Groin Pain

[DIANNEKB]

Hey Everyone,


I am 28 wks at present and I keep getting groin pain... but yesterday it was extremeley painful and it was a bit of a shooting pain... may have had something to do with chasing my 14month old around the park for a few hours yesterday!!

Anyone else have this and if so what can you do to relieve it... the only things I find helps is going to bed for the night and when I wake the enxt morn it is gone... until later again in the day!!!
I have an appt tomorrow so will have it checked out then.. this baby is sitting so low I think this may be the reason.

Thanks in advance
Dianne...xxx

[tammac77]

hi,

I've been having groin and pelvic pain since I was about 5 months (I am 8 months now) It actually started at the front of my vagina around the outer labia and felt like I was bruised or swollen - similar to a pulled muscle.

It has gradually got worse and now affects my whole pelvis. Rolling over in bed is particularly painful as is getting in and out of car. If you have the same symptoms it could be symphysis pubis dysfunction. This is when the hormone relaxin causes your pelvis joints to loosen more than normal. It can mean that there is an imbalance between the two sides of your pelvis putting excessive strain on the whole area.

For me, my right side is extremely "loose" causing my joints to constantly pop, making me walk with a limp and sometimes my right knee actually buckles and gives way. It's pretty awful but there isn't much you can do. I've been to see an osteopath and was referred to hospital physio. They both gave me exercises to do and recommended a pelvic girdle - which in itself is pretty uncomfortable. You can use ice packs at night to relieve symptoms too. Other than you just have to put up with it - apparently some women end up on crutches!!

Hopefully this isn't what you have, but if you feel the symptoms getting worse it might help to see a physio. You can do a google search for symphysis pubis dysfunction and get more info. Doctors don't seem to know (or care!) too much about it, commonly putting it down to normal pregnancy discomfort.

Hope this helps!

Tammac

[DIANNEKB]

Thanks for that I have seen the doc today and he says just gets worse in the more pregnancies you have... he said I may end up on crutches and if it hurts too bad they would think about inducing me early... but in the meantime he says nothing we can do for it.. I am wearing a support belt which seems to help with the pain and pretty much just have to stay of my feet as much as I can which is hard with a 14 month old...
Thanks for your help
Dianne.

[wonkyjoints]

Hi Dianne,
Just to let you know that there is a support group for this, called the Pelvic Instability Association. You can find out more about this, including coping strategies by visiting our website at www.pelvicinstability.org.au - all are welcome!
Cheers,
Kate

[vanessamb]

I am 38 weeks and have had the same problem for about the last six weeks - looks like I got away pretty lucky with it starting that late!

It has been very stressful for me, as up until the pain started I had been doing aerobics 3 -5 times a week. Now I can barely walk to the shops without extreme pain.

I went to the physio, tried a belt but that didn't help the pain and gave me really bad cramps in the bum and hip flexers so I'm not using it any more.

I also tried swimming and water aerobics but both gave me funny pains in the abdomen - and now that I can hardly walk getting to the pool is not really an option.

I am going to try acupuncture this week...

I am desperate for some excercise... I know it's supposedly only a couple of weeks until baby comes but it could be up to a month, really. I want to have a natural birth, so being fit is a priority...

If anyone has any other suggestions I would really appreciate it!

Cheers,
Vanessa

[wonkyjoints]

Hi Vanessa,
Try to be patient (easier said than done) - you're at a high risk of injuring your unstable joints with overdoing the exercise at this stage. I've had two pregancies with severe pelvic instability, and have had really successful natural births (actually, they were the easiest part of the whole thing!). Have a look at the website, there is some stuff on birth there, and you can always contact the association to talk to someone over the phone.
Cheers,
Kate

[kas_chat]

I just popped on this morning to see if I could find anything about this horrid pain in my groin, and found this chat about it... good to know there is a actual condition that I can ask my midwife about. I suspect there's not much that can be done. resting is when it hurts the most!!! rolling over in bed, getting in and out of bed and getting comfortable. I was getting worried that I might have some sort of infection or tear....
I looked at the website suggested and it has lots of good hints...
Being that I am 36 weeks and hopefully will only carry for another 4 weeks I guess I'd better talk to the GP about it, sounds like it is something that will need some consideration during labour. Hopefully being in the bath to labour will help, but I'll need extra help to get in and out and all that.
I'm glad I found other's talking about this as I would probably have just tried to ignore the pain and get on with it and avoid thinking about it, but now I can see that it will be better if I do complain a bit and get the extra help... wearing a silk nightie at night was a good idea for ease of rolling over. I'll try that tonight.
Got to go, master 3 is standing next to me pulling apart a box of tidied up stuff on the computer desk... arrgghhh...

