Unusual hip issues in pregnancy

[Thistle]

Hi there! I am new to this site, but am so happy to find it, and this board in particular: I am 28 weeks pregnant with my third child and experiencing some unusual flare symptoms that I didn't have in my previous pregnancies.

Unfortunately, I knew the flare was coming (diagnosed six years ago, excellent management and longer and longer periods of remission, thank goodness!). My joints were acting up, the Raynaud's stepped up, the vasculitis made itself known, and the bi-weekly urinalysis taken by my perinatologist revealed protein spills above my previous 24-hour baseline. Less than a week later, I was in a full-blown flare, which is now being countered with the usual prednisone and lots of praying.

All of this was pretty ordinary stuff, but the one significant and severe issue I'm having is eluding all of my doctors, and the steroids aren't touching it: Excruciating hip pain. It's not sciatica (which I experienced throughout my other two pregnancies, very different pain sensation), nor does it seem to be muscular. It is definitely in the hip joint (left side only), very localized, and sheer torture, especially at night when I am less mobile. Laying on my side for more than twenty minutes is out of the question (which is bad, since we're only supposed to lay on our sides, not our backs!) Heating pad helps a bit, but not enough. I am unable to sleep for more than fifteen minute stretches, and during the day have developed something of a limp. I am not overweight (in fact, started off this pregnancy 20 pounds underweight, due to a previous glomerulnephritic episode). They just took another sed rate, the results of which I should get back tomorrow; if they are significantly elevated, doc is talking about doing x-rays and... shoot, I forget what it's called, but it's a test that involves needles, that much I remember!

In other words... Help! Has anyone else dealt with this, or a similar issue in another large joint, during pregnancy? If so, what did you do?

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. This site is a blessing, and the sort of place I wish I'd known to look for when I was first diagnosed. Thank you for being here!

~Thistle (Near Houston, TX, USA)

[cath]

HI - Sorry to hear you are flaring.... Congratulations on the pregnancy, and I hope that you are feeling better quickly. It sounds at least that the doctors ar being proactive with you.

I am wondering if your hip pain might actually be pregnancy related rather than lupus related. Have you ever heard of symphasis pubis dysfunction or pelvic girdle instability? The hormones relaxin and oxytocin which rise in pregnancy make the ligaments softer and more stretchy. Sometimes this goes too far and the pelvic girdle becomes unstable. This can cause a lot of pain anywhere in the pelvis. Often it is over the symphasis pubis (hence the name), but it can also be felt in the hip. Physio therapy can help with learning to avoid movements that agrivate it. Sometimes a elastic binder to support the pelvis helps. Sometimes crutches are necessary.

Obviously I don't know if it is this or not, but it is maybe worth asking about. Usually this condition goes away after the birth as the hormones settle back to normal.


All the best

X C X

[lostangel]

Hey there!

Im so sorry to hear of your pain. Pregnancy is difficult enough at times. I do get occasional hip pain but nothing too severe. In my last pregnancy however i had pelvic displacia which caused great pain from my hips inwards especially my pelvic floor. Walking became difficult. The only advice i was given was to wear a maternity support belt. Perhaps this could help support your hip a little?

Hope you find an answer. Good luck,

Love ali xxx

[dragonfly70]

Hi Thistle,

Congrats on your pregnancy! I love babies (have four kids of my own!)

During my last pregnancy I had major hip pain also. Worse at night too. I couldn't sleep for more than a half hour on either side. I used pillows between my legs, and one under my belly. That help a little for a little while. Eventually, I had to sleep in a sitting position. I had to get one of those round chairs that look kind of like a birds nest. I'm sure a recliner would have been good too, but it wasn't in the budget! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif Well, if it wasn't for that chair, I wouldn't have slept during most of the pregnancy!

The docs just attributed it to loosening of the joints in preparation of delivery. Although, "preparation" lasted about 6 months! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/doh.gif Also, on my fourth baby, my body wasn't as tough as it used to be. They just had me take tylenol to try to help with the pain, but of course it didn't. The chair, along with alot of pillows, was what helped the most.

Good luck with finding relief!

Gayle

[Thistle]

Oh, wow, thank you Ladies! I'm sorry I took so long coming back to reply; we had computer issues out the yin-yang for several days there.

