Pregnancy Back Pain: Causes, Relief, and When to See a Doctor

Question
Hi

I am 18 weeks pregnant, and for the past two months, I have had pain on my back right-hand side, where my pelvic bone connects to my thigh bone (I am not sure if it is a bone pain or a ligament/tendon pain but it is definitely not the muscle).

The pain varies from a dull throb to excruciating stabbing pains. It seems to be worse in the evenings especially on lying down and seems to be exaccerbated by lots of walking or lifting even slightly heavy objects (eg. groceries).

What could the cause of this be? Is this pregnancy related or something completely different? What can I do to alleviate the pain?

Thanks in advance for your asisstance.

Answer
Thank You for your question.

There could be several causes for the pain that you describe. I am not a doctor and this isn't a diagnosis, however you may do some research into the following conditions as perhaps one is what you're describing.

During pregnancy it is common for women to have some joint pain, as the hormone relaxin starts to take affect. You may be experiencing sacroilliac joint pain (abbreviated as SI Joint). From this awesome website about SI Pain: "Hormonal changes, most notably during pregnancy can cause sacroiliac pain. In preparation for giving birth, the ligaments of the pelvis especially increase in laxity. Combining this with an increase in weight putting extra strain on the spine, may lead to mechanical changes which can result in pain." for more info on SI joint pain: http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/back/buttocks/sacroiliac.htm

Another possibility is that you are starting to have some sciatic pain - this is the nerve that passes through or under lots of hip muscles and down into your thigh. When compressed by tight muscles (usually the hip muscle called Piriformis), it can feel like very sharp and shooting pain. Be aware as your body changes, that you are facing your feet forward while walking, rather than turned out - this can contribute to hip tension. For more info on sciatica: http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/back/buttocks/sciatica.htm

I wish that I were there to help in person, because its difficult to get a full picture of what you are describing. You may find that getting a prenatal massage with someone who's qualified/licensed will help with the pain and tension, also your therapist can show you some stretches or moves to avoid. If your condition worsens or becomes overwhelming, please consider having it checked out by a doctor or qualified chiropractor who specializes in pregnancy.

Good luck and I hope that you start to feel better very soon!

Rachel