Everything about pregnancy and pelvic instability with pelvic pain 

Every pregnant individual will be met with pelvic instability, but not every pregnant women has pelvic pain. Pelvic instability develops during the pregnancy through the release of different hormones. Think of progesterone, hCG and the relaxin hormone. These hormones broaden the pelvic girdle and with that they prepare the pelvis for giving birth. The pelvic ligaments and pelvic floor muscles become looser and the pelvic bones aren’t being held together as tightly. The pelvic bones will receive more space and will become more mobile. This causes pelvic pain next to the pelvic instability during pregnancy. Common pelvic pain issues with pelvic instability are noticed with; keeping the same posture for a longer period of time, walking stairs, ducking, lifting, turning, getting out of bed and sex. Read here everything about pregnancy and pelvic instability with pelvic pain.

 

If you’re looking for pelvic floor exercises or go to the exercises page. If you’re looking for products for your pelvis and go to the Pelvic Store. 

 

Pelvic issues that have developed or have been caused during the pregnancy are also called pelvic instability. Other known names are ‘the pelvic pain syndrome’, ‘pelvic pain during pregnancy’, and the more official ‘peripartum pelvic pain’. Commonly known as ‘stupid pain in my ass’. The names already say enough. Pelvic pain is an annoying sensation in or around the pelvic girdle. Pelvic issues are all of the additional issues of the pelvis, from incontinence issues to sexual issues. Pelvic instability is actually also being used to indicate every pelvic issue during or around the pregnancy. Though, this isn’t right. Pelvic instability only indicates that your pelvis is unstable, probably because of your pregnancy hormones. 

 

I’m going to guide you through every definition and issue in this article, also because it wasn’t all too clear for me. Hopefully this information can give you some clarity and will also help you on your way. If you so happen to experience specific issues then I have even more articles for you. Think of issues or pain during sex, incontinence issues, fecal issues, questions about sporting during pregnancy, you name it. Feel free to take a look on this website, I’m sure there is more suitable information for you. It’s filled with more information, tips a webshop and also exercises. Have fun reading! 

 

The pregnancy and pelvic instability 

Pregnant! How fantastic is that?! Now you can peacefully dream about your little poop machine. Even when you’re up on cloud nine, you will also find you have a lot of burning questions. Will I be responsible enough? How and where does the nursery come? Is it going to be a boy or a girl? Can I still watch my Netflix series? Do I have to exercise or is it actually smart not to? Can I still eat steak? How will the sex be now? Should I already save up for a night-nurse or will I go through life like a zombie? These are all logical questions. Though, apart from these crucial questions, there are also some points to keep in mind. 

 

Pregnancy is usually a whole impingement for your body and your surroundings for about nine months. The core, let’s just call it the Gaza strip, of these impactful changes is around and inside of your pelvis. So it’s logical that half of the pregnant people develop issues with back- or pelvic pain during the pregnancy. A lot of these pains rise up between the 3^rd and 7^th month of creating this miracle. This can really change up the color of your pink cloud, and like that more questions will be added to your crucial list. We will at least try to answer those new questions. 

 

Facts and percentages about pelvic issues, pelvic pain and pelvic instability 

Now some facts. Research has shown that women that have already put several miracles on the world, are at bigger risk of developing pelvic issues just like during her first pregnancy. Often, pelvic instability goes hand-in-hand with it radiating to multiple parts of the pelvis or damn it, even to your upper and lower legs. 20% of women with pelvic instability only experience issues at the front. The issues and pain can surprise you in all sorts of ways. Think of changing up your posture. For example, when you sleep or when you want to get up from the couch because you have to pee again. But don’t forget about the shocking movements. Cycling is painful for 63% women with pelvic instability.

 

Painful activities during pelvic instability: 

• • Standing on one leg, swimming, walking stairs, cycling, and entering or exiting a car. 

• • Turning in bed. 

• • Walking sideways.  

• • Bending over, lifting and carrying. 

• • Taking a seat and standing up. 

• • Making a misstep or cycling over a small ditch. 

