Pubic bone pain during and after pregnancy

[Pupuce]

Just wondered if any of you out there have experienced pubic bone pain during their pregnancy. I haven't seen a thread on it.
This is my 2nd pregnancy and it is worst than the first. I suffer from a mild form of a genetic disorder (called Ellers Danlos - only know this because my uncle is a geneticist... otherwise I would never have been diagnosed)... anyway it makes my ligaments EXTREMELY flexible and forces my muscles to hold my pelvis and cervix in place... the whole thing makes it very painful - burning and inflammation like pain on the pubic bone.
I have found ways to relieve the pain this time - last time no one could help me... "bear it" was the advice from the midwives "it's not that uncommon but there is little you can do about it".... this time : there was no way I'd go through this again... so a combination of osteopathy, life-force healing and reflexology seem to be doing the trick... Thank God !

Pupuce you poor thing it sounds dreadful.Have you tried one of those belt things,I think its called a sacro iliac joint support belt? Its a bit like a weight lifters belt and just gives you a bit of extra support to your pelvis.Ask for one on prescription.
Acupuncture is very good for pain control.
How much longer have you got to go?

Pupuce, I also sufferred bad pubic bone pain when pregnant. I also was told "it's just one of those things" by my GP, but one midwife recommended that I try yoga. I found that the specifically designed pre-natal yoga classes really helped it, along with the lower back pain I was also sufferring from. I'm glad you've found something to help as it can really be excruciating, can't it!?!

I had a similar pain during my two pregnancies. It still hasn't gone and the baby is now 9 months, osteopathy did relieve the pain but never got rid of it completely, good luck!

Thanks suew for the website - I had never come across it and it is good to see the disorder described like that. It is what I am suffering from but I tend to go for alternative therapies rather than conventional ones.
Boo321 : I have a belt but not one of those you suggested. The belt I have is mainly for carrying the weight of the baby (like a girdle) but it is a releif anyway.
Nw: I had pains for 6 months after my first pregnancy and could sometimes still feel it when I over did it. "Funnily enough" I realised I was pregnant the second time when I walked up a hill a bit too fast and started experiencing the pain ! This meant my hormones had kicked in again. Are you still breastfeeding : if you are - then it is not surprising that you are still in pain. If you are not than maybe you should try other therapies like life force healing which is :
Through his hands the LFH practitioner senses the disturbed patterns in the energy field flowing within the body. Reflecting those patterns back to the patient enables the body to correct itself at a fundamental level.
The physical body uses the energetic body as a blueprint for growth. Most traumas are resolved in time by natural healing processes. All traumas that are not resolved stay within the energetic body perpetuating the problem, whether it be physical, emotional or mental. LFH resolves traumas.

I have tried this several times and it really works. In my current condition (8 months pregnant) the osteopathy is most useful as the osteopath has taught my husband to massage my buttocks (in an amazingly and not particularly comfortable way). The massages are there to release the tension in my muscles – which are amazingly tense and hard as they need to support my pelvis (ligaments not doing their job anymore).

Thanks to all for your support.

Pupuce
I am also a very flexible person - don't think probably as bad as you. It was a huge boon as a child because I was loved ballet and gymnastics but it was hell during my pregnancy. I suffered really badly from SPD, sacroiliac pain and cripling sciatic pain. I also suffered badly afterwards too and it took 6 months for the SPD to disappear completely.
During my pregnancy I was treated by physios at my local hospital and they were hopeless. I found no relief at all and they gave me a big elastic belt thing and that was rubbish too. However, afterwards I found a manipulative physiotherapist and she was fantastic. These are physios who specialise in traditional physiotherapy techniques and don't just slap on the ultrasound machine. The relief was immediate and she had loads of really helpful tips as to how to relieve the pain myself.
Maybe you could try and find a good physio in your area and don't be fobbed off by anyone telling you that there is not much you can do about it as that is total nonsense.
Good luck.

I found a really good osteopath and he has tought my husband a few tricks/massages - and I must say that for the past week I have been 99% pain free - considering that there were nights when I could hardly sleep and almost cried out of pain on some days - this is heaven !
I find life-force healing a very good treatment as well but that's far less common so not everyone would be able to get treatment that way. I think for me the 2 combined are the solution.

I would also encourage women to try to find relief ... and if one doesn't work, try another one. Do not give up! I think we can all be helped but I wish midwives would be more proactive in suggesting relief rather than telling us "it will go away eventually"...

Bugsy, Suew, Chelle and Nw

Did you suffer from your sacrum at the very end of your pregnancy (very severe pain above the right hand side buttock), when the head was engaged ??? Because for the past 2 weeks I have been unable to walk (except to go to the loo). My due date has passed and according to the osteopath, the pain will go away once the baby is born.... it is all due to the same problem of very flexible ligaments.
Did your back pain also dissapear then ?

