Pain in the groin!

Now I'm sure I had the same with my 3 other pregnancies, but I don't remember it being this early on & this painful.

You know those tendons at the very top of your thighs where it becomes your groin, your bikini line. Know where I'm talking about?

Well I will assume you do, or someone does at least...
I am sore there constantly, regardless of if I have been slack all day & sat on my butt or if I have been busy on my feet all day (usually the case).

Anyone have any suggestions on how to easy the pain a bit? Sitting, sleeping positions?
Anything... anything at all? I would love to be able to get up & walk from the couch to the bathroom with out being in pain.

Its not unbearable but if it keeps up, I think in 9 weeks time I will be a cripple!

I know this pain. Getting up from being seated hurts most.

Yep, even rolling over in bed at night is painful.

I just stood up to make a cuppa RLT and my groin was killing me. It has been hurting a little bit when I wake up in the morning, but now it feels like lock-jaw of the groin. What is that? I don't know, I think my joints have frozen up.

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Yep, even rolling over in bed at night is painful.

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Yep thats it.

:hug: you poor thing. I never had that but I can imagine it's not very nice :(

Have you tried a wheatbag to see if that eases the pain a little? I don't know what else to suggest hun. Hope it passes quickly :hug:

FJ get thee to a chiropractor! One that specialises in working with PG women. The earlier the better as the muscles then get overly tense and it can take longer for them to recover once you've been re-aligned.

In the meantime be really careful with what you are doing about the house. If your pelvis is out of alignment and you carry on lifting washing baskets and vacuuming you can make it more painful for yourself.

Being your fourth bub things are getting quite soft in the ligament department. I had it with my previous one and it was bad so I'm acting like Lady Muck ATM :lol:

Tips for going about your every day stuff are:
Don't sit with your legs crossed our tucked up under your bum. Keep them elevated if you can or at least even.
Sleep with a pillow between your knees.
Put your bum on the seat of the car first then swing your legs around together (opposite for getting out of the car swing both legs out first then stand up).
When you get up off the floor don't kneel on one knee, crawl over to the couch or other bit of furniture and stand up using both legs evenly (can take a bit of getting used to that one).
Go for a gentle walk every day.
:hug:

You might have pelvic instability.
Seperated pelvis. You can get belly bands to help. Or a brace from a physio.

It's when the body releases the relaxin hormone to widen the pelvis for birth, but it goes too far & puts extra strain on the ligaments & bones.
Mine hurt the worst right in my pubic bone.
It SHOULD go away about 6 weeks after birth, but in some cases (mine) it doesn't.
It will more than likely get worse as bubs gets bigger.

There are a few things you can try.
-when rolling over in bed or getting out of the car try to keep your knees together as much as possible.
-Take it easy
-You could try a physio, osteo or chiro. One of them might be able to help.
-Panadol was the only thing they offered me.
-when in labour do everything you can to NOT end up on your back with your knees up to your chest (exactly how I gave birth!)
-Before labour part your knees to where they are comfortable & measure it with a piece of string. Keep the string with you in labour so you can show the MW's & let them know you can't open your knees more than that.

It is painful & may make everyday life impossible if you are unlucky like me, but using a belly belt/brace & resting as much as possible could help.

Noone told me any of this while I was pg & I asked a gp & an OB about it.
I really hope it doesn't get too much worse for you.
Hope that helps just a little.

I second going to see a Chiropractor. I have the same pain now (and only 17 weeks!) and i saw mine yesterday about it and she did an adjustment and today i feel better than i have in weeks.

well, That explains alot.

I DO climb into the car feet first, its a kia & a little higher off the ground then your standard car. I don't think I could do bum first.

I DO sit crossed leged & or with my feet tucked up under me all the time.

I DO get up from the floor one leg at a time ( and that bloody hurts!)

I DO vacuum every day

I DO carry baskets of washing around everyday, up & down the back stairs.

I can't leave these jobs for DH, they just wouldn't get done. Not because he is slack but because he is at work every day, all day & I need them done every day not just on the week ends.

I might call & talk to the midwifes about it. I declined moving to 2 weekly visits at my last visit which was only on Friday so I don't go in again for a month. I don't think I can leave it that long, especially if there is something that can & should be fixed going on.

Not that keen on the idea of seeing a chiro. I always thought they were a bit of a "quack" lol. NEVER actually been myself but I think I see what the midwife says.

hmmm, Spoke to a midwife at the hossy Im booked in with & they actually seemed a bit clueless. Said if I want to I can go see a physio (preferd) or chiro. But its normal for 4th pregnancy etc etc etc. If I was concerned by all means come in & sit on the monitor for a bit :rolleyes:.
So now what, how do I find a chiro/physio who deal with pregnant women? She couldn't even recommend someone!

