Is it actually normal to hurt this much?

[user6776]

I'm 24 weeks and the lower back pain is horrendous. Horrible sharp pains that shoot down my legs, I genuinely can't walk properly without hunching over and shuffling.

I can't endure another 16 weeks of this and I can imagine it's only going to get worse. I can barely get anything done without being in agony and I have a 4 year old to run around after.

Can anybody suggest anything that will ease it? Paracetamol just doesn't cut it and I don't want to try anything stronger to be honest. Help!

This was me last week (I'm now 28w). I genuinely wondered if I'd ever walk properly again. I saw an osteopath and it's been night and day really with the pain. I'm still a bit sore and stiff, but I'm no longer struggling.

Do you have PGP?
Mine was horrendous with ds and I was put on crutches from 24wk when after 3 weeks of suffering I literally couldn't lift my legs for the burning pains to walk 5 metres
It started in my lower back and moved to the top of my thighs
I had immediate relief after giving birth

No it's not normal. You need manual therapy from a physiotherapist or osteopath specialising in Pelvic Girdle Pain. You can also call the Pelvic Partnership charity help line and have a look on their website.

I had bad pelvic girdle pain at this time too. My coccyx hurt so much!!
I thought it would be til the end but it actually cleared up with some gentle 'exercises'/rolling around on the floor.
Take paracetamol and don't push your body too hard xx

If I speak to my midwife can she refer me for physio or some other treatment? Won't there be a long waiting list?

I just really hope it doesn't get any worse from this point. Maternity leave is so far away and I'm still expected to travel into the office 3 days a week

No it’s not normal you need referral for urgent help and support asap

(nb it’s urgent because pain is uncomfortable for you: not urgent for your baby’s wellbeing)

You need an osteopath that specialises in pregnancy. I would go private. Pgp pain sucks! A pelvic girls brace may help but the osteopath was the best

Can you WFH? I'm not sure how long a midwife referral would take - I was that desperate I found an osteopath online and paid for an appointment. But at the very least you can get a GP/midwife note to say you need to wfh for the next couple of weeks while you get some help. As long as you can do your job from home you should haven't to go into sick pay

My pelvic pain was different, but the physiotherapist was close to miraculous! I hobbled in and walked out. I only waited about 10 days for my appointment too.
It's got to be worth a try OP.

Other things that helped were a billion pillows at night behind my back and between my knees, and a duvet under the sheet to make my bed super soft.

Sounds like SPD (also known as pelvic girdle). Your midwife should be able to refer you to a pregnancy specific physio, so it's not like months and months wait.

They can give you exercises but also might look at a support belt and / or crutches. Some pregnancy pillows are designed specifically to help SPD so worth having a google if you have pain at night.

Try to engage your pelvic floor when standing / sitting, sit down to get dressed (don't stand on one leg), and keep your knees together and swing your legs together when trying to get out of bed etc. Quite a few tips online, but really it's just about managing pain til childbirth 😢 There are things you can do though 💐

Osteopath, physio, deep tissue massage, they all help.

My midwife referred me to physio and my gp did too. I was seen in 2 weeks (in london). Push it with them!
Pain is so horrible!
It did get better with me, you fingers crossed for you.
I think my gp also prescribed some stronger pain relief which was fine for pregnancy.
I restricted the amount of physical activity i did, including how far i walked each day and it really helped (i was commuting 4 days into london in a manual handling job), the rest i gave my body really helped. If you need to, restrict your work tasks, they can do you a maternity risk assessment. X