My hips, my God, the pain! Is this normal?

[Grace24]

I couldn't sleep all night... started with a pinching sensation in my pubic bone and it spread all over my bum and low back, and then a muscle spasm in my leg... I was up and down all night rubbing traumeil on my bum... finally found the heating pad which helped a lot and I was able to get SOME sleep. Walking aggravates it really badly. Is this just regular hip widening pain or does it sound like something is out of wack? Anyone having this?

[Da WIC Lady]

It's called sciatica. The sciatic nerve gets pinched either by muscle tension or the weight of the baby, or the shifting of the pubic bones, or a combination of those. I've had it since I was pregnant with DD and she just turned 2. I found that doing lateral leg lifts while standing at the sink. Also sitting with my feet together in the butterfly position helps. I usually have to switch sides in the middle of the night because of the pain in my left hip.

Anna

[superfastreader]

I just started seeing a chiropractor for a similar complaint. My pain has been off & on, but when it's on, I can barely walk & the pain in my hips wakes me up. Mine is not nerve pain (I think), it's all the relaxin moving my sacrum out of place which then affects everything else.

She recommended arnica gel, which I've been slathering on liberally. Also icing the area.

Good luck... I feel your pain :

[Grace24]

Yeah, it feels more like the second one than the sciatic, although that could be mixed in there too. I had that earlier in the pregnancy. This just feels like all my bones are moving. Ow. I'll go see my chiro again next week (I have to pay out of pocket)... it's worth the $$ tho when I really need him.

[scheelimama]

Sounds miserable. I've been lucky that the sciatica has all but disappeared in the last week or two. I spent as much time as possible at the pool before it closed on Labor Day and I have prenatal yoga once a week. Between the two, it's helped so much. And I rarely have any trouble sleeping, but I sleep on my back most of the night (with a body pillow under one side of me, so I'm not totally flat), I think that helps a lot. I hate sleeping on my side, it kills my hips.

[Lexi_029]

I feel for you. I have both sciatica and pelvic pain/hip pain that keeps me up at night.

[xelakann]

Me too!

I do massage and chiropractic work as well as acupuncture. To be honest I haven't had a lot of relief, some days are better than others-- some days are down-right wonderful, but mostly I'm in pain and can't hardly sleep at night.

I have heard SI belts help to... they can keep your hips together when you move. I haven't tried it, I am feeling a bit defeated : ... my doula is going to start giving me free weekly massages, while I continue to see the massage therapist and chiropractor so I get bi weekly treatments up until I birth.

Yes, it is that bad for me.

Good luck!

[Grace24]

I'm sorry you ladies are feeling it too! I get massage every week but it doesn't seem to help this too much. I think the swimming and yoga will help. I'm going to join the community rec center tomorrow so I can start swimming again.

I've been sore today but it seems a little better... til those shooting pains in my pubic bone started again. : I'll go see my chiro this week, but I have a feeling that the only permanent answer is going to be having the baby.

Thanks for your responses.

[Curlita]

I'll second the prenatal yoga and massage suggestions... hopefully this is a temporary twinge rather than the status quo for the rest of the pregnancy! Take care of yourself!

[*Lindsey*]

Feeling lots of pubic bone and hip pain here. Sleeping is nearly a joke. I'm lucky to get 5-6 hours in anymore.