Week 31 - Pelvic Girdle Pain

For the past few weeks I've had a tough time moving around. Turning over at night while I'm sleeping is a huge ordeal! It hurts, and my pelvic area seems extremely sore. Whenever I do too much moving around my body definitely lets me know - the soreness, the clicking sound that comes from my joints in the pelvic area, barely being able to move my legs in an upward motion...it's enough to make me want to cry at times. While on one of my favorite baby boards today, a young lady mentioned that she thought she had Pelvic Girdle Pain. According to wikipedia.com Pelvic Girdle Pain "causes pain, instability and limitation of mobility and functioning in any of the three pelvic joints".  The symptoms are:

• Present swelling and/or inflammation over joint.
• Difficulty lifting leg.
• Pain pulling legs apart.
• Unable to stand on one leg.
• Unable to transfer weight through pelvis and legs.
• Pain in hips and/or restriction of hip movement.
• Transferred nerve pain down leg.
• Can be associated with bladder and/or bowel dysfunction.
• A feeling of symphysis pubis giving way.
• Stand with a stooped over back.
• Malalignment of pelvic and/or back joints.
• Struggle to sit or stand.
• Pain may also radiate down the inner thighs.
• You may waddle or shuffle.
• Aware of an audible ‘clicking’ sound coming from the pelvis.

The symptoms highlighted are the symptoms I am currently experiencing. The only time the pain lets up a little is when I get a lower back and hip massage. However, within 15 minutes I'm right back to being sore and thinking about taking my tylenol extra strength, or at times, tylenol pm to help me sleep. I'm also going to start incorporating some of the methods below to help me cope:

• When getting into bed sit on the edge keeping knees close together, lie down on your side, lifting both legs at the same time. Reverse this to get up.
• Try not to attempt to pull yourself up from lying on your back.
• Keep knees together when rolling over in bed.
• Sleep with a pillow between the legs; add more in other areas for support.
• When getting into a car: Sit down first and then swing legs keeping them together.
• Avoid sofas and chairs that are too low or too soft.
• Try to reduce the stress on the joint.
• Avoid any movement with your knees apart.
• Take smaller steps when walking.
• Avoid stairs if possible.
• Take breaks.
• Move within the limits of pain.
• Avoid twisting, bending or squatting.

Something else they mention that might help is floating in a heated pool. That sounds so heavenly right now! I don't have a heated pool to float in, but I do have a tub to soak in, so that sounds like a plan for tonight!

I'm 31 weeks pregnant today, yay! My goal is to at least make it to 34 weeks. My doctor thinks that me going full term may be impossible thanks to my fibroids nearly doubling in size. My poor babygirl doesn't have much room in there :-/ *Hold on for just 3 more weeks Bean*. I see that the baby in the picture above is head down. Not Bean. She flips back and forth between being breach, head down and transverse all throughout the day. That makes me happy because it lets me know that she still has some room in there. I learned that at this stage she is more than likely beginning to dream. I wonder what she's dreaming about in there? I can't WAIT to meet her!

~LAJ