Sacroiliac Pain and Labour Implications?

I've had bad lower back pain since Friday. Not period type pain but specifically in the 'navel' of my back which makes it v painful to walk, bend etc.

I've been to my GP who was basically useless and just advised to take painkillers and rest.

Been doing a bit of reading (don't you love self-diagnosis?) and it sounds more like sacroiliac pain to me.

In the meantime, I've turned into a complete drama queen, convinced myself that this means that I won't be able to have an active birth and could well have a broken back requiring the use of a wheelchair for the rest of my life. OK, I'm exaggerating.

Just wondering if there's anyone else in the same boat and what treatment worked for them?

Hi fionas! I'm not sure I understand where the pain is from your description, could you try telling us in a bit more detail where the pain is, what brings it on/reduces it/takes it away, and how far along you are?

And remember - if you hear hoofbeats , it's most likely horses not zebras! In other words, don't think of the most unlikely thing it could be, it's probably the commonest and simplest!

Hi Feathertop

Thanks for the reply. Saw my ob yesterday and as I thought it's sacroiliac pain which apparently is quite common. He's advised me to see a physio and explained that the treatment may be to strap it up, wear a back belt and worst case scenario is crutches. Apparently it usually does not affect labour as it normally corrects itself by week 38.

Would still be interested to hear from other women who are/have been in the same boat.

Cheers

Fiona

Hi Fiona (weird typing that, I'm also called Fiona).

I've got what I call 'achy breaky pelvis' - or more commonly known as the pelvic joints moving abnormally due to the relaxin in my system. I've had this since about 20 wks. I've got a brace which I use if I want to do anything active like gardening, or going for a walk which does make a huge difference. My pain is worst at the front, the pubic symphysis, and I get some lovely cracking and creaking noises from there and the SIJ's.

My Dr has suggested it can be seen as a good thing, as it means the pelvic joints are already moving and so will be able to move during labour to let the baby out. That's the way I'm trying to view it!!!

Just my 2c worth. Have you considered a chiropractor? As pregnancy advances your centre of gravity changes and a good chiro can gentle realign your pelvis to adjust to the changes. There have been some studies done showing women who have regular chiropratic adjustments during pregnancy have their length of labout reduced by 25%.

I have had terrible SIG pain in the past especially during pregnancy, I couldn't walk at one point as I froze up in pain. But ironically in labour, I don't remember any pain. So you may find that too. I had panadeine forte when I really needed it but I think its the relaxin in the area which is the problem... went away after birth, only sore to touch when hubby massages it too hard.

Ooooh thanks for the tip BirthConnection - interesting!!!

Hi BirthConnection, I'm very interested in reading those studies - could you please post the references so I can look at the full articles? I've just done a quick search on PubMed and haven't been able to find anything apart from one study from 1995 which was very small and said chiro made no difference.

my DH was at his new Chiro last night, and when he told her that i was having a bub in 4 weeks, she asked him if i had been to chiro at all. He said no. And she said that i have to come in, cause chiro treatment in the lead up to birth can apparently reduce the lenght of labour by 6 -8 hours, because the Chiro treatment helps to prepare the back and pelvic bones (or something along those lines)
How they prove this, i dont know, as how can you compare the labours of 2 different women? And my dubious of them just wanting to make money out of me. So, interested to hear BC mention it, and if other peoples have had positive results.

Thanks for the reassurance guys, especially re the pelvic joints already being flexible so helping with labour.

I'm very naive when it comes to the medical world so don't really understand difference between physio and chiropractor but will ask when i see physio.

Ironically, this struck about 2 days after i thought "hmmm, this pregnancy lark is a doddle!".

Physio is muscle and chiro joints / bones I think? I am not a physio fan. I have myotherapy and find it best out of all the therapies, done most of them!!!

Bummer, just typed a whole response and it's gone!

Will reply to this tomorrow to make things a bit clearer.