So, you just gave birth via c-section, and your hip hurts a lot? You definitely are not alone. This usually happens as your body tries to recover after carrying a little life. And it occurs even among women that give birth through vaginal delivery.
Good news? In most cases, your hip pain will gradually heal on its own. Even so, how long your pelvic pain lasts will vary from one woman to another. However, in some cases, the pain may fail to subside by itself because of different reasons.
In this article, you will find out why sometimes hip pain after c section may not be normal. You will also discover how long the pain should last and effective ways to get rid of it.
Is It Normal To Have Pelvic Pain After C-Section?
Yes and no. Yes, because pelvic pain is common during pregnancy. However, the pain may persist even after you’ve given birth through cesarean delivery. Generally, the pain occurs as your bones try to re-adjust.
But if your pelvic pain persists beyond 2-3 weeks postpartum, it could not be normal. Therefore, you should book an appointment with your doctor. This is because it could be you’re suffering from either adenomyosis or endometriosis.
Basically, adenomyosis is a condition where tissue grows at your cesarean incision scar within your uterus walls. As for endometriosis, the tissue grows outside your uterus walls just at your cesarean incision site.
What is Hip Pain After C-Section Like?
Not sure whether what you are suffering from is hip pain? We understand because hip pain after childbirth can vary from one woman to another. For instance, you might find it painful to lie on your hip. Or, you could experience a dull ache on the outside of your hip and upper thigh.
On the other hand, the pain may radiate to your buttocks or knees. This happens when your sciatic nerve is inflamed after a c-section birth. And if the pain is because of injured nerves, the result is burning hip pain after c-section. Other symptoms of hip and pelvic pain after a c-section include:
- Lower backache
- An ache in your pubic bone
- Shooting pain down your leg
- Inability to walk or move your hip or leg
- Pain around your buttocks
- Clicking in the pelvic area
Why Does Hip Hurt After C-Section?
Your hips are likely to hurt during pregnancy because of all the weight you have to carry and loosened ligaments. Unfortunately, your hip might still hurt even after giving birth through C-section. This could be because of factors such as:
Scar tissue
One of the common causes of hip pain after childbirth is scar tissue. You see, as your c-section scar starts to heal, the scar tissue may attach to the surrounding tissues. This might lead to both hip and back pain.
For instance, your c-section scar tissue may attach to your hip flexor. Or, it may bind to your PSOAS muscles, which are responsible for flexing your hip joint. This explains why you may experience burning hip pain after c-section.
Nerve injury
If your epidural is not administered correctly, you may suffer from nerve damage. This happens if you try vaginal delivery first before opting for a cesarean delivery.
In most cases, the damage could affect the lumbosacral plexus, a network of nerves responsible for controlling sensation in the legs. These nerves also affect the flexibility of your hips. When these nerves are injured, you may experience numbness, weakness, tingling, and burning pain in the legs and hip areas.
Muscle fatigue
This is common when you have an emergency cesarean delivery. By having an unplanned c-section, it means you’ll have already tried various labor positions like squatting. Unfortunately, being in some of these labor positions for a prolonged time may cause muscle fatigue in your knees and hips. As a result, fatigue leads to hip pain.
Fluid retention
During the c-section, you have to be injected with intravenous fluids to protect you from dehydration. If your body fails to use up all the fluids, they may accumulate in your legs. As a result, your legs will appear big and swollen.
In return, the swelling will cause pain in your legs. However, if the condition does not subside within a few days, you could also suffer from both hip and leg pain.
Extra weight
One of the causes of hip pain during pregnancy is weight gain. However, if you don’t lose the excess weight after the delivery, you may continue to suffer from hip pain.
You see, the extra weight can put a lot of pressure on your nerves, hip bone, and lower back. Eventually, you may start feeling your hip hurting, and your legs may swell up. And this could happen whether you’ve had a cesarean or vaginal birth.
Body trying to go back to normal
During pregnancy, your body will go through a lot of physical changes. For instance, your ligaments will loosen up. As a result, this could cause issues with your muscle function and the alignment of your joints.
After delivery, your hormones will try to get your body back to its previous state. It does not matter whether you’ve had a cesarean or vaginal birth. Consequently, you may experience mild to excruciating hip pain that should go away on its own.
