Musculoskeletal pain during pregnancy is not uncommon, but it surely adds plenty of discomfort! When the baby is finally delivered, most women expect their aches and pains to dissolve. However, it doesn’t always work this way. You essentially trade out old problems for new ones.

If you recently had a baby and are experiencing chronic hip pain, you might be dealing with pelvic girdle pain (PGP), and it can range from mild to severe. This type of pain is felt in the front and back of your pelvis and can radiate to your hips and thighs.

In this post, we’re going to talk more about postpartum hip pain, why it happens and the best ways to ease this pain so that you can enjoy your new baby.

What are the Symptoms of Postpartum Hip Pain?

Everyone’s experience with postpartum pain is different. Not everyone experiences this hip pain, but if you have it, you generally know it right away. Here are some of the symptoms to be aware of:

• Tightness or pain in your pelvic area
• Pain that gets worse with activity or exercise
• Pain in the pubic area
• Unstable or “loose” feeling hips
• Pain in the hips after walking, sitting or running

Why Does Postpartum Hip Pain Happen?

During pregnancy, your body goes through many changes due to hormones and the need to accommodate a growing baby. As the baby gets bigger and heavier, it can put pressure on the sciatic nerve, also leading to hip pain. However, once this pain continues in the postpartum period, it’s typically due to other issues.

Some common causes of postpartum hip pain are:

• Reduced strength of the muscles in the abdominal and pelvic regions. This happens because the womb pushes the muscles apart, making them longer and weaker. The muscles typically return to normal in about eight weeks.
• Labral tears. It’s possible to get a labral tear during labor because the hips are bent and rotated to get the baby out. Some hip labral tears have no signs or symptoms, though many cause pain, locking or clicking in the hip joint.
• Hormones and breastfeeding. If you are breastfeeding, it’s possible that your body is going through hormonal changes that can cause inflammation and painful joints. However, you will feel this in more than just the hip joints.

How to Ease Hip Pain After Pregnancy

If you are dealing with hip pain in the postpartum period, there are a few things you can do to ease the pain. If rest doesn’t do the trick, then you should contact your doctor for an appointment. You may benefit from wearing a pelvic brace or binder. Your doctor may also recommend physical therapy or alternative therapies like acupuncture, steroid injections or TENS.

Jersey Rehab offers safe, effective treatments for postpartum aches and pains like chronic hip pain. If your doctor feels that this is a longer term problem for you, contact our team and we’ll be happy to go over your medical history. We can then create an individualized treatment plan that meets your needs and keeps you (and baby!) healthy. Schedule your appointment today!