Plus I don't have the money for it. I would expect it would cost at least 70 or 80 bucks....

I think i will just end up suffering in silence....

I asked an ob about it after a while & he baisically looked at me as if I was stupid & said 'you are older now!'
I was in agony & thats all he could say.

I saw a gp later on about it - about 2 weeks before I had him & sh explained it a bit better, but didn't really help. Just said to take it easy & take panadol.
I'm on a waiting list to see the physio here publicly. I could have seen her privately, but couldn't afford it & have been waiting about 6 - 8 weeks.
If you can get into the physio you might be able to get a brace. It might help.
I don't really know what else to suggest. Maybe just try getting your DH to cook tea for you or do something everyday so you can rest for a while.
Don't worry my DH never did, but I had pre natal depression from my pain.

I must say I was a little surprised that they don't refer maternity patients to the hospital physo, or atleast refer you to an outside private one. She had no idea & just said to ring around.
I called the place that is closest to me & even she had to put me on hold to go ask.
If it keeps after after puttin into play the things SAmmi suggested I will look further into it. I just can't afford to spend the $70 for the first visit fee ( I knew it would be close to that) & then the cost of this belt thing especially if it doesn't help.

Im not sure I understand what a belt supoorting my belly will do to help my groin? Also I can't see it being comfy. I can't stand anything tight around my belly or belooy my belly button!

I was fobbed off by my OB too. One of those things I think his words were :rolleyes:

Also by the Dr when I first started having problems after my PG with Angus. He sent me off for x-rays and when it didn't show up anything to do with the bones (besides scolosis which I already knew about but that wasn't where the pain was) offered a script for a painkiller and that was it. I think unless they have had success personally with that kind of therapy they don't know what to say about it.

I know it is expensive but in my case it has been well worth it because when it's bad it's so bad I can't walk, sneeze or take a dump without being in agony.
The first visit will be the most at about $60-$70 and the others about $50.

You may be lucky and by being wary of how you go about stuff it may improve for you. Ark up as much as you can to your DH about getting him to help a bit about the house. He should help you because you are in this as a team. My DH needs a bit of nagging but he knows that if I end up doing the vacuum and my back goes out he's got about a week or more of me whining and spaghetti on toast for dinner cos I can't manage anything else. As well as back rubs for me with no happy ending for him :lol:

ETA FJ you posted while I was typing. The pain you are getting in your groin is from a nerve being pinched. It just happens that is where the pain is being felt. The belt will support your pelvis as a unit and help it to not become twisted as the ligaments slacken.

Sometimes I get the pain there, other times it is down the back of my knee, or in the butt cheek. When it's really bad it's in all three places with numb toes thrown in as a bonus.

No, I know.
I think it'd sit under your belly around your hips. If its SPD its because your pelvis is widening too much. The belt/brace is supposed to hold it together & support some of the babies weight I think.
I can't say 100% though as I didn't get to try it.
I think some people have used the belly bands you get off ebay. I'm not sure if they'd help though.

Anyways. Hopefully Sammi's ideas help.
Good luck.

No I know that pain from the nerve, this isn't that. I can feel the tendons with my fingers that are sore. When I push on them they feel bruised.
Like now I am sitting (oops with my legs crossed) & its not hurting BUT if I tighten the muscles in that area I feel it. Or if I poke with my fingers with out changing position I can feel it.

We probably can afford for me to go along but I can't spend that kind of money on me LOL.

There isn't much I can really expect DH to do, he physically just isn't home to do it. Maybe he could put a load of washing on in the mornings before he leaves for work on his late start day ( leaves at 9) or maybe at night but thats about it really & I really don;t trust him to do the washing. he is a typical bloke when it comes to that stuff & I just know he will stuff what should be 3 loads into 1.
This man filled 3 quarters of a lge hills hoist clothes line from ONE load out of a 4.5 kg washing machine! needless to say the whole lot had to be re done. Im surprised some stuff wasn't still dry at the end of the cycle he had crammed so much in there!

Lol! Some men are useless when it comes to that sort of stuff huh!
Maybe he could just hang one load on the line a day? Even if it is at night, it's one less you have to do.
& maybe have a box at the bottom of the stairs to fill with upstairs stuff & just get him to carry it up when he gets home & you can put it away the next day?
No other ideas. Sorry I'm not much help. :)

Actually you don't want to leave this unattended because it will quite probably get worse. I'd do some adjustments on your budget and make the trip to the physio. Whatever the problem is, they will figure it out. if it's pelvic, hip, nerve, sciatica ... it's all related.