These points are all included in a variety of daily activities. Think of doing groceries, working, dressing up or undressing, taking care of the little ones or working out. 

 

If these activities refuse to succeed, you can imagine that you won’t only develop physical issues, but social and mental issues as well. The pain can make you anxious and insecure and staying at home will become more tempting. Because of this, social isolation isn’t ruled out. If participating in activities like working out or doing groceries isn’t possible anymore, it’s logical that you’re going to feel bad about it. Try to keep as much contact as possible, but in another way. Do try to stay in touch with your team mates.  

 

Other actions that increase pelvic pain: 

Other situations where pelvic pain with pelvic instability can increase: 

• • Menstruating. 

• • Coughing, sneezing, and squeezing/pushing (e.g. on the toilet). 

• • Sex.  

• • A decreased immune system. Being ill with just a ‘common’ flu. 

Now that you have pelvic pain, and you’ve discovered that you have pelvic instability as well, how do we continue? 

 

What is the solution for your pelvic issues? 

I’m sure you have a lot of questions after you’ve read all of this information. How do you get rid of your pelvic pain and pelvic instability? Where can you go for your pelvic issues? 

 

Imagine, you’re walking around with one or more symptoms or issues that I’ve mentioned earlier. What can you expect, and what’s the best thing you can do? If you so happen to have pelvic instability and/or pelvic pain, it’s smart to go to a suitable doctor or a therapist that’s specialized in the pelvic field. These will perform a few examinations. A few myths are tied to those examinations as well.  

The biggest myth that you will hear is that there’s always going to be an internal vaginal examination.  

 

This is possible with a properly specialized therapist, but this examination can always be rejected. “No, no, sir the therapist, let’s skip that one.” An x-ray is an examination that you often hear of as well, but that examination is completely useless in this matter. Bone shows on x-rays, but ligaments and muscles unfortunately don’t. Performing an x-ray for pelvic instability isn’t always the right examination. 

 

Make an appointment with a specialist 

When you start at a therapist, you will first have an intake (anamnesis). During this conversation, the therapist will overload you with questions to try to find out when your issues started and how your issues look like now. But they also ask so much so they can get a proper image of you. During the intake, the goal of every therapist (at least that’s what you’d expect) is to find out what effect your issues have on your day to day life. The therapist will also be curious to what you would want, and what they could mean to you. 

 

The next questions will be asked for your pelvic instability: 

• • What can you tell about the issues? Where are the issues? How frequently do you feel those issues? When do you feel the issues? 

• • Can you still do everything? What can’t you do, and why can’t you? 

• • Are you using tools? 

• • Can you tell me something about your home situation? What do you expect from your homebase? Do they know about your issues? 

• • Are you using medication? 

• • Etc.  

A lot of questions will be targeted on the most frequent symptoms and issues. Take a look at the previously mentioned list for the most frequent symptoms and issues of pelvic instability and pelvic pain. 

 

These examinations will be performed when you’re experiencing pelvic pain, pelvic issues and/or pelvic instability 

A few examinations will be performed. 

 

During the examination and future treatments, there’s one thing that’s most important: the patient! This means that you shouldn’t be experiencing any extra pain during an examination or treatment. Your body will show signs of pain as a boundary that you shouldn’t cross. The therapist will be interested in the eventual skew of the pelvis, difference of length in the legs, walking pattern, muscle strength and muscle pressure. After the therapist has gathered an indication, the focus will go to the location of the pain. Think of a discovered abnormality in the pelvic girdle. What’s the position of the pelvis? The affected location could be physically touched, the therapist will often place their hand on the top of the pelvis to be able to discover if your pelvis is skewed. 

 

You’re perfectly capable of doing this yourself in front of the mirror. Place your hands on both of your hipbones. Now look at your hands in the mirror. Is one hand higher up than the other? After a standing and sometimes a seated examination, the therapist will look at how you’re moving by yourself. You will perform daily actions like lifting, bending over, walking, taking a seat, etc. This depends on how a day looks like for a person. The therapist observes to find out which movements are really painful for you and which aren’t. Doing those actions will show which ligaments and muscles are irritated and which aren’t. 

