Joint Aches and Pains

[VickiandJosh]

Hey,
I'm 23 weeks pregnant with number 2 and the aches and pains in my knees and hips have started up again already. I remember mentioning this to the midwife whilst pregnant with Josh and she looked at me like I was a bit mental, but since having met other lovely mummies I have found out that it wasn't just me and is pretty common in pregnancy, so I was just wondering if anyone had any useful tips for alleviating the problem, as last night it was keeping me awake and today I am hobbling round as my hip is hurting (hubby has suggested a hip replacement, but thought that was going a bit far!!)
Thanks
Vicki

[Sara-Jo]

Hi there, i am in the same boat, i am 18 wks pregnant and the pains in my hips have started again, i didnt get them until about 34wks with my first, but midwife told me it will come sooner this time around because i am having my children quite close together!
Ive bought a summer infant pregnancy pillow for bed and it works a treat for me.. Cost me £35 off amazon, took a couple of nights to squash it abit to stop neckache, but now im sleeping great! I was waking up loads of times before. And im not aching through the day either.
Im finding it a big help x

[Jess&Frank]

I had SPD (pelvic pain) in both pregnancies. It wasn't as bad as some people get it but it was basically pain in my hips and pelvic joints.
I went to the gp second time round and got him to refer me to the Physio. The lady I saw in Ilkley coronation hospital was brilliant. I saw her several times through the pregnancy and she gave me exercises, positions to avoid, movements to avoid and strategies to cope with the pain.
It was pretty hard second time as I had a toddler to look after as well. I simply avoided the things that made it worse (eg I took the pushchair for my eldest rather than getting him to walk as I knew that I shouldn't carry him).
I also went swimming and just did front crawl. It really helped to be able to move around without being in loads of pain.
For the pain, I used ice packs.
Hope you both get some proper help with this soon. It can be really depressing being in pain.
Jess

[Jess&Frank]

Ps: congratulations on your pregnancies! X

[VickiandJosh]

Thanks Sara-Jo and Jess,
We were visiting family who live 10 mins from Kiddicare at the weekend so took the opportunity to pop in and buy one of the pillows - its like having an extra person in bed but has helped ease my hip. I've also made a GP appointment to see if there is anything else I can do!
How close together are your Sara-Jo, I'll have 20 months between mine
Vicki xx

[Sara-Jo]

Oh great, glad the pillow is helping! Yes, it is huge! My partner complains hes getting pushed out of bed but ive told him theres plenty of room on the couch :-) there will be 19months between mine so around the same.. Im quite nervous actually, my little boy is turning into a terror at the minute and i keep wondering how ill cope with 2 lol. But im sure i wil manage :-)
Im heading to midwife drop-in tomoro too as im getting some serious pelvic pain which i didnt get till around 36-38wks last time so going to see what i can do x

[VickiandJosh]

heehee! I know that feeling, although we wanted them close together the prospect of a baby and a toddler is pretty daunting! Although I keep telling myself Josh will be 4 mths older by then and he's already grown up so much since we found out we were expecting number 2. The tantrums have just started now though which are so funny lol!
Good luck getting help with your pelvis, sounds like you've got it even worse than me, if there is one thing I have learnt since having Josh though its not to let the medical profession fob you off, even if you have to see lots of people until one finally pays attention to your needs.
My fingers started tingling today, I already had carpel tunnel so think its something to do with that but I'll be bringing it up at the GP nxt week, I'll have a nice long list by then!
Take care xx

[Sara-Jo]

Hi, how did it go at the doctors? Theyve referred me to physio so im going there friday! See what they say this time :-)

[VickiandJosh]

Hey,
The Dr agreed to refer me straight away as well, so fingers crossed it won't take too long as my right hip basically hurts all the time now!
He also prescribed me some pain killers to try at night if I've had a bad day, although I'm not keen on taking anything during pregnancy at least I'll have them as a back up.
Hope the physio helps Sara-Jo, let me know how you get on
xx

[Sara-Jo]

Well physio wasnt a great help at all, in fct they didnt show me any exercises or anything, just gave me 2 support belts to try, one didnt help my pelvis at all, the other really hurt my hip, but she told me to try it for 2 weeks and go back as the next step is crutches. But you cant wear these belts when your sitting down so theyre only good for long distance walking. So i think in 2 weeks i may be on crutches, which is going to be hard with a 14mth old and 3 yr old twins i look after! :-(
Hope they resolve your problem better than mine x

[VickiandJosh]

Oh Sara-Jo that's not helpful at all, I'm still waiting for my appointment to come through (one week tomorrow since the Dr referred me, good old NHS!)
I will try and be a bit more demanding and get some exercises from them, if I get anywhere I will let you know.
I have been going to Gillian Sheppey's (I think that's how she spells it) Pregnancy Yoga class the last two wednesday's and after last week my hips have been so much better. I'm sure you don't have much spare time with 3 little ones to look after but if you can it may be worth a try? Also, I was chatting to one of the other girls after class today who is also pregnant with number 2 and has a 17 month old, and she mentioned she started suffering with pelvic problems and saw a craniosacral therapist and hasn't had any symptoms since after 3 sessions - if you want I could ask her who she saw next week?
Keep in touch,
Vicki x

[Sara-Jo]

Hi there, sorry i havent got bk to you, memory is mush at the minute.. Dont worry about asking that lady as i was back at physio today and they gave me a few exercises and crutches!! And the crutches help so much, they r just to use when my partner is with me to push the pram but i walked with them today and had no pain, it was great! Only bad thing is i feel a bit silly as i literally just have to walk with them so feel people will be thinking im faking or something lol.. Hope you've managed to get your physio x

[Jess&Frank]

Hi

Just to let you know, we've started a series of pregnancy features on the website with the help of local community midwife Lisa (she also runs the Offsprings antenatal classes (http://www.moormums.co.uk/pregnancy/classes/offsprings-ante-natal-classes-bolton-abbey/)).

The first topic is Aches and Pains in pregnancy (http://www.moormums.co.uk/pregnancy/pregnancy-tips/aches-and-pains-in-pregnancy/) - inspired by this thread.

Any other topics you would like covering, let us know (http://www.moormums.co.uk/forum/sendmessage.php).

Happy pregnancy

Jess

PS - I really do feel for you on this, especially when you've got a toddler(s) to look after as well! If I see you walking round with crutches, Sara-Jo, I won't think you're faking it or anything at all.