I have picked up this thread thanks to Pupuce's mention of it in a current discussion.
Don't think I have SPD because I have no pain at all in the pubic region.
I posted a couple of weeks ago about my achey hips but this has graduated to bad pain somewhere in the general region of my right buttock. There is no pain at all at rest, but walking is becoming extremely difficult as I have to walk really funny to avoid the pain ( or even have the strength to walk) and I have seven weeks still to go.
I went round Ikea tonight, had to sit on every sofa we passed (fortunatley plenty) and was shuffling like an old woman by the end of it.
In the past couple of days it has been very hard getting up off a chair and taking the first few steps. Going to the kitchen to get something for the kids is becoming a big deal. At this rate I can not see myself being able to walk at all in a few weeks time.
I was very interested to read Pupuce and Bugsy's comments about flexible ligaments. I too have very flexible ligaments ( could wrap my legs round the back of my neck, do the lotus position with knees flat on floor and other party tricks) and had wondered if this might be part of the problem.Do you think so?
Now some questions for those of you who have been there.
Can I do anything to help myself?
Is it likely to disappear when the baby is born?
Do I need to take any special precautions during labour?
Incidentally this is my third pregnancy in three years, I am 39 and did not have these problems last time while pregnant but had a very similar problem AFTER the first birth, except on the right hand side.
Thanks in anticipation.

I think you have SPD Jasper (even if it doesn't hurt your pubic bone).... what seems to be happening is that your ligaments in your pelvic area are not doing their job right (excuse my layman terminology!) and your buttock muscles are having to take over. I had the exact same problem. And I can do the same party tricks !! My osteopath taught DH to do a very simple sort of massage to my buttock to RELAX the muscle. It made a big difference.
I would highly recommend that you visit an experienced (with expecting mums) osteopath. You can fix this (I am pretty sure) no point in suffering in silence !!!!
I had pains for another 3 weeks after the birth mainly due to the inflammation of my pelvic area after all these problems.
I have to add that on top of these problems I have a tendency to have an "unshiftable pelvis" (again one of my layman terms : your pelvis will shift during labour to allow the head to pass... mine would not shift until the osteopath worked on it) and that made the last 2 weeks of my pregnancy hell but at least the weeks before were all right (as that had not been the case in my previous pregnancy).
I am not aware that you need to take any extra precaution but if you do go to the osteopath do have your pelvis checked - it needs to tilt/shift to the right before the birth !

I agree with Pupuce to find an osteopath and let them try and ease things. However, it does not sound like SPD, but Sacral Iliac problems. If you are bendy and on your third pregnancy then your ligaments are prob a little tired.

The buttock pain is prob where the sacral iliac ligaments are strechted offering less protection to your iliac nerve. This results in signals to your brain that register as pain, (the pain is prob not in your buttock but the nerve is being agitated at the point where it would register buttock pain).

The stretching results in distortion and calls upon other muscles to do things they shouldn't have to and everything is unhappy. An osteo should be able to restore some calmness (well, it worked for me).

Hope it's not too bad.

Thanks Pupuce and malmomum for the advice.
It is helpful to know I am not the only one who has had this problem and that the rest of you are now walking normally...you are, aren't you?!

Yes, fully functional now. It all settled back fine though I wear shoes down slightly more on the left foot rather than the right foot nowadays. Otherwise you wouldn't notice.

All the best. How long now?

I am also back to normal.... and I was better faster the 2nd time around- probably because I got help (I didn't the first time).

About six weeks, malmomum. Thanks for asking. I stopped work today

Hi Jasper,
I'd agree with Malmomum. It sounds like you have sacro-iliac joint problems. Hypermobility (ie very bendy stretchy ligaments) can be a definite disadvantage during pregnancy, because of the hormone relaxin. Its a ligament relaxer, and causes all of your joints to be that much sloppier.
I've been suffering some serious right buttock pain over the past couple of days thanks to some major unpacking after our house move. I too have hypermobile joints, and this is my third pregnancy, all in the past 3years (although only my 2nd went to term) and I'm currently 25 weeks gone. Its been worse this time around, mainly due to all of the lifting and carrying required for a 14month old, plus a house move, plus sloppier muscles from the previous pregnancies.
Self help tips I'd recommend are