 

The ASLR test with pelvic instability 

There are also specific tests to find out where exactly the irritation is located. Think of the ASLR (Active Straight Leg Raising) test. The PPPP test is also commonly performed. No, this isn’t a marketing mnemonic, this test distinguishes the pelvic pain from lower back pain. PPPP stands for Posterior Pelvic Pain Provocation. If you look it up on YouTube, you’re able to see what you can expect. You’re also able to let the therapist know about your pain during this test. Screaming, hitting, hinting, ASL, messaging, calling, everything is possible. 

 

The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) with pelvic instability 

The Visual Analogue Scale is often being used to describe your pain. How much are the pelvis hurting right now? The VAS goes from 1 to 10, with 1 being “no pain”, 3 being “stepping on a lego block with bare feet pain”, 5 being “stubbing your little toe against a chair pain”, and 10 being “a lovely root canal treatment with worn out anesthetics pain”. 

 

The therapist will have a good indication of your pain after this test. It’s important for a therapist to know what you’d want the most. A “request”, for example, “I can’t skydive anymore and I’d like to pick that up again.” 

This is a general insight of what you could expect. The therapist will continue with their discoveries. Do let them know if you’re not comfortable with a certain part of an examination or treatment. This is about you after all. 

 

What treatments can you expect for pelvic pain and/or pelvic instability? 

A treatment at a therapist will take place after an intake and physical examinations such as looking at different postures and movements. 

The treatment for pelvic instability will consist out of: 

• • Being given advise about the daily efforts. 

• • Being given advise about tools and having them be placed/applied. 

• • Exercises based on recovery and rest. 

The duration of a pelvic instability treatment 

If you so happen to be diagnosed with pelvic instability, then you can count on a pretty lengthy treatment. If the issues developed during the pregnancy and are still consistent after giving birth, you can easily count on 18 sessions. If there isn’t any improvement after 3 months of giving birth, then it’s probably best you’re insured for unlimited sessions, because then the duration of the treatment will take some more time. The duration of the treatment depends on the severity of the issues. One thing is a proven fact: activity helps! Being mindful with resting is perfectly fine, but avoiding activity will increase the issues. Do stay active, but do recognize the moments when you should take a break. 

 

Other solutions for pelvic instability 

A solution doesn’t always need to be found at a therapist, because 67% of the women that have given birth and that have issues like pelvic instability are pain free after four and a half months. This is because the body recovers by itself after the decrease of the present pregnancy hormones. The remaining group of hormones does increase the risk of being diagnosed with chronic pelvic issues. This recovery does go terribly slow. You can be working on it from a year to multiple years to be able to recover somewhat. There is a found connection between keeping a hefty job during the pregnancy. Easy work with varied movements do seem to be the most suitable to have during a pregnancy. 

All in all, a lot will come at you when you’re also experiencing pelvic pain next to your pelvic instability. 

 

What’s the advice for pelvic pain and pelvic instability? 

A lot will come at you during your pregnancy, with or without pelvic issues. Pelvic instability isn’t really something you’re anticipating to get. Prepare yourself, but do get your own conclusion and remain active, physically and mentally. Try not to isolate yourself. Every issue will become worse if you remain idle. Choose your own path and look for help if you want more information or are looking for a suitable treatment. 

 

Look for a suitable therapist, there is a huge amount of them, but also a huge difference in quality. I could recommend you some therapists, but especially look for a local therapist that is experienced with treating pelvic issues. A piece of advice: a therapist that’s going to massage, perform shock therapy, or stabs needles in you doesn’t understand a lot. This is a quick fix that hasn’t been proven to work effectively as a treatment. What IS proven is that those therapists use those methods to make easy money, and a lot of it, without the genuine interest of helping you. Remain critical when it comes to your health.

 

And lastly, are you looking for more information? 

Hopefully this information was useful to you! If you’re still looking for some more information, feel free to take another look around on the website. It’s filled with in-depth information, tips a webshop and also exercises. I still have a lot of articles with lots of information about other symptoms and issues. Feel free to click on the blue words to take you straight to the right page.