My pain started around week 29 and I saw a physio. She did some adjustments and it helped so much from just 1 visit, but I wasn't diligent about doing all those things Raven listed so the pain returned and I let it go without attention and now it is 10 times worse. I called my physio today and snuck an appointment in for thursday, and that's not soon enough.

My Ob was supportive. He warned me it would get worse and to call the physio but I didn't want to pay to see the physio again. Now I'm at a point where I don't care, I'll dig the money up from the depths of somewhere just to be able to stand, sit, sleep, walk etc again.

This particular pain does not fix itself.

FJ, it's not just spending the money on YOU..........you are there doing the day to day business of running the family. If you become incapacitated, what will they do then? I'd bite the bullet and see someone about it hun, this is something that can get really nasty. Your baby is only going to get bigger, and put more pressure on the area.

:hug: whatever you do, I hope it gets better for you soon.

hmmm Iwill run it by DH & see if I can grab the friday appointment they had.
What do they do? Also I will have no choice but have Glenn & Isla with me, is that going to be an issue?

Tough $hit to them if they have a problem with you having the kids there FJ! It may not be ideal, but it's the way things will be. Don't worry at all about that. I'm not sure what they will do exactly, hopefully someone else will able to enlighten us :)

See someone! I saw a physio who initially just gave me horrendous pain by agitating the area, then nothing much more. After the birth they said BFing was making it worse. Not happy with that explanation! So I asked around and was recommended a good osteo. Never looked back.
It's amazing how many doctors just couldn't give a damn about investigating 'peripheral' pain that women tell them about in pregnancy...if it's outside the womb, the doctor shrugs his (usually a he!) shoulders and assumes you're just one of those women who can't just be grateful to have a healthy foetus! Anyway, don't take no for an answer, or 'it goes with the territory, live with it'.
Also, if DH just isn't physically around to help out I see two options. No, three. The first is to leave it until he does get home. The second is to ask a friend or relative to do it for you. The third is to pay someone to come in a couple of times a week to do the jobs that really have to be done (laundry, vacuuming) that are not good for your posture. It is REALLY important to avoid postures that take you away from balancing on both feet evenly!
I was so clueless pre-birth, and had I known what I know now, hiring someone would have been my option (my parents had moved to the country and everyone else seemed so busy).
Force that village to look after you, even if you have to throw money at it! Women weren't always expected to do everything in pregnancy and post-pregnancy, it's a product of post-Industrialisation :(

Oh I wish I could call on my village, But I don't have one LOL.

I have no family local, Mum is the closest & works 2 jobs. But she is still 40 odd minutes away.
I don't have any friends outside of Playgroup mums & I don't really feel like I could call on these women who have kids & homes of their own to maintain.
Paying someone isn't an option. We just don't have the money for that. Maybe a one off thing but not a regular thing.

With the washing I think I will stick to washing only Isla's nappies as often as I like to, which is every day. But will leave the clothes till the weekend.
It would be hanging them out thats more this issue wouldn't it? Isla's nappies can be hung & usually are hung inside on the clothes horse that I don't need to bend & stretch (reach for the stars, there goes Jupiter, here comes Mars LOL sorry) to do that. I tend to put the basket o the table so everything is at the right hight.

I told DH I need to go see this physio. He kinda rolled his eyes. I think my problem is not that he doesn't care or expects me to just suck it up. Its more that I don't complain enough so here I am getting on with things in pain but saying nothing & suddenly I am telling him I need to see a physio!

I might ring my mum first. She does remedial massage. maybe she can do something to help? Even if its watch the little ones while I go into my appointment with the physio LOL.

I do kinda feel like I should just accept its part of pregnancy. this is my 4th, what else was I expecting? I think DH might think the same as he does make comments like it was all my own doing so I just have to face the pains that come with it.

We both wanted a 4th but I probably pushed it on him more so.

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hmmm, Spoke to a midwife at the hossy Im booked in with & they actually seemed a bit clueless. Said if I want to I can go see a physio (preferd) or chiro. But its normal for 4th pregnancy etc etc etc. If I was concerned by all means come in & sit on the monitor for a bit .
So now what, how do I find a chiro/physio who deal with pregnant women? She couldn't even recommend someone!

