Will hip pain get worse later? 😢

[theprincessthepea]

I’m barely halfway through my second pregnancy (18 weeks).

My first was a breeze - zero symptoms, not even a craving.

Whereas I had a terrible first trimester this time and seem to have horrible hip/pelvic pain (probably PGP) throughout the second.

I feel:

• A constant dull pain in my lower abdomen that doesn’t go away but I’m getting used to it
• I get tired after walking for 20 minutes and find myself using an Uber if I have had a long day (the exhaustion) and usually to avoid rush hour
• If I spend lots of time on my feet or walking around (as my job sometimes requires external meetings) the next day I feel like I’ve done a full body work out. My body aches and it’s painful to get out of bed or move too fast
• Putting on trousers (or anything where I have to raise my knee past a point) is very painful I have to lie flat and slide them on
• Im limping - a few friends have asked why and all I can say is “pregnancy symptom”
• I make that grunting noise when I get up because it has a toll on me
• Body feels stiff when I’m sitting for long as if muscles have locked

I am wearing a pregnancy belt - usually at home. That eases the pain for that day.

Im lucky enough to work from home for half of the week.

Midwife says it’s normal and I’ve been referred for Physio

Will this get worse? How will I get through the end of pregnancy when I spend half the day alone at home generally in pain.

Shocked at how little info there is on the internet.

Has anyone else had this?

I had awful PGP start at about 18 weeks and thought I was cursed with it until the end, but one day it just vanished. I don't know why, other than I found a better sleeping position (on my back but propped up, pillow under my knees). I now find that it creeps back if I walk a lot in a day but I can more or less keep it under control. Stress makes it much worse.

Are you generally quite fit? If so, physio might not be the solution. I found osteopathy to be much more helpful, but every body is different so try anything/ everything.

I recommend a chiropractor if you can afford to go private. Kept me mobile! You have my sympathy though as it's not normal in the sense that it happens to everyone. Normal doesn't mean you should have to live with it either.

I hear you. That’s where I’m at now. It was like this with my second pregnancy and it started earlier this time. And I agree - it’s not talked about much!

Don’t lift if you can help it. I found - both last time and this time - that the single most predictable trigger for that intense pelvic pain is lifting something. Anything. Grocery bag, vacuum cleaner, toddler, heavy pot of soup, medium sized laundry basket. Last time, we took our toddler’s highchair apart so it sat directly on the floor and he could get himself in and out. This time I’m trying so hard to avoid lifting things.

My doctor highly recommended physical therapy; it’s out of pocket for us though so I haven’t been able to yet (but had an incredibly positive experience with it for other issues previously!).

Try to see if you can link any dietary habits to the intensity of your discomfort. I’ve noticed that how much I’m hydrated, if a bowel movement is imminent, etc. does make a difference. (Dehydration seems to make it much worse.)

Other than that (and a slim, foldable squishy scrunchable pillow to lean your lower body on at night!)… you have my sympathy!

@Thankyouthankyoujellybean I would say I’m generally quite fit. I wear a size 10 and I am very active so this is a shock to my lifestyle! I was told you can continue exercising and decided jog for 10 minutes a few weeks ago - that was a huge mistake! I’m hoping that it does go away.

@MabelQ thanks for the tips. Lifting definitely triggers it. Sometimes just wheeling a suitcase hurts. I guess I just have to take it easy for once. I will also pay attention to diet.

@Isthisexpected I agree. I have found more help asking on forums. The only thing my midwife said is “keep moving about”.

I felt awful with pelvic and hip pain in my first pregnancy but with the sending I saw a chiropractor every 6 weeks or so and I didn't get it at all. Maybe worth a try?

Ok, essay incoming:

Generally with PGP it is assumed that the bum is not strong enough to support everything and keep it all in place, so physio is prescribed. I cycle, swim, squat, do yoga etc and generally have buns of steel, but I also have one overactive muscle that gets stressed and pulls everything out of place. I've had this when not pregnant, but obviously pregnancy makes it even worse, with all the ligaments loosening.

The first time I had it I was prescribed physio which involved strengthening exercises with reps on each side. This made the problem much worse and was agony to attempt, as I was working the bad side even harder. The physio claimed it sometimes had to get worse before getting better, and she may have been right, but I couldn't put myself through it.

Next I went to an osteopath, who worked to relax the muscle that was causing an issue and then slotted everything back into place. Only at that point did he give me exercises to do. They were more gentle and evenly balanced than the physio's ones and the whole process was like magic.

The best thing you can do right now is try to work out what's going on with you and don't give up - try everything until you find what works.