Pregnancy pain - any tips?

[kallia]

I'm 10 weeks pregnant (27 and first pregnancy), and in a lot of pain. Stabbing pains in ovaries, bad cramping, and now a heavy ache in my hips and pelvis which makes walking agonizing.

I've spoken to two midwives and my GP, all have brushed it off as "normal pregnancy symptoms" (no bleeding so they're not worried about the baby) and one midwife told me to try a hot water bottle "if it gets unbearable". But the pain is horrendous: I've not slept properly in weeks due to the pain, don't feel like eating anything (lost 6 pounds since I became pregnant), and don't have any motivation to do anything. Paracetamol doesn't even take the edge off. I've just been lying in bed and crying from the pain. Feel like such a wimp.

Does anyone have any tips as to how to ease the pain? I'm only 10 weeks and have no idea how I'm going to manage the rest of the pregnancy. Thought I might try acupuncture, does anyone have any experience of this?

I feel you... I have sacroiliac joint pain (around tailbone basically). Was on and off for a few weeks from week 11, but now at 28 weeks it's just constant and so depressing! Ended up crying to my DH about it last week as it's just relentless. Went and begged the pharmacist for painkillers only to be offered a sodding hot water bottle!

Only things that have helped: lying on back (bad I know), hot water bottle on back (a little), not carrying anything heavy / making twisting movements, seeing a chiropracter.

What hasn't helped: stretching (made it much worse), ignoring it, paracetamol

@kallia
I feel so sorry for you! I had the same issues when I was about your week.. it might not be groundbreaking tips, but these moderately helped me...
For the sciatica, I would sit on a tennis ball and almost roll it around both bum cheeks. So if I was sat at the dinner table, I'd always have the tennis ball underneath doing its job!
I have pelvic girdle pain, some days I can hardly walk - I was recommended the blow up exercise ball that you sit on and so I do ten mins a night on it. There are really good exercise tips on YouTube.
Crossing your legs makes pelvic pain worse - so try to stop that!
Both of the above won't make it go, but I have notice the difference.
Good luck! X

Thanks ladies, SO glad I'm not the only one!!! I will definitely try the tennis ball and think I need to get myself a blowup exercise ball, lots of people swear by it for all sorts of pain. I feel like I'm developing a pregnancy waddle about 5 months early! Hopefully it isn't here to stay, but it does sound like I'm in it for the long haul...

Look at the pelvic partnership website now and don't dismiss the tips as being ott (like the carrier bag on seat of the car).
You've got to adapt now and make adjustments or you're going to find it really tough at the end.
Physio can help but they need to know it's SPD/ PGP so they can choose exercises that don't exacerbate the condition.