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Well one thing she got right is that it is normal in pregnancy, it's just not tolerable. Hmmm it's tough without any recommendations, but If I were you I'd pull out the old Yellow Pages and call around. Ask them straight out if they specialise in women's care (which will include pregnancy). Since it's a common condition they'll know what they're dealing with.

My physio place is 1 floor down from my obstetrician's office and he has a direct connection with them, so I am lucky, but they are called "Focus on Women Physiotherapy" so it's a bit of a given that they know what they're dealing with.

So if you come across anything advertised like that, jump on it. Best of luck. Also don't worry about the kids because you won't be subjected to anything humiliating or that requires you to get nekked. Just wear some soft comfy exercise pants.

FJ - My DH was the same.
I shut my mouth & put up with it, then when I had a bad day he thought I was putting it on. Still does.
It was at the end of my pg he realised how bad it was. I was crying in pain every night from about 34 - 35 weeks. I was depressed just coz I was in so much pain.

I didn't quit though. I kept my house spotless, so by the time I went to bed I was in agony.
The last 2 weeks I went & stayed with my MIL - I'm 2 hours away from my closest hospital with a labour ward! - so I could relax a bit while I was there. I wasn't in nearly as much pain.
It still gurt like heck, but was better when I wasn't on my feet all day.

Do you have a chair you could put next to the clothes line for the basket? I have a lawn chair out there.

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Do you have a chair you could put next to the clothes line for the basket? I have a lawn chair out there.

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Me too.
FJ I am very anal about my washing so I do it and if I can't wait I'll do it in a few trips to the clothesline or will ask DH to peg it out for me when he gets home.

I have no help either. All of my family and DH's is an hours drive away so I know how that feels too. When I do get a bit of help it's not done right either. I've got to get over that lol. I've had to pay for a cleaner from time to time and I'm very close to getting on on board ATM. It's actually cheaper to get a cleaner once a fortnight than to pay for physio ongoing I have found. They do the heavy duty stuff and it only needs a bit of maintenance inbetween.

Just remembered this! Will the kids vacuum for you? My boys love it and usually fight over who gets a turn. I just let them go for it and then finish off ;)

Pelvic Instibility

I only really have the rug to vac, the rest I sweep. The vac is also an upright so im not bending etc while using it.

But Yes I can leave that for the kids.

I just spoke with mum, she gave me something to try first before going tot he physio. She said there are things DH can do to help that will be similar to what the physio will do.

I think i will try this first & go from there.

I use to have a table by the washing line whenI was pg with Isla but that table is gone now. Might have to find somehting I can use.....

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Just remembered this! Will the kids vacuum for you? My boys love it and usually fight over who gets a turn. I just let them go for it and then finish off ;)

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Ooh, yeah. My girls love the vacuum too. I vac every room in the house including bathroom & kitchen.

Another thing I do is sweep (the only time I really use my broom!) everything into the middle of the floor. In the lounge room or bedrooms, then I don't have to be bending over constantly to pick things up.
If you have a basket you can put all the things in there for one room, then come back & get all the things for the next room.
It's my lazy way of doing things!

Everything I can sit down for I do. Folding etc.

I used to wash up at least twice a day. Just so I didn't have to stand at the sink for too long at a time. I wish I could get time to do that now!

I sit & have a break every half hour or so to. So I'll do the washing up, then have a hot milo & chat on BB for a bit while the washing is on. Then I'll hang out the washing & pick up the lounge room floor & sit down again.

It takes all day, but it gets too painful if I try to do it all in one go.

I totally agree with the others - pelvic instability! Have suffered this to varying degrees for my entire pregnancy and know of women who have suffered it for years so believe me, invest in your health now - if you can't financially then practically!

I got to the stage where I couldn't walk up the stairs! I was told to keep walking to an absolute minimum which has been a real pain!

On the up side things did get better for a while and now not great again but at least I know what to do and that it can pass.

I saw a women's health physio who was great. Yes expensive but really helped. The belly belt she gave me cost $40 so if you can't afford more than one physio appointment I'd get that! It stabilises everything and they are actually quite comfortable when you get used to them! I wouldn't buy one without knowing how to wear it that's why I recommend at least one visit. Make sure they specialise in pregnancy issues though.

Oh today someone even said accupunture helps pelvic instability so I'm trying that next!

Another thing you can do that's low low cost is ice it 3x daily for 20 minutes! NO HEAT! Heat will loosen everything so you must use ice only. Hold it on the area for that amount of time morning noon and night and it will work wonders. Avoid hot baths and all the other things the other people have said!

Be very careful when doing anything - dressing etc (do it seated). The aim is to keep your legs closed :doh: