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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Pelvic Girdle Pain

22 replies

SubParbanMum · 01/08/2021 20:20

Hi,

Hoping for some advice from anyone who’s has PGP. I got it quite early on, hip pain in my right hip but nothing too terrible but the last few days I’ve had stabbing pain, right in the middle of my pubic bone at the front. Especially bad when I stand up and then if I turn or start walking. It dies down after a bit but it’s agony.

If you’ve had / have this, is there anything I can do to help? Already have a pregnancy pillow etc. And seeing my midwife on Friday so I’ll ask then.

Thanks!

OP posts:

romdowa · 01/08/2021 20:22

Ask to see physio , I've been given a support belt and some exercises to do. I've also been given advice about walking , so no hills and wearing supportive shoes. Also a pillow at night between my knees helps as well.

Tee20x · 01/08/2021 20:23

I had it when I was pregnant and was told that normally they would have referred to physio but they weren't taking anyone new due to covid .

I was suggested things like putting a plastic bag on car seats so I could sort of slide out & keeping my legs together when getting out of bed etc.

Can literally remember the sound of my legs cracking & the pain - hopefully you manage to see someone about it!

ElmtreeMama · 01/08/2021 20:24

It's horrendous isn't it!!
I have bought a snoozle to help me turn in bed and that helps.
Also pillow between legs
And just accepting you can't do much :(

physicskate · 01/08/2021 20:27

Lots of tips (including treatment options) on the pelvic partnership website. This is your new bible: study it well.

Good luck.

BlairWaldorfLovesShopping · 01/08/2021 20:29

I had it quite badly in my first pregnancy from about week 13. Spoke to midwife, referred to NHS physio, went to a group session and then was looked at one on one by an NHS physio for about 10 minutes. Useless lol. I started seeing a private physio down the road from my house, she was ok then I switched to a different one at the same practice who is a women’s health physio and had recently had a baby. It was a game changer and I saw her every 2 weeks for the rest of my pregnancy. I was still in pain but it was manageable.

I’m pregnant again (19 weeks) and I was much more wary this time around, and have managed to not trigger the PGP, though I can feel it waiting to happen. If I walk for more than 10 minutes it starts to hurt, so I don’t. I have to take much smaller steps so the range of movement when I’m walking is less. I’ve managed to avoid seeing my physio so far but would book straight in if it gets any worse.

Things you can do to stop it getting worse:
Legs together and swivel to get out of the car (don’t twist)
Don’t push or pull anything heavy like trolleys, wheelie bins
Do squats to strengthen the muscles around the pelvis (but make sure you’re doing them properly)

I feel for you, and hope it doesn’t get worse

Original poster

SubParbanMum · 01/08/2021 20:42

Wow, thank you everyone. I really wasn’t expecting so many great replies.

I’ll use that website as my bedtime reading tonight.

Yes, really wondering about physio waitlists so may have to go private.

Did it stop immediately after birth for you (who have already had their babies)?

Thank you all again.

OP posts:

jakeyboy1 · 01/08/2021 21:17

Hi I had it both times and was referred for hydrotherapy which helped. With my first it took a few weeks to clear up after birth but with my second it went quite quick.

Chelyanne · 01/08/2021 21:35

4th pregnancy with it.
It may sound like complete madness but continuing with my powerlifting in the gym made it much more manageable this pregnancy. Stopped lifting before turning 36wk as baby got very low down in my pelvis and the hip pain is now horrendous, thankfully got just over a week to go to my elcs though.

Glitterazzi · 01/08/2021 22:03

I had PGP really bad in my second pregnancy, exactly as you describe. I found acupuncture helped me a lot. I was on crutches before starting the course, I didn't need them after the second session. It wasn't a miracle as I still had pain but it just seemed to align me better and made it more bearable.

allgearnoideax · 01/08/2021 22:49

Please try and see a physio! I started suffering really early on and was put on a waiting list, got offered an appointment once but I was unable to accept it due to isolating and was never offered another. I am now days (hopefully) away from giving birth and in soooooo much pain I really regret not chasing up another appointment or even going private!

JackJack84 · 01/08/2021 23:24

Such a shame you can't get a physio referral where you are, I feel like if men had babies there'd be so much more research, support & help! I got referred at 20 weeks & saw a physio at 23 weeks thankfully. I'm now on crutches as I can't physically walk without them & she's given me some exercises which I do feel help with the pain temporarily.

Definitely the pelvic partnership website is a great source of information, wish the NHS would take on board their expertise. I've made a private appointment with a chiropractor as I know misalignment is a big factor in my PGP. Good luck & you're not alone x

Original poster

SubParbanMum · 02/08/2021 10:25

@Chelyanne
Good luck for your ELCS. Hoping your pain goes really quickly after birth.

