hip pain after sleeping on side

[SunnyRain]

When I put a pillow under hip and try to lie on my back but on an angle I very very quickly develop serious back pain. Maybe I need a smaller pillow.

I was wondering about a proper body pillow, are they firm or are they really squishy like a super-soft teddy bear? I need something squishy.

[SweetPea]

I've got a body pillow and find the hip pain is much less when I sleep with it between my knees, it also supports your tummy too, my pillow is nice a soft it was just from target, can't remember how much though, I think it was around $30, well worth the investment! Towards the end of my first pregnancy I also sleep with a normal size pillow up against my back, so I could lean onto it without going onto my back, poor dh, not much room left in the bed for him once I got my pillow fortress set up!

[Indadhanu]

poor dh, not much room left in the bed for him once I got my pillow fortress set up

Same, poor DP she ends up being pushed to the edge of the bed while I've got a million pillows set up!!!!

[deni]

Kuraiza, what you described is exactly how I've experienced hip pain over the last few weeks. I went to my physio last Monday and he found I had a very tight muscle - the strap muscle that is on the outer side of my leg. I had this on both sides, possible due to a change in my posture to stablise my pelvis, or maybe exacerbated by some side leg lifts I did in Yoga. The muscle was pulling on where it attached to the bone at the top of my leg.

He treated it with deep pressure/massage on Monday and again on Friday, which was painful at the time but brought immediate relief. Acupuncture is also an option if the practitioner is comfortable with your pregnancy. The pain returned a day later but less so, I was told to massage it as best I can and sleep on the other side with my painful leg on a pillow. I found that putting a hot water bottle / warm wheat bag on the top painful leg in bed also helped a lot. (I had to turn over a few times in the night to switch legs as both hips were painful). I only had two physio sessions and it's heaps better now.

So it might be worth you visiting a physio to offer a bit of relief - otherwise try positioning and massage, and avoid side leg lifts and be aware of your posture (tuck your bottom under when you stand).

[SunnyRain]

Hip pain continues and now I have severe back aches as well. Made an appointment with the Physio for Monday. The midwife I spoke to suggested I may need a hip brace but we'll see. Maybe special stretches will do.

Pretty sure there's no connection to yoga or leg lifts for me.

Ate too much tonight and that just made my tummy press on my spine or something, now I am in so much pain. Apparently pregnancy hormones loosen your joints and make everything hurt.

So my very uneventful pregnancy has suddenly become very eventful as I step towards that third trimester.

[SweetPea]

I'm sorry you're in pain, hopefully the physio will be able to help you get some relief! Getting in the water might help a bit, momentarily at least. I do aqua classes once a week and love it, you feel weightless in the water. All the best!

[deni]

Kuraiza, in the last few weeks i've since found out my other two pregnant friends had the same pain, one of whom also went to a physio. My pain has returned to be quite bad / affecting sleep, but I haven't been massaging it. If it's the same cause as mine, it's apparently very common in pregnancy - the muscle ICB (or is it ICP??) on the side of the thigh can become overused if your pelvis tilts with your changing shape and your bum muscles get lazy. Definately go to a physio for assessment as they can treat the muscle thing or tell you if it's something else, eg actual joint issues relating to your relaxing ligaments. If it ends up being your muscle (which can also cause lower back pain because the pain refers there), your physio can give you exercises and tell you how to massage it.
good luck!