Pain in hip/bum

[Just-hanging]

Hi all

This is my second pregnancy (16 weeks) and during my first I had really bad pelvic pain. I was referred to physio but way to late. This time I have horrendous pain in my lower hip/ side of bum. Has anyone had this? It’s on the right side and I find it hurts mostly when I’ve been leaning/laying on my left side or getting out of bed.

I am seeing my midwife on Monday and will book a GP appointment. But until then does anyone have any advice? I try gentle stretches to help the pain but it’s not helping.

Thanks

[2020bluesky]

I have deep right butt and hip pain. Dr's tell me I have Obturator Internus myofascial pain. I have been to 5 PT's and it never helps. No one can get to the root cause. I had to quit my job and have been to loads and loads of doctors. Nothing helps. I exercise and it helps to walk but the pain comes back every night no matter what i do. Just wondering if your pain is from the Obturator Internus as well...

[Hidden]

Spd or pgp can be linked to weak glutes and thigh muscles. Find a local pregnancy Pilates instructor and they can help you with exercises to strengthen those muscles. Seeing an osteopath who is qualified to treat pregnant women could help too, because your hips might be out of alignment, they use gentle manipulation to adjust your body. I was still getting occasional pubic symphysis pain until last November (my youngest is 5 years old), I finally went to an osteopath about it and I haven't had any pain there since.

[Wondering20]

Hi Just-hanging,

Sorry to hear you are having such bad pains again this second time around. I really sympathise as I’ve also had really bad pain in the same areas (PGP) - through my first and this pregnancy (34w so not long now) - and also at the front of my pelvis. At the moment I’ve got a trapped nerve in my lower back too (which just started yesterday!)

The good news is that I have been managing the pain and although I’ve not ever been pain-free for the last four months, it hasn’t got terribly worse and that’s the best I can hope for while I’m carrying this baby. I hope some of what I’ve learnt will help you!

NB I have hypermobility- flexible joints - which is made harder to manage in pregnancy due to the increase and changes in hormones. I’ve been seeing an experienced Osteopath every ten days and do reformer Pilates once a week to “hold myself together” quite literally.

A few things for you to try, some of which you probably already do/know about....

- Always ‘fire’ your pelvic floor before you move, especially when getting up

- keep your knees together and rotate on your bottom when you get out of a seat/vehicles/bed etc

- be aware of your posture and don’t sit in lounge positions... try to keep your knees lower than your hips when you sit (exercise ball is great for this but do buy the correct size for your height)

- sleep with a pillow between your knees and ankles, and under your bump if you can. Ive found that a huge banana shaped one works best for me as I can push it under my bump too (stopping mid back pain in the last trimester)

- A warm shower down my back really helps me release any tension from back/bottom/hip muscles and tendons.

- Visit an osteopath who has experience treating pregnant women. They will free-up any tight muscles which might be pulling your pelvis out of alignment. I’ve found that when my baby is lying on the right side I have pain on my left at the front and back at the right, and vice versa if she swaps sides!

- Invest in a Serola belt to support your hips; I was hesitant about this at first as in my first pregnancy I purchased a maternity support belt and the pain I experienced just moved up to another part of my back when I wore it. However, the Serola was recommended to me by my osteopath so I gave it a go and it really works! It’s great because it sits on your hips (under your bump) and it keeps your pelvis in correct alignment, and if you have to walk or stand for a length of time you can tighten it very easily at the sides to offer more support. It’s also extremely easy to put on - not like the previous belt I had tried (which was in three parts and required a manual to work out every time I put it on). It’s made by an American company and the branding is quite masculine, not geared at all to pregnancy, but don’t let that put you off. You can buy them easily on amazon for around £25-£30. I bought an L to allow for wearing at a slight angle under bump though I would have usually been an M. It’s been brilliant!

- Try some gentle cat stretches, inversions (look at ‘spinning babies’ website for lots of info on this) and ‘tail swishes’ on an exercise ball. If I breathe correctly I find I can relax in these positions and sometimes it will ease the pains in my lower back, especially if you have a trapped nerve that is twinging.

Apologies for the lengthy reply - I really hope some of this might be helpful and you feel better soon! X x