Pelvic girdle pain and sciatica

vkyoung

This is my first pregnancy. I’ve been oh so lucky to get the worst sciatic pain starting at 10 weeks. Mind you, I was a mechanic who worked on heavy mine equipment so I had a very physically demanding job. At 15 weeks I finally got my employer to put me behind a desk and do computer work. My second trimester was still filled with sciatic and pelvic pain. I’m 30 weeks now. The pelvic pain has increased greatly. And I mean GREATLY. Hurts to roll over in bed. Hurts getting out of a car. Hurts to sit at this desk and work 10 hour shifts. I’ve been to chiro, physical therapy and massage. No one helped. Has there been anyone with intense pelvic pain that was able to get an approved medication by obgyn that was safe during pregnancy? I was going to make an appointment and ask. I’m very close to taking my fmla right now cause I can’t deal with this anymore. But I’m gonna screw myself if I take fmla right now, cause I need that time for AFTER the baby is born

babykicks11

I've had PGP for nearly two months or so now, and it's awful. There are some suggestions I've find that have helped, but there are some days the pain just decides to do it's own thing. 

I'm assuming you have done this already, but in case not, a couple things I have find that help are: 
1. Sleep with pillow under pelvic area and a big pillow in between legs (I basically wrap my maternity pillow into a 2ft thick donut). This gives me a lot of relief so the next day starts fresh. Rolling in bed is still excruciating. 

2. Squats, focused on stretching the pelvic/hip area. Not using weights, and even holding into something so you can just focus on going lower and holding it. This is one of the best stretches I've found. 

3. Pelvic tilts/stretching, whether on all fours, edge of a chair, or standing. Doing this on all fours helps strengthen the abdominal and back area. While not directly providing relief (do these at night because they can sometimes exacerbate the PGP), I think the strengthening has given me some relief.

4. Pelvic/hip rotations - I usually do this standing because I don't have a birthing ball. This hurts too, but I'm finding that a lot of my muscles are very tight, which makes the instability worse, so this stretch can help. 

5. If massage isn't already doing this, rolling out your glutes (with a roller or a tennis ball), helps again with if there are tight muscles contributing. Tennis balls allow for pointed pressure, especially if you do on floor (but you can do while seated). Any areas in glute/hip/back that are very tender, just sit/lie and have the tennis ball slowly melt into the muscle. It hurts, but it helps. 

6. Tennis balls on your pelvic area and inner thighs can also help, but that hurts a lot too. I do this by hand because lying on the tennis ball like this would be too much.

7. Non-intuituve, but going on short walks can help (literally 5 minutes). I find that I'll start and the shooting pains are awful, and I take super tiny steps, but they'll start going away a little into the walk. Again, this is all based on my PGP being exacerbated by my muscles being tight and contributing to the instability. And again, it will hurt after the walk, but I find doing the rotations and stuff help.

It's a gradual process, and some days things are just excruciating, but I find I'm having fewer of those days.

PGP is awful and just makes you want to cry.
I know this isn't what you asked for, but hopefully something of it can help. If not, hopefully someone else on here has had success to your original question.

juliannafreund

babykicks11 said:

I've had PGP for nearly two months or so now, and it's awful. There are some suggestions I've find that have helped, but there are some days the pain just decides to do it's own thing. 

I'm assuming you have done this already, but in case not, a couple things I have find that help are: 
1. Sleep with pillow under pelvic area and a big pillow in between legs (I basically wrap my maternity pillow into a 2ft thick donut). This gives me a lot of relief so the next day starts fresh. Rolling in bed is still excruciating. 

2. Squats, focused on stretching the pelvic/hip area. Not using weights, and even holding into something so you can just focus on going lower and holding it. This is one of the best stretches I've found. 

3. Pelvic tilts/stretching, whether on all fours, edge of a chair, or standing. Doing this on all fours helps strengthen the abdominal and back area. While not directly providing relief (do these at night because they can sometimes exacerbate the PGP), I think the strengthening has given me some relief.

4. Pelvic/hip rotations - I usually do this standing because I don't have a birthing ball. This hurts too, but I'm finding that a lot of my muscles are very tight, which makes the instability worse, so this stretch can help. 

5. If massage isn't already doing this, rolling out your glutes (with a roller or a tennis ball), helps again with if there are tight muscles contributing. Tennis balls allow for pointed pressure, especially if you do on floor (but you can do while seated). Any areas in glute/hip/back that are very tender, just sit/lie and have the tennis ball slowly melt into the muscle. It hurts, but it helps. 

6. Tennis balls on your pelvic area and inner thighs can also help, but that hurts a lot too. I do this by hand because lying on the tennis ball like this would be too much.

7. Non-intuituve, but going on short walks can help (literally 5 minutes). I find that I'll start and the shooting pains are awful, and I take super tiny steps, but they'll start going away a little into the walk. Again, this is all based on my PGP being exacerbated by my muscles being tight and contributing to the instability. And again, it will hurt after the walk, but I find doing the rotations and stuff help.

It's a gradual process, and some days things are just excruciating, but I find I'm having fewer of those days.

PGP is awful and just makes you want to cry.
I know this isn't what you asked for, but hopefully something of it can help. If not, hopefully someone else on here has had success to your original question.

Yes, tennis balls and support belts are probably the most useful tools.

Acupuncture also helped me..I know it's not for everyone, but it really helped me when I was dealing with pelvic girdle pain..I'd recommend giving it a try if @vkyoung is looking for relief.

knottie889a34978cd87d79

I've been dealing with PGP pretty badly, even went to a physical therapist who takes pregnant patients, but nothing helped as much as starting to sleep on a recliner. I noticed sleeping on my sides made the pain worse so if I stay on my back in a reclined position I can finally wake up without massive pain. 

That and staying moderately active throughout the day (walking a few minutes every hour), and not crossing my legs has helped a lot.

ADudley13

I had this really bad with my last pregnancy and a little during this one. Having gone to a chiropractor and then a pelvic floor therapist last time, I learned a lot from the latter that I’ve been able to apply during this pregnancy to help reduce the pain. Birth ball is awesome, bird dogs, although uncomfortable and difficult, are really good for strengthening! When you turn over in bed or get out of the car, keep your legs parallel to your hips, like don’t swing one leg out and then the other, keep them together or at least close. I remember putting on pants being like one of the most painful things ever. Sleep with a pillow between your knees. Good luck!

ADudley13

Oh also clamshell exercise!

knottie281cf7864a842092

Go swimming! Floating on the water is great! It relieves so much pressure and I slept so well the night after! If it's winter and too cold outside, try and find a public pool, it's really worth it!