Question
HI,
I separated my pelvis about 7 months into my pregnancy. Not to mention my hips, I could feel them dislocate and crack each time I would get up from lying down, till the end of my pregnancy. I delivered natural. Couldn't walk normal after giving birth .I never quit healed properly. Its been 10 months now since I had my son and the Pain in my lower back and hips seems to be getting worse. To the point I can't get out of bed. It doesn't matter what I'm doing or what position I'm in the pain is constant! I'm seeing a spine specialist presently and because nothing showed up on my x- ray and mri, he thinks I'm suffering from depression and the pain is all in my head. This pain is VERY REAL, I feel like I'm crippled. have you ever heard of anything like this and what was the out come???

Answer
Kate,

I am sorry to hear about your suffering.

I would suggest two things. First consider asking for a referral to a physical therapist. If you are walking incorrectly this can cause stress on your hips and lower back. This can cause pain in these areas without problems showing up yet on X-rays or MRIs. It is possible that because of the way you walked during your pregnancy due the combination of weight shift and the problems with your pelvis that your muscle tone became out of balance. Physical therapy will help you strengthen both the major muscles and the support muscles in your legs, hips and lower back.

Second do not rule out the role that depression can play in a situation like this. Pain from depression is real pain; it is not pain in your head. Also when you have real pain then depression makes it worse sometimes as much as ten times worse. I know from experience. Depression is not a mental thing. It is a chemical imbalance caused by trauma to your body. This can be long term emotional trauma but more often it is caused by physical trauma to your body. This is why most women suffer with mild depression after pregnancy and most people do the same after surgery. With constant pain issues combined with your recent pregnancy it would be surprising if you did not suffer from some depression.

I have had several major surgeries and two battles with cancer. The trauma of the surgeries caused depression the trauma from the chemo only made it worse. I have many pain issues. Being treated for depression is the best thing I have ever done. Also one of the surgeries cut nearly one third around my left side. They had to cut through a lot of muscle. I went through several years of pain and weakness in my left side before I started physical therapy. I still have some pain issues but between the getting rid of the depression and the physical therapy, my life is close to back to normal.

You could also ask for a referral to a pain specialist.

I wish you the best

Rusty
http://arthritis-symptom.com/