Pelvic girdle pain misery

[Pearsapiece]

I am really struggling with Pelvic Girdle pain and I don't know what to do.
I've been put on crutches to help me get around but I'm only 23 weeks... There's a long way to go until baby is here.
I have a 2 year old who wants picking up and running around. He doesnt understand that I can't do much at the moment. Dh is having to do a lot more than is really fair in an equally relationship but isn't moaning bless him.
I just don't know how to deal with the pain. It feels like this baby is going to fall out its that bad. Obviously, it makes it difficult to feel intimate with dh, even though I really want to.
Can't afford an osteopath unfortunately thanks to furlough and covid taking a lot of the spare income. New shoes and clothes for ds will take priority over £110 for an assessment and treatment from an osteopath!
I have ds at home with me 1 day a week (he goes to nursery 4 days) and I can't even take him out of the house because I can't hold his hands by the road, walk with him etc and when we get home from going anywhere, the pain is too much.
I've spent the afternoon cuddled up on the sofa with ds. He's having too much yv as a result but there's only so much I can do. I hate that I can't run around and be a dinosaur like he wants me to.
I don't know what I want from the post really, just a moan I suppose to stop me bursting into tears at the prospect of an absolutely shit end to 2020. Baby isn't due until Feb!
I just want to curl up and eat cheese and chocolate but I doubt that will make me feel any better! Well maybe it will for a little bit.

You aren't alone.

I can't do much to help, as you've rejected the osteopath (mine is much less expensive than what you've quoted, but I live up North. Maybe try shopping around??).

During my first pregnancy, I went to 'group physio' at 21 weeks. Everyone else was like 35 weeks... ffs. It did affect my mood when I became almost entirely housebound by 30ish weeks...

First saw my osteo when I was 6 months post partum as I had lingering pgp issues. Two sessions and I was fixed.

I'm 15 weeks now. It's started at 8 weeks this pregnancy. I see my osteo on Weds for the second time this pregnancy, and I honestly can't wait. My leg locked up/ gave out twice today - so it's not that bad yet.

I saw her about three weeks ago. She's fairly confident she can keep me off crutches this pregnancy (I'm not holding my breath on that score). I do think she's a game-changer and will stop me getting so depressed as at least I feel I'm being proactive about it.

Money is just money. I know my credit card won't be liking me much as I think I'll need to see her at least every two weeks- but it's for my health, sanity and ability to parent.

We are NOT loaded. We live very much month to month and within our means generally. But these sessions are not optional in my opinion. Shoes are important. But so is my ability to go to the shoe shop for my child's shoes (she's 19 months).

I'm sure you've already seen the pelvic partnership website? The list of practitioners on there might be a place to start (my osteo is less than half of what you quoted), also lost of tips on managing the pain.

Good luck. It's shit.

I’m going through this too.
Have you tried a maternity support belt?
I bought one last week, quite inexpensive on amazon and it has helped me so so much. The pain is not gone, but I can walk around much more comfortably.
I went for a walk today and didn’t wear it, big regret. I need to wear it all day I think.
Could you buy one? I think mine was 13 pounds.

Can one of you ladies explain what it feels like? Have what I think is pgp but it feels too low down? I am only 16 weeks but it feels like my pubic bone is splitting in half? Really painful but not pelvic more pubic bone (is that a thing?). Had this same pain in my previous pregnancy but way further on (think 35 weeks) and baby’s head was engaged so seems worryingly early for this kind of splitting pain?

That sounds right. It’s very low down, below bump. For me it’s like “bone pain” down there.
It started for me when I was walking, now it’s all the time.

I feel like I've been kicked in the crotch with a steel-toed boot. Repeatedly.

Some people get it more in the hips, some in the lower back. All part of the ring of bone know as the pelvis.

I had PGP in both pregnancies and it was worse in the second. I'm still suffering with it (DC2 is 5 weeks old) and really hoping it fucks off soon.

I have to agree with physicskate, the only thing that makes it better is manual therapy (I also saw an osteopath but there are also some physios and chiropractors that do manual therapy and have experience of treating pregnant women) and it is absolutely something you should prioritise in your family budget even if it means scrimping on other things or putting it on a credit card.

Do look at the Pelvic Partnership recommended practitioners, also ask around locally (groups for pregnant women and new parents, antenatal/postnatal classes, doulas - they'll probably know of good manual therapists for PGP).

A support belt is only recommended after you've had manual therapy as if you have a misalignment in the pelvis (or anywhere else) it can make it worse.

You should also ask your midwife to refer you to NHS physio, mine was useless but I believe some are better than others depending where you are.

One thing that gave/gives me relief is being in water, hard to get the time to go to the pool when you have a 2yo (and with covid there are restrictions anyway) but if you could get to a pool it is lovely. Otherwise if you have a bath that's good too - just make sure DH is on standby to help you get in and out.

I understand how difficult it is when you have an older child. My DC1 is 3 and usually goes to nursery, but during the height of lockdown when nursery was closed and there were no groups, no indoor activities like soft play or anything, the only thing I could do with him was take him out for walks - which I couldn't do! It was very depressing and hard work. So do take consolation in the fact that yours is in nursery for 4 days and you only have to do 1 day - although that day is difficult. Don't feel guilty about extra TV time, you do what you have to do!