THANK YOU, for your suggestions, and especially for your commisseration. Gayle, it is somehow comforting to know that someone else has suffered this same thing, and lived to tell about it... with smileys in their post, even! I have been spending the last several nights sleeping propped almost all the way in a sitting position with more pillows than bedspace. It's helped the hip some, but so hard to get comfortable. Ah, well! You noticed it was progressive, so since this is my third baby (with hardly a breather between the last one and this one), I will chalk it up to that, and my hips being not only older, but a whole lot less tolerant of being so put-upon. Can't say I blame them!

Thanks again! I'm going to eat something chocolate. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

~Thiss.

[gemini4real]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Thistle @ May 22 2006, 10:42 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
Hi there! I am new to this site, but am so happy to find it, and this board in particular: I am 28 weeks pregnant with my third child and experiencing some unusual flare symptoms that I didn't have in my previous pregnancies.

Unfortunately, I knew the flare was coming (diagnosed six years ago, excellent management and longer and longer periods of remission, thank goodness!). My joints were acting up, the Raynaud's stepped up, the vasculitis made itself known, and the bi-weekly urinalysis taken by my perinatologist revealed protein spills above my previous 24-hour baseline. Less than a week later, I was in a full-blown flare, which is now being countered with the usual prednisone and lots of praying.

All of this was pretty ordinary stuff, but the one significant and severe issue I'm having is eluding all of my doctors, and the steroids aren't touching it: Excruciating hip pain. It's not sciatica (which I experienced throughout my other two pregnancies, very different pain sensation), nor does it seem to be muscular. It is definitely in the hip joint (left side only), very localized, and sheer torture, especially at night when I am less mobile. Laying on my side for more than twenty minutes is out of the question (which is bad, since we're only supposed to lay on our sides, not our backs!) Heating pad helps a bit, but not enough. I am unable to sleep for more than fifteen minute stretches, and during the day have developed something of a limp. I am not overweight (in fact, started off this pregnancy 20 pounds underweight, due to a previous glomerulnephritic episode). They just took another sed rate, the results of which I should get back tomorrow; if they are significantly elevated, doc is talking about doing x-rays and... shoot, I forget what it's called, but it's a test that involves needles, that much I remember!

In other words... Help! Has anyone else dealt with this, or a similar issue in another large joint, during pregnancy? If so, what did you do?

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. This site is a blessing, and the sort of place I wish I'd known to look for when I was first diagnosed. Thank you for being here!

~Thistle (Near Houston, TX, USA)
[/b][/quote]
Hello,
I am totally new to this forum, but I experienced the EXACT same symptoms you are describing not so long ago. My son is just 12 months old and I had miserable hip pain. I am just now being looked at for possible Lupus (positive ANA test) as I am tired of ignoring the symptoms. Things were greatly exacerbated with my pregnancy...especially the excruciating hip pain. I started have the pain at about 25 weeks and sorry to say, they only got worse. By the end of my pregnancy, I was begging for induction. I could only sleep about 15-20 minutes at a time becausing moving from one side to another made me want to scream. Mind you, I was not treated with ANYTHING so the pain was in full effect. I was also "limping" during the day on BOTH hips and getting in and out of my vehicle was a whole other story.

So....although I cannot give the greatest news to you, I can totally relate and I wish I would have seen my family doctor for a reason for my pain before I got pregnant. I'm sure it could have been managed better.

It did help tons to sleep in more of an upright position.......wow, could have used a recliner!!! OH....hind sight really is 20/20!!! Hope your pregnancy is wonderful and you are managed for your flare. Keep us posted.
:shake:

[birdie]

first off congratulations on your pregnancy and hope all goes well for you even if you are having trouble with your hips. This is just my personal opinion, but to me it sounds as if you have bursistis in your hips. I have bursistis and it is treated with a steriod injection straight into the hip. It might be worth asking about it but there again I don't know what they will do with you being pregnant you might have to wait until after the birth. Apart from rest I don't really know what else to suggest to you. Hope you start to feel some relief soon.

take care

birdie.

[Maia]

I had some of that pain from pelvic/hip loosenign a bit too much during pregnancy but it was more
pubic bone pain than hip pain for me. It did go away quickly after having the baby.

My sleep suggestion is to get a LazyBoy or recliner chair. Worked miracles for me and helped me breathing a lot too (another lovely side effect of being pregnant for me was excess mucus in the nose which caused major stuffiness especially at night). Sleepign in the lazy boy helped that problem as well.

Best of luck to you. I hope the time flies by fast for you and the treatment/prayers get the lupus back under control.