uncomfortable. I've read that I should keep moving, walking, exercising but it hurts! I've ordered a ball and looking at rollers for a massage. Hopefully one of these will work

@Dontforgetyourbrolly - haha! I have already told my OH that he has to give me a bum massage!

@MissHoney85 - hopefully it won't last and you're able to run again. People on this post and what I've read online seem to suggest if it doesn't ease up in the next few weeks, it'll definitely go post birth - but it does seem a long wait! I did find a prenatal physio person locally but she seems to be booked up until mid October, which isn't great for me!

@MissHoney85 I had no trouble starting running again after having the pain during pregnancy, doesn’t affect me at all now, hopefully the same for you

@gg321 that's reassuring, thank you!

Get a proper deep tissue massage, that was the main thing that helped my sciatica during pregnancy (and afterwards because it stayed and flares up from time to time )