Thanks for recommending pelvic partnership - it’s an amazing resource. Already just the way I’m sitting and moving is helping.

Just been told that the nhs wait list for physio is weeks and weeks but very lucky to have private medical through work and am being triaged for treatment this afternoon.

I’m so surprised but the suddenness of it and just don’t think you can even describe the pain to people, it’s honestly takes my breath away if I move in a particular way. I feel so awful for the women who can’t or haven’t got help with it.

Wishing you all speedy recoveries!

OP posts:

BlairWaldorfLovesShopping · 02/08/2021 13:26

Really glad to hear you can get help through your work OP. I think the wait for the NHS physio for me was 6 weeks but who knows what has happened since Covid.

FWIW my pelvic pain did go away very soon after giving birth, although strangely my ankles and wrists took longer to tighten back up, and I had to wear a wrist splint in bed for carpal tunnel pain for a few months after giving birth! Who'd have a baby eh :)

Original poster

SubParbanMum · 04/08/2021 15:19

Hi everyone, thanks again for the advice.

Had my first physio today which I think went well - she diagnosed the pain and the cause (weak pelvic floor). There wasn’t much manual hands on work but just a series of exercises I need to practise. Does that sound similar to what you had?

I guess I was hoping for a quick fix but no luck there!

OP posts:

JackJack84 · 04/08/2021 15:33

That sounds the same as my appointment last week. In my experience the NHS tend not to do manual therapy even though it's recommended by the pelvic partnership. I've made a private appointment as I feel like I need something more than exercises.

Bladette84 · 04/08/2021 16:46

I’m waiting on a physio referral for mine but been doing Pilates to work on pelvic floor and stablising my hips which has been helping

doadeer · 04/08/2021 16:48

Carry on your exercises post birth and look at post natal pilates so stabilise your pelvis

Original poster

SubParbanMum · 04/08/2021 16:54

Thanks again. Mine was private and she was great I think I’m just disappointed I have to put in the hard work

Hoping you all improve and start to feel better.

OP posts:

Cookofcastamar · 04/08/2021 17:16

@SubParbanMum you should see an osteopath or a physio that does dry needling as either helps a lot. Mine started at 9 weeks, I remember sitting in the osteopath room saying I think I have pgp and him confirming. I used my health insurance while waiting for hospital referral (Ireland). My referral came through at16 weeks and I saw the physio from early jan this year until last week when she discharged me (baby was born end of May). Due to covid my physio appointments were only 15 mins lo g but they still helped. Physio gave me a 'tube' to wear under my clothes for support and as my bump got bigger she gave me bigger sizes. I also got this pregnancy support belt from Lola &Lykke lolalykke.com and I used to wear it on top of the tube at home for extra support. I literally did no exercise as I was in so much pain I finished work at 31 weeks. I had two pregnancies before up to 42 weeks and never had this and I exercised on both. Pretty much what has been said; no vacuuming, heavy lifting, pushing trolley, sex (well that involves spreading your legs). Hot water bottle on the side and paracetamol combined with physio helped. Hope you find a solution soon, I feel your pain.x

physicskate · 04/08/2021 17:29

My osteopath kept me off crutches for the second pregnancy. I was on crutches at 25 weeks with the first and housebound by 31 weeks.

I saw her 6 months postpartum and she was sad to hear I'd been told by mw during first pregnancy that nothing could be done during pregnancy. I had two sessions then and was fine. All just manual therapy.

Then when I got pregnant for the second time, I felt all the things from about 8/9 weeks. Starting seeing osteopath at about 13 weeks. Saw her every 2-3 weeks.

Like I said, she kept me off crutches. By the time I had ds, I could still walk into the hospital and down the corridors, etc. Don't get me wrong, I still had pain and walked as little as possible to preserve myself, but I could go into a shop, I could function. With dd, I couldn't.

All manual therapy. I have hyper mobility....

Original poster

SubParbanMum · 04/08/2021 18:53

Wow @physicskate that is so awful you weren’t advised. And to be on crutches and house bound so early. Really pleased you got it managed properly with pregnancy no2.

Thanks @Cookofcastamar I’ll have a look at dry needling and the bands. So odd it came on your 3rd pregnancy. Could they explain why?

OP posts:

cookofcastamar · 10/08/2021 22:52

@SubParbanMum apologies I never replied. My physio put it down to ligaments being very loose due to pregnancy. Could also be related to a bike fall I had five years ago where I damaged my cruciate ligaments. But after baby was born it pretty much went away.

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