Seeking Advice for Pain Relief!!

Ugh! I feel your pain (or, I guess have FELT your pain before!).
I had a lot of ligament pain w/ my 2nd pregnancy. I found a few things that really helped me so much.

First of all, you want to make sure that you're taking a good quality, food-based, all-natural prenatal vitamin (ie: one from a health food store).

I got a lot of relief by wearing a belly support belt (from Babies R Us or online)--I liked the "bra strap" type closure b/c the velcro ones will ruin a nice pair of underpants or a sweater if it gets snagged.

Lastly, my chiropractor just about saved my life! I saw him very regularly during my pregnancy & the adjustments helped SOOOO much! I can't say enough good things about it! Best thing ever!!! Mine is in Forks Township/Easton. I'd be more than happy to share his name with you if you're intersted. He is really awesome!!!

Good luck! I hope you find some relief soon!

Hi M.,

I talked to my daughter who had pubic symphisis dysfunction while she was pregnant for her fourth. It sounds like that might be what you have, rather than round ligament pain.

Please check out this website: www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/pubicpain.htm --- you will find a list of symptoms, etc. (Although the site is geared toward plus sized women, you do not have to be plus size to have pubic symphisis dysfunction.)

Please let me know how you do with the rest of your pregnancy.

Blessings to you and your family,
K.
www.joyfulconnections.net

P.S. You are not being a wuss!!!

I didn't know round ligament pain occurred in the thighs and groin, but I'm no expert. If your doctor didn't physically see you, it could be varicose vein pain, too. I've never had it, but know people who have and it is extremely painful. Aside from taking drugs, taking it easy by getting off your feet and warm compresses, there's not much to do except wait it out. Good luck.

Dear M.,
My mom who is eighty four, looks about ten years younger and doesn't take any medications!!! Her secret is walking. She never drove a car, so she walks or takes a bus to get around. I think it really helps to walk. Do you have a park nearby or even in a mall? Try to do it every day.
Good luck!!!

Pre-Natal Yoga really helped me with my round ligament pain. Hope that you get some relief soon.

Round ligament pain is awful! I know this is going to be hard to hear (especially now), but I think it is your body telling you that you are overdoing it. If you absolutely can't reduce your hours, try one of those maternity support devises. They are kinda like bras for your stomach! Other than that, ask your dr for advice. I'm sorry you are having to go through this!

Chiropractic care may help. I work for Dr Brandie Nemchenko in King of Prussia and she specializes in pregnancies and young children. If you are interested in more information, let me know or check out the website www.kopwellness.com. Best of luck to you!

I too have been dealing with what the doctors call the stretching of the ligments or muscles. But by your 3-4 child how much more do you need to stretch? lol! I started to see a back cracker to try to help with some of the pain. But if you go that way, make sure that they are comforatable with prego women and work on them during the prego time and afterwards.

my dr gave me tylenol w codine for pain didnt stop totally but was a big help to get thru the day

I felt your pain! I tore the round ligaments at 28 weeks during my last pregnancy and was in so much pain that my husband took me to the hospital. The only thing that helped me was the "Prenatal Cradle"...an elastic contraption that went over my shoulders, under my belly, through my legs. Without it, I could barely walk. It was very painful to lift my leg to take a step. The "cradle" was around $100 buy your insurance may pay for it if you have durable medical equiptment coverage. When it was all said and done...I delivered a healthy, happy 9# baby who is now 4. I was able to recoup some of the money spent on the cradle by selling it for $50 on ebay! I hope this helps. God bless you!

It's your body's way of saying, "PLEASE SIT DOWN!" You may have to cut back some work hours during your pregnancy.

Love In Christ Jesus,
D.

every pregnancy is different. you can take tylenol that is safe to take. take warm baths that will help with muscle aches. put some baking soda in the water. good luck!!

I have to agree, you need to get off your feet more. Remember, you're carrying around another person! Also, I agree with the maternity cradle, or a maternity belt. I carried so low with my first one, it was all I could do to stand for more than 10 minutes at a time and even that hurt. I used a maternity belt.
The belts or cradles help your body to distribute and carry the extra weight. Your center of gravity is different now and they really do help. Good luck to you.

Hot baths may help a little. Tylenol never did anything for me...and i am pretty sure that is all you are supposed to take :(

Hi M.,

I think you're not going to like my advice. but you have 17 weeks to go, and it sounds to me like you need to get off your feet some. If you can't work fewer hours, take more breaks, and when you do, elevate your feet and REST.

Your are a busy mom, with 2 kids, and 2 jobs, and a pregnancy on top of that ! Remember you aren't inhuman -- when the body needs rest, it's gonna tell you whether you like the request or not. So, my advice? Take care of you. If you can get some rest, then maybe you can add work hours on again, but you need to get some relief, and my best bet is that the way to do it is to get off your feet more often !

Good luck ! Pregnancy can be really tough, and it sure does wear a person out, but the end result is worth it !!! :-)

For me, it was getting off my feet and taking Tylenol when I really needed to. I know staying off your feet is hard, with two kids and a full time job, though. Try to get those feet up in between clients if you can. Also if the pain is traveling through your legs, I am wondering if it's more sciatic pain than round ligament pain. I had round ligament pain and it didn't go into my legs too much...but I had a few episodes of sciatic pain and that REALLY hurts. Luckily I only had a few experiences with it, but I know people who struggled terribly with it throughout pregnancy. A heating pad set to low on the area for maybe 15-20 minutes at a time might help...I know I dealt with horrible back pain in both my pregnancies, and I used a heating pad for short spurts and it did help some. I don't know if using a support belt would help that kind of pain-I used one for my back and it was a pain to get on and off (I had a HUGE belly the second time, lol), but it made working MUCH easier (I am a teacher and had to be on my feet all day long with young students). I also used a pillow to support my lower back when I sat down because that seemed to keep the pain from popping up. If you can do stretches (because that's SO easy when you're carrying around that belly, lol), try to. A friend told me to get on my hands and knees and then try to stretch my hands out in front of me on the floor as far as I could...that helped my back, but I don't know if it would help what you are going through...but I started and ended each day with a good stretch.

Good luck, and hang in there!

need to rest more.

Also with each child, the ligaments are looser and losser and therefor pain sooner.

M.,
I had the same thing when I was pregnant and though you will not like to hear this you need to take some time to relax with your feet up. Can't you cut back on one of your jobs? I know a lot of women work those crazy hours when pregnant but if you are in that much discomfort then you will know what your limits are.
Christina

God bless you M. you work too much and need help with housework, children and can you cut your hours or bring home some of the work to do at home? Relief is something that needs heat and strengthening, take hot baths evenings and work on strengthening the areas ligaments are giving problem. I havea feeling you do not get time to take care of Mom..Love to you, enjoy your children, they are precious and time goes fast. J., mom of 5 girls who also worked full time through it all.