Oh and my DH had to do a lot more while I was pregnant and had PGP. He did nursery drop offs and pick ups, took DS out on bike / to park on non nursery days, did cooking and washing/clearing up... and was generally a bit of a hero. I did feel guilty at times but tried to remind myself that I was growing our baby which is a pretty big job!

Hang on in there. Pregnancy and PGP feels endless when you're in it but it will end! But do try and find the funds for osteo (or other manual therapy) if you can. I ended up seeing my osteo a lot and spending a fortune in total but it was worth every penny.

Thanks ladies - gives me confidence to mention to my midwife to see if I can get a referral to a physio. The ‘kicked in the crotch’ description sums it up exactly and I had thought pgp was more hips etc so I will def seek advice / intervention now if I can.

Yes pain can be in groin, hips, lower back (or all 3 )

Oh and tailbone, I've had a lot of pain there. I think in my first pregnancy it was more in my sacroiliac joints.

pelvicpartnership.org.uk/what-is-pgp-symptoms-of-pgp/

I have it too and it is almost all in the groin. It started when I was going on walks and has gradually got worse, intially I thought I had a swollen vagina but after looking it up online, I realised it was PGP. The worse is when I try and turn over on bed and transition on to my back, I feel like I'm going to be ripped in two!

My midwife recommended a support belt and I got one from Amazon, I do find it helps. I donzt wear it every day but can most definitely tell on days I haven't worn it.

Thanks for the link @NameChange30. Was your sacroiliac joint pain at the top of your bum? I’ve had real deep burning pain from one side of my upper bum/lower back- it’s got so bad and I’m just wondering if it’s this.

I did ask my midwife for a physio referral for back pain about a month ago due to long standing spinal issues- she said she’d do it but said not to hold my breath on anything happening before baby came (I’m not nearly 35 weeks). Just wondering whether it’s worth paying to see an osteopath privately ...

@BG1234
Yes, that's where it is. In fact I've just given the spot a rub/massage and it's still tender
It is most definitely worth paying to see an osteopath privately if you can find one who is recommended and who has experience of treating pregnant women.
pelvicpartnership.org.uk/recommended-practitioners/
(Do ask around though because my osteo is not on this list even though he is excellent and was recommended by lots of people.)

Yes, mine is a bit tender to the touch too. That’s great- there’s one listed near me so I might give that a try. Thanks!

Mine gives me the most gip when turning over in bed at night. It's become a full procedure 😂 slowly sitting up using my arms for support, gently turning, rearranging pregnancy pillow, slowly lowering myself back down again... I cannot WAIT to be able to roll over in bed again! And getting dressed... does anyone else really struggle to stand on one leg?!

@Sairafina yes on both counts! Looking at a lot of info online, standing on one leg is terrible for PGP and they recommend sitting to get dressed and it is a hundred times easier. I do sometimes forget though and try and get dressed as normal, the pain quickly reminds me to sit down!

I actually dread needing to turn over in bed, its such an ordeal. I feel like I've taken turning for granted my whole life!

Yes turning in bed is horrendously painful. I still struggle post pregnancy and I'm breastfeeding in bed too. I should point out my PGP went away almost immediately after DC1 was born so hopefully it will be the same for all of you (I've just been less lucky second time around).

And don't even attempt to stand on one leg. Sit on a bed or chair when getting dressed. At the end of pregnancy you'll probably need to sit anyway, PGP or not!

Ha cross post!

There is a Facebook group - search for Pelvic Partnership. Lots of advice and solidarity on there. Quite a few people recommend a Snoozle for turning over in bed. (I didn't get one myself because by the time I'd heard of it I was pretty much at my due date so it wasn't worth getting one.)

Standing on one leg is something to avoid at all costs. Sit on the bed or a chair to put on knickers and trousers.

Ha, triple cross-post.

Oh absolutely I've been sitting to get dressed! Sometimes in the morning I forget and attempt to put PJ shorts on in a pre-pregnancy fashion and quickly end up sitting back on the bed again 😂

So true about taking certain things for granted, getting out of a chair without saying 'oooffffff', lowering myself on to the loo without needing to take a deep breath first, getting out of the car unaided...

Sending loads of love to the OP - dealing with this whilst having an energetic 2 year old must be really tough

I won't have any more children because of PGP. By the time I had DS I was housebound and needed a wheelchair to get through the hospital. I had a support belt with helped a little but it wasn't fitted properly and ended up making things much worse. I did see an NHS physio who helped as much as he could but every time he put things back in the right place they didn't last long before it all went to pot. DS is 10 months now and things are a lot better but I still sleep with a pillow between my legs or I wake in the morning feeling like I've been kicked in the crotch. We also can't afford any private treatment but it's at a level where it doesn't really impact my life.

Really sorry to hear this, sounds like it's really severe and taking over your life ☹
I had PGP in my recent pregnancy where I started struggling to walk and getting in and out of bed was horrible. I had video consultation (due to covid) with a womans physio specialist, she gave me about an hours worth of exercises/stretches to do each day and it helped so much. I would say 80% of the pain was gone.
She also told me to relax back and 'mansplay' when sitting rather than upright with good posture.
There are a couple of womens health physios i follow on Instagram, they sometimes put up advice for PGP - Claire Bourne and bumps and burpees.
I really hope you can get some help with it xx