Pelvic Girdle Pain

We see a lot of women that suffer from Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) here at Oxspines Osteopathy in Oxfordshire, and this is a common condition that affects up to one in five pregnant women.

Causes of Pelvic Girdle Pain

The pelvis moves during pregnancy, as the body produces a hormone called relaxin which softens the ligaments in your pelvis prior to birth.

This means that the joints around the pelvis move more than usual during and just after pregnancy, and PGP is caused if one side of the pelvis moves more than the other which causes pain.

Many women suffer from pelvic pain during pregnancy, and pain can begin at any time from the first trimester right up to the last few days before giving birth. Symptoms include pain at the front and/or back of the pelvis, and pain may be concentrated in the buttocks and accompanied by a general back pain.

You may also suffer pain when going about your daily business and have trouble with climbing stairs, walking or turning over in bed which results in problems sleeping. PGP can also send pain shooting down the back of your legs, and you may also have pain in your hips.

 

Treating Pelvic Girdle Pain using Osteopathy

Although Pelvic Girdle Pain is common among pregnant women, it is not normal and can be treated at any stage during pregnancy or shortly after birth.

We are experienced at treating women who are suffering from Pelvic Girdle Pain, and as with all of our treatments we will begin with an initial consultation. This will allow us to find out what is causing the problem, and this is usually done by assessing the positions and movements of your pelvic joints.

We will then follow a personalised programme of treatment for you, which will involve the realignment of your joints to allow more symmetrical movement. We use gentle, hands on techniques which means that treatment is usually pain free and patients almost always report a relief from their symptoms as soon as treatments begin.

It is completely safe to treat this condition in pregnancy after a careful case history, and osteopathic treatment is a quicker way to relieve pain than waiting for treatment through a long waiting list.

We will work with you as part of your treatment programme to help manage PGP, this can continue throughout your pregnancy and this will include some gentle exercises to help your pelvic stability and to build strength in your muscles.

Our aim is to help you get through your pregnancy and enjoy an exciting time in your life without the serious issue of PGP, so if you are suffering from this condition please do contact us now to set up an initial consultation and take the first step towards managing your pain.

We have clinics in Headington and Wheatley, so we are easily accessible to all of Oxfordshire and beyond due to our quiet location close to the major routes of the A40 and M40.