[Coffin Cheater]

When I was pregnant I had a groin massage by a trained massuse and it brought me to tears. She told me that it is very common in pregnant women and only hurts when pregnant.

She massaged from the inner groin outwards to the top of my thighs. It would fix it for a couple of days then I would have to go back.

[LusciousMum23]

OMG , it so painful isn't it? I was only getting it at the end of the day but now I'm waking up with the pain as well :( It used to feel so much better with a rest but that isn't working anymore.

[vanessamb]

Thanks for the website Dianne, pretty useful. I'm just wondering - and others might be able to answer this too - how long it usually lasts after pregnancy?

[blueangel]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but my bub is 6 months old and it is still painful sometimes for me. No where near as bad but when I get up off the floor or stand on one leg it really hurts. I asked the doc about it the other day and he said to wait a ew more months and then I should see a physio if it was still a problem :thumbsdown: I hope it heals soon. :fingerscrossed:

[vanessamb]

damn! when did your pain start? mine seems to be less serious than others... maybe that will make a difference??? (here's hoping!)

[tassiemum]

Hi,

With my last pregnancy I suffered badly from symphysis pubis dysfunction. I actually had separation at the symphysis pubis joint, so I was told. I was on crutches for the last 10 weeks of my pregnancy and on very strong pain killers. I ended up having a caesarean, as the pain was impossible to live with and I was unfavourable for induction.

DD was born almost 11 months ago and I am now 15 weeks pregnant with #2. I am already beginning to feel the discomfort I had last time (not that it ever fully disappeared) and I'm absolutely terrified as to how I will manage this time around - particularly given that I was told that chances are that I will suffer more each pregnancy. :eek:

I'm interested in knowing how other people who suffered as I did coped with pregnancy #2.

[wonkyjoints]

Hey blueangel, I can't see any point in you waiting a few months to see a physio!!! Go now, they can probably have you feeling a whole lot more comfortable very soon! If your pelvis is still unstable, you need to be taught specific core strengthening exercises (in a way that does not place more strain on your pelvis) so that your muscles can help your pelvis "stick together".
Can you see an obstetric physio where you are (you can look up the Australian Physiotherapy at http://apa.advsol.com.au/physio_and_health/home.cfm - their website has a function where you can search for a physiotherapy in a specific area.
Good luck!
Kate

[blueangel]

damn! when did your pain start? mine seems to be less serious than others... maybe that will make a difference??? (here's hoping!)

I think it may have been around 32-34 weeks. Not sure exactly, it kinda crept up on me and I didn't really know what it was for a while.


Hey blueangel, I can't see any point in you waiting a few months to see a physio!!! Go now, they can probably have you feeling a whole lot more comfortable very soon! If your pelvis is still unstable, you need to be taught specific core strengthening exercises (in a way that does not place more strain on your pelvis) so that your muscles can help your pelvis "stick together".
Can you see an obstetric physio where you are (you can look up the Australian Physiotherapy at http://apa.advsol.com.au/physio_and_health/home.cfm - their website has a function where you can search for a physiotherapy in a specific area.
Good luck!
Kate

I think I might try and see a physio soon ........ time is the problem!!! I have been doing a lot of core excercises on a ball to try and strengthen the region. I think it is helping .... just taking a long time.

I wonder if having a big bub and how they lie in your pelvis makes a difference. My DS was 9 pound 3 :eek: and he didn't engage in the pelvis until labour. He sat very high until my waters were broken............ I don't know, just a thought.

[Blueberry Crumble]

Hey Everyone,


I am 28 wks at present and I keep getting groin pain... but yesterday it was extremeley painful and it was a bit of a shooting pain... may have had something to do with chasing my 14month old around the park for a few hours yesterday!!

Anyone else have this and if so what can you do to relieve it... the only things I find helps is going to bed for the night and when I wake the enxt morn it is gone... until later again in the day!!!
I have an appt tomorrow so will have it checked out then.. this baby is sitting so low I think this may be the reason.

Thanks in advance
Dianne...xxx

I had shooting pains in my groin when i was pregnant. I didnt follow it up though, and everything turned out fine

[vanessamb]

wow, that is so full on. i definitely count myself lucky that i was ok for so long!

i have just ordered a gym ball and will go back to the physio after baby comes... good luck with your second one, hopefully your knowledge might help delay the worst???

[vanessamb]

woops... that last post was a response to tassiemum...