Hip Pain when Sleeping

[BlackRose]

Since around 34 weeks I've started getting hip pain when I sleep at night. It's not sciatica (I've had it before and ended up having a partial discectomy to remove the bulging disc) and I get it more on my left hip because I try and lie on my left side (because it's good for the baby).

Other things I have/am trying:

1. Warm bath before bed
2. Pillow between my legs to keep my hips aligned
3. Fortnightly massage with a remedial masseuse specialising in pre-natal massage - the first night after I have a massage I get no pain - go figure! Wish I could get a massage every second day!!
4. Sleeping on an angle on my back/side, propping up my belly so that it's not hanging
5. wheat pack/hot water bottle on my hip
6. Panadol

The first few hours of sleep from around 9pm-12am seem to be OK, but once I wake for that first pee I find it very difficult to get back to sleep. It just continues to ache, no matter what position I am in. I sleep in fits and starts, waking every 30mins and I am feeling so crappy the next morning. I am still working and will be working until I hit 39 weeks.

I never got this pain at all during my pregnancy with DS. BIG difference between this pregnancy and my previous was that I was swimming/exercising until 38 weeks. This time round I haven't been doing anything.. But I do also think that because things have already been "pre-stretched" with pregnancy #1, that this also the reason I'm getting more pain.

I have asked my OB about medical pain relief and he has suggested panadol 4 hourly, or if I need something stronger, Panadeine (with codeine in it).

Is there anything that anyone has tried that you could suggest to me? I just need to get through the next few weeks..

And No, I'm not going to buy a new matress or memory foam pillow with only a few weeks to go.

[Enchanted]

What about a pillow under your knees as well?

I have to sleep with one between my legs but when I get really horrible hip/pelvis pain I put a thinnish one under my knees as well which helps to ease it.
Otherwise what about seeing an Osteo? I absolutely love mine and am in major need of an appt (have been slack in making an appt!) and always feel great once she's adjusted my pelvis & back!

[Mumma T]

Subbing cause I desperately need suggestions too

[LuluHB]

No advice but just wanted to say I'm completely over the whole no sleep thing too. You must be exhausted still working too. I hope someone comes in with a magical solution

[glenny_c]

I've had the same thing with both pregnancies and the only thing that has helped me has been my weekly sessions with a physio. The session hurts like hell but it is so good afterwards. I also sleep with a body pillow, between the knees and under the belly. That and heatpacks as hot as you can handle them just before bed. Sometimes I get up in the middle of the night to warm one up again and take it to bed with me.
I found that panadol doesn't do much as it's a muscle/nerve thing. My physio is a genius though. To start with you might need to go every three days or so, depending on how tight everything is. They will work on your hips as well as the muscles around your spine.

[Mother Goose]

it's most likely your ITB (the band of muscle down the side of your leg). If you have a tennis ball, try getting your DH to massage into the outside of your leg for you. A cricket ball works well too. Or a rolling pin (get him to pretend he is rolling out pastry).

If you need pain relief, panadol osteo works really well. When I did my back, I was put on that and it worked when normal panadol didn't.

[LionsandBears]

I had this with DS1. Partly it was SPD. I found the only way I could sleep was by rotation. I had a number of pillows under belly, knees, etc. i would sleep on my left, get up to pee, rearrange pillows, sleep on my right, get up to pee, rearrange pillows, sleep on my back, then repeat. To sleep on my back, I bought a big wedge pillow to prop me up. We have a Tempur mattress, which is lovely, but it didn't stop the pain.

In addition, I went to the osteo, physio, acupuncture and hydrotherapy. The only time I had relief from pain was during hydrotherapy. I ended up finishing work at 32 weeks, though most of this was related to SPD.

[BlackRose]

Thanks everyone. I tried propping myself on an incline last night so I had another option for a sleep position lying on my back but sort of upright and that actually helped as I could give my hips a rest for a couple of hours.

I think I might look into seeing a physio/chiro to see if my hips need to be realigned or something.

Otherwise, I've just got to suck it up and hold on to the fact that this won't last for ever

[Lisa B]

I had this as well. The only thing that kind of worked was a heat bag on my hip/thigh/butt area. I had to get up several times in the night to re-heat the heat bag because as soon as it went cold the pain came back.