Pelvic girdle pain

[Psychick]

Have any of you experienced this, or know of someone who has? I was wondering what their symptoms were, who they went to to get it diagnosed (doctor or midwife) and how it was treated.
After a chat with a friend of mine today, she thinks this is the reason I am suffering so much pain, especially so early on. I had never heard of it, but having read up about it now, it seems very likely it is the cause of my problems. I dont see my midwife for another month and the only time I can call her is between 8-9 am which is when Im busy getting my daughter ready and off to school. I did mention the pains to my doctor a couple of weeks ago but he just said he didnt know why and it was left at that.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance and sorry if Im slow checking for answers, AB is extremely slow for me today!

[bigmamma]

Sorry I have only just seen you asking as I was having a shower.
Well love , lets see.....pelvic girdle pain can start fairly early in pregnancy and is usually easy to diagnose. Apart from rest though there isn't a lot you can do for it.
Is your pain mostly situated around the pubis and is that area tender to the touch ? Do you find it hurts to lift your leg , and do you hurt in the hips and down your legs ?
This is because of the changes in your hormones , one called relaxin is doing just as it sounds by sofening the pelvic floor and the pelvic ligaments ready for birth.This causes movement of the pelvic joints , which as you know is painful.
Your midwife who is looking after you will be able to tell you for sure if that is what you are suffering with and she may tell you if you can get any pain releif safely .
Is this helping at all sweetheart ? :- ) xxx

[bigmamma]

softening*....relief*

[daffy654]

Have a look here psychick
http://www.physiosupplies.com/acatalog/Materni ty_Belts_and_Maternity_Supports.html
You may find something that would help to relieve the pain you're having.

[bigmamma]

It may help in bed btw if you pop a pillow between your legs when lying on your side. :-) xxx

[Psychick]

Sorry I couldnt reply last night, answerbank really isnt being nice to me and Im still having problems now!

Thank for your answers! I spoke to my midwife this morning and she agrees with it. Im now waiting for a call from a physiotherapist who will advise me on the do's and dont's, give me some excercises to help as well as a support belt like those in your link Daffy. Bigmamma I had slept with a pillow between my legs the night before but found it didnt make any difference. However, last night I propped myself up with pillows, as well as one under my knees, and despite having trouble sleeping sat up, the pain was a lot better. So it looks as if I have to wait til after the birth to lay down again! lol Just like I couldnt lay down when I had my daughter. But the pain wasnt as bad and I just accepted it was part of being pregnant!

Thanks again :)

[bigmamma]

Pleased you spoke to your midwife Psychick and that you will be able to get first hand advice and practical help from a physio.. Let me know how you get on :-) xxx

[redcrx]

ouch psychick, sounds painful.

Ive had a lot more aches and pains this time around and when i stand up from sitting i get pains in my bum cheeks which someone did try and tell me was Pelvic girdle. It goes off after a few mins though so im not concerned.

I hope you get some help and some results xx

[pixie_woo]

Hi Psychick

Sorry you're feeling under the weather.

I developed SPD really late in my pregnancy so I can fully empathise with just how uncomfortable and even painful it is. If the pain is bad then the MW may refer you to a physio.

The MW gave me a technique to make getting from lying down to standing up less painful; I'll try to explain...
Lie on your back and slowly raise your knees so your feet are flat on bed. Perform a pelvic tilt and while holding that position roll your shoulders towards the edge of the bed. Follow the movement with your hips. Push yourself into a sitting position using your lower arm and gently swing your legs off the bed. Brace your hands against your knees and slowly stand.

I hope this helps. Good luck with rest of preg x

p.s I still haven't heard anything from you via your partners account on facebook. Look up Liz Woolhead and drop me a line x

[Psychick]

Hi Bigmamma, will keep you posted :)

Hi redcrx, I call that numb bum syndrome lol Its all that extra weight on our delicate little derieres that causes it!

HI pixie, how is everything? I totally forgot about the facebook thing, Im sorry. I will get him to look for you on there later, or I may even start up an account for myself! Thanks for the tip, getting out of bed is one of the hardest things for me at though moment so thats greatly appreciated :)

[natalie_1982]

Hi Psy, sorry to hear you're having a crappy time of it. My friend is 17weeks and is expecting twins and she is expecting to be diagnosed with this tomorrow. She phoned NHS Direct over the weekend and managed to get an appt with GP tomorrow, she can't even lift her leg, poor cow. The thing is we work on the 4th floor of a listed building which isn't allowed to have a lift installed so she is likely going to be signed off for the rest of the pregnancy as she is having trouble walking without pain let alone climbing four flights of stairs! I can't add much more than that really, hopefully after I have spoken to her tomorrow I will be able to tell you a bit more!

P.S. Sadly I have never had a delicate derriere :-P

[spanner7853]

Hi Psychick

You probably have SPD Simphisis Pubis Disfunction, a softening of the ligaments. I have it and that's why I am always whining on Answerbank that I am in pain 24/7. It is excrutiating and in severe cases people are given crutches. I have 1 week 5 days to go and I have had this for about 4 months now. Trouble is once you have had it it is likely to come back with future children (I had it with my son). I have attached a link have a read ans see if they are the symptoms you have. The doctors can previde pain relief but for me I can't take codeine which is what pain killers have in it mostly.
http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/antenata lhealth/physicalhealth/pelvicpain/#2

[Psychick]

HI natalie, how is your friend? Was she diagnosed with this and if so, what is her treatment if any. Im still waiting to hear from the pysiotherapist so getting nowhere! :(

Hi Spanner, thats the site where I found out about it lol Ive used that site since I found out I was pregnant.........its a good one isnt it?

Im hoping though its not as severe as that but its not looking good. Until I finally get to see a physio, I wont know for sure either way. I have this for over a month already and its getting worse literally by the day :( I think I did have it with my daughter 6years ago, but it wasnt as bad and I just thought it was a part of being pregnant so never enquired about it....wish I had now! lol

1 wekk and 5 days!! Good luck :)

P.S. natalie, we're female.....we all have delicate derriers lol