How Long Does Hip Pain Last After C-Section?
There is no definite answer to this question. This is because the duration varies from one person to another. Even so, most women usually experience hip and pelvic pain for the first 2-3 weeks after a cesarean delivery. This happens as your bones try to re-adjust to their previous state.
However, in some cases, the pain may last for several months or years after giving birth. This is most common when you have other underlying issues like fractures, scar tissue adhesions, or even dislocations. Because of this, it is advisable to talk to your doctor if your hip pain persists beyond 2-3 weeks post-delivery.
How To Cure Hip Pain After C-Section
If what you suffer from is normal postpartum hip pain, it should go away in 2 to 3 weeks as your body heals itself. But what happens if the pain is too much to bear or does not seem to go away? Below are some methods to help relieve the pain.
Cold and heat treatment
One way to relieve your hip pain is using an ice pack. You just hold your ice pack on the hurt hip for at least 15 minutes several times a day. This helps reduce hip inflammation and low back pain. Alternatively, you could use frozen vegetables.
As for the heat treatment, you can use heat compresses. A warm shower or bath may also work. Just make sure to use it interchangeably with the cold treatment for the best results.
Use of compression
Another way to cure hip pain after childbirth is using compression. This method works best after using the cold treatment. Simply wrap your hip and pelvic area in any type of compression bandage. This helps your hip muscles to recover faster by allowing improved circulation.
Stretching exercises
Simple and gentle stretches can help treat both hip and leg pain. These stretches help your body to quickly break down the scar tissue that forms after c-section delivery. You can also do yoga to strengthen your loose ligaments. However, if you are not sure which stretches to perform, you can always consult a physical therapist.
Over-the-counter drugs
If you are suffering from hip swelling after c-section, you could use anti-inflammatory drugs to feel better. These medications will reduce inflammation and eventually relieve the pain. Some of the most effective drugs you can use include ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and acetaminophen.
However, if you are still breastfeeding, we recommend consulting with your doctor before taking any OTC drug. Also, you must avoid using NSAIDs for the long term since they are linked with stomach and liver issues.
Maintaining a healthy weight
One of the causes of hip and low back pain during and after pregnancy is excess weight gain. The extra weight usually puts more pressure on your nerves, hip muscles, and the lower back. Therefore, losing the excess pounds can provide you with hip pain relief.
You could try changing your diet, such as cutting down on processed sugars and carbs, plus consuming more vegetables. And if you want faster results, you can combine diet with light exercises like taking walks.
Scar massage
As your cut during the c-section heals, the different scar tissues may get adhered to each other. This usually ends up affecting your range of motion, thereby resulting in the hip or pelvic pain.
The good news? With a scar tissue massage or scar tissue release, you can break up the adhesions and relieve your hip pain. All you’ve got to do is lie on your back and gently pull the skin around your scar with your fingertips. Next, slowly move your scar up and down, and side to side. However, you should only perform this type of massage if your doctor gives you the go-ahead.
Staying hydrated
Hip swelling after c-section is also caused by the retention of IV fluids. The fluids may also cause your feet, ankles, and face to swell. While the swelling will go away by itself, staying hydrated could help bring it down quickly. Alternatively, you can try putting your hip elevated to allow better blood flow and eliminate pressure off your hip.
Consult a specialist
If all the above methods don’t work or your hip pain persists for several months, you will need to consult a specialist. Your specialist will do several tests to determine if you could be having other underlying issues. For example, it could be that your burning hip pain after c-section is a symptom of endometriosis. In this case, it’s only a qualified physician that can provide you with a proper diagnosis.
Wrapping Up
Hip and pelvic pain during pregnancy are common. Almost every woman will experience it because of the extra weight from the life growing inside the belly. Similarly, hip pain after c section is also normal as your body tries to get back to normalcy. Fortunately, the pain usually subsides on its own as your body heals.
However, if the pain lasts longer than 2-3 weeks after you’ve given birth, it might not be normal. This is because it could be that you have other underlying issues like nerve injury, endometriosis, fluid retention, or adenomyosis. Besides consulting your doctor, you could try cold and heat treatment, stretching exercises, or scar massage to relieve the pain.
More to Read:
- When Can You Climb Stairs After C Section?
- When Can I Start Bending After C Section? Guide + Safe Tips
