Pregnancy....a pain in the bum?!
- 30 April 2018
- Sally Murray
Are you pregnant and experiencing pain in your groin area, buttocks, upper thighs or indeed anywhere around your pelvis area? If so, you could have pelvic girdle pain. It starts when the hormone relaxin begins to affect the ligaments in the pelvis making it slightly less stable. Often it is experienced during the second and third trimester as your pelvis is coping with carrying the extra weight from baby spice, however it can come on in the very early days of pregnancy.
Typically people with PGP tend to report their pain is worse the more they are on their feet, turning over in bed, or during activities involving standing on one leg (yes you do, and much more than you think!)
Formerly known as pubic symphysis dysfunction, pregnant ladies can often be told their pain is just normal pregnancy pain and will go after the birth. However treatment is available, and can really make a difference to your comfort and function throughout your pregnancy. The right advice and exercise will also make your post natal recovery quicker and less painful.
So, if this sounds familiar to you, then do seek help from a women's health physiotherapist. Often even just one session of manual therapy, relevant exercises and daily living adaptations can make a massive difference.
For now though, stop standing on one leg......your pelvis will thank me. I promise!
About Sally Murray
Sally Murray BSc (hons) Physiotherapy MCSP HCPC Sally trained 25 years ago in the wonderful city of Newcastle Upon Tyne where she learnt her trade and became fluent in Geordie! She joined the hand therapy unit, taking her level one hand therapist qualification before moving down to St.George’s teaching hospital in London to hone her skills in all things sports and spinal, including working pitch side for a local rugby team. After the birth of her first son 16 years ago she began to develop an interest in the area of Women’s Health, particularly the postural changes the body goes through in pregnancy, and the associated problems that creates. For the last 15 years, alongside treating sports and spinal injuries, she has lead the Women’s health team at Balance Performance Physiotherapy in London. She has a special interest in Pelvic Girdle Pain, Diastasis Recti (separation in your abdominal muscles) and post natal rehabilitation. She is also a very experienced kettlebell coach with a passion to get mums strong enough to do what they need to do. Sally is joining the team after relocating to Derby with her husband and 3 children. Together they are starting a social enterprise selling ice-cream and working with survivors of human trafficking. She loves family, fair-trade chocolate and enthusiastic people and intends to get into the peaks as regularly as life will allow!