1. try stretching the opposite side! Sounds odd, but often the painful SIJ is the really mobile one, trying to cope with a much stiffer SIJ on the opposite side. No-one is totally symmetrical afterall. Lay on the floor with knees bent. Cross your left ankle over your right knee and push the left knee out to the side (like a semi lotus position) If there's no stretch in your left butt, try pulling your right leg up towards you (left ankle still crossed over right knee). Alternatively in sitting, cross left ankle over right knee and push left knee out to the side. Then slowly lean forwards with a straight back trying to get your chest down towards your right thigh, bump allowing! Hold for 15-20 secs and repeat 5 times. Do similar stretch on right too but more gently. Dont push into pain. Also buttock clenches, maximal contraction results in maximal relaxation. Hold the squeeze for 15-20 secs and relax. Repeat 5-10 times. Finally, lay on your back with right knee drawn towards chest and left leg down. Get OH to push your right knee further towards your chest, but fight him doing so, so you push back. Build this up gradually, ie you push harder and he resists more, but your leg should stay static. Hold for 10 secs and repeat 5times. This should help your butt muscles to relax a little. (I think I'm right in thinking you said right buttock pain, aren't I? if not do the opposite to the above) Hope these all make sense!! I've written on another similar thread about this, ? achey hips?? Try to keep mobile but take regular breaks. Avoid too much lifting. Keep your knees together, ie getting into/out of a car. Reduce your stride length when walking. Try to tilt your pelvis back more in sitting and standing, as pregnancy tends to make you tip it forwards too far, which again places additional strain on your pelvis. Lower abdominal exercises (Jasper, I know you've given those a go) and pelvic floor exercises are useful too. On a positive note, my joints did get back to normal after pregnancy No2 but I found that it took 10-12 weeks (perhaps not aided by a c-section) and that I had to increase the demand on my muscles. ie everyday tasks werent doing it, so I went for long walks with ds in his baby bjorn and then later in his backpack. I too would recommend seeing a manipulative therapist, either physio or osteopath, who could help now, in prep for birth and again afterwards. Relaxin hormone is thought to hang around after birth for as long as 9-18months, which is why the pain may not go immediately after the baby is born, so give it time. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy and the new arrival. Rest up if such a thing is possible with 2 other smalls in tow!

Honeybunny whilst I won't contradict you - my experience has been that the work the osteopath did for me during my 2nd pregnancy made the pain go away MUCH faster after the pregnancy. The first time I was in pain for months after my baby was born but for the second birth it was only for 3 or 4 weeks... unbelievable to me !!!
Honeybunny - make an appointment with the osteopath I recommended it is not worth being in agony !!!

Thanks so much for your detailed exercises Honeybunny. I am going to print them out and do them. Mil is taking the kiddies tomorrow morning so I will have a bit of time to practice.
Like you this is my third in 3 years , due on dss third birthday and at my age, 39 , I think I may be asking a bit much of my body!
It is reassuring to hear some of you have had similar problems and have lived to walk again!

Jasper -how come you write at 2 in the morning ???? You are in Scotland aren't you ??? Can't sleep ???

Pupuce, thanks for concern. Self help still working for me though, so I'm delaying osteopath. Its the £££ signs that persuade me into taking things a bit slower. Enjoyed a really nice walk with ds to the "new" local park. He and I both loved it, and no pain for me, despite pushing a heavy pram up hills. Just a little out of breath, instead. Now enjoying a quiet sit down on this before getting on with my yoga tape. Don't worry, if my symptoms worsen, I'll be in touch immediately.
PS only a few more boxes to go!!!

Well spotted Pupuce!
Yes I am in Scotland,and have pregnancy induced insomnia. I usually manage to get a few hours starting at about 4 a.m. I am very fortunate in that DH is a sahd ( yours too, I believe)so in the morning I do not have to get up too early to look after the small people. Mind you I am usually awake quite early anyway.
I have found lying tossing and turning makes it worse so I occupy myself till my eyes begin to close. Mumsnet has been wonderful for this.

Well spotted you for remembering that I have a SAHH.... hope you get enough rest! Maybe getting off work will help you rest now... have you tried the hot bath, herbal teas, etc ???
I like Mumsnet sooooo much that I always log on before I go to bed !

I'm off for my hot bath right now. This is an early night for me!

Not sure if this is the same thing or something different - I'm 26 wks tomorrow and have chronic pain deep in my pelvis to the point that it's now waking me up and any sort of walking is crippling. I saw my midwife today after last night and she thinks that I have sublaxation of my pelvis - again it's hormone induced and apparently to be expected in subsequent pregnancies but not as early as this and it's been going on for a few weeks. Sometimes I can feel bits of my pelvis rubbing together when I walk (where the baby is can make a difference); I'm being referred for an urgent physio appointment to have a belt fitted and will then be monitored. Is there anything else which would help - I'm not very clear on how massage or physio could help?

Thanks!

Well Honeybunny could help here.... but she seems to have disappeared... What I can tell you from personal experience and having spoken to several sufferers and therapists... you are likely to get better results with an osteopath (Honeybunny is a physio and went to an osteopath for this problem !)
Osteopaths are usually private and 30gbp a visit but IMO it's worth every penny. Get one which sepcialises in pregnant mums.
Good luck