How quickly can SPD come on?

[DitaVonCheese]

Am 36 weeks with DC2. Have had shooting pains in my buttocks for most of the pregnancy which my MW told me were probably sciatica but yesterday discovered were actually probably pelvic girdle pain, according to babycentre anyway. Otherwise physically been fine with even an ancient hip problem (which was hell last time round) disappearing, which I put down to being more physically active and hence stronger now I'm chasing 2 yo D around all day rather than sitting at a desk. Oh, had near constant back pain between my shoulder blades last couple of weeks as well but again that's fairly recent.

Today have probably done too much, incl trip to PO, furniture shop, full week shop (including heaving 10kg bag of sand), Ikea and then Mothercare. Carried tantrumming 35lb DD out of Mothercare under one arm relatively easily, got in the car, drove 30 min home, got home to find I couldn't really walk. Hobbled into house with all shopping, hobbled round getting DD into bed (DH is away tonight). Groin/inner thighs etc just ache and I'm nearly immobile. DD now in bed thank god and I'm on the sofa trying to get it together enough to get myself dinner and bed.

Can this be SPD? Can it just come on like that?

[MsChanandlerBong]

That sounds exactly like my SPD symtoms... apart from the fact I have not managed to be anywhere near that active during my pregnancy!! But if I do 'over do it' (which can be a fraction of the activity you have described) then I do really tend to suffer that evening (and probably the morning after - sorry!).

My advice would be to speak to your midwife (not GP) and see if she can refer you to the physio... they gave me some great information to help manage the condition.

I feel for you though... it is horrible isn't it?

[Scheherezadea]

That sounds like baby is pressing no a nerve to me. Can you call the midwife tomorrow morning to get checked out?

[DitaVonCheese]

Thanks, will try to speak to MW tomorrow. Can it really come on so quickly? Trying to google the answer - wondering if baby has gone a bit further down and that's made it much worse suddenly.

Feeling better after a bit of a rest but have been in pieces for a lot of the evening - hope I haven't traumatised DD too much :(

Love your name btw

[DitaVonCheese]

X-post, sorry. MW said that the buttock pain I had originally was baby pressing on a nerve but babycentre says not so ... Will try to see/speak to MW tomorrow. Luckily DD is at preschool/I'm at work tomorrow so effectively a day off :) and then DH home in the evening (and off work on Friday, hooray).

[KeepOnSwimming]

Mine came on over an hour after swimming breaststroke. Had only had minor twinges before but after swimming within an hour I was struggling to walk. Needed crutches by lunchtime the following day.

So yes it can come on quickly.

On the bright side after a few weeks of physio from the NHS I was walking without crutches again - just have to be very careful and keep going back for top-up manipulations...

[heather1]

Hi, Please consider trying your local Osteopath. I had SPD with my last pregnancy and it was very painful. Physio gave me a sort of mini skirt which did nothing for me really. Although Osteopathy didnt totally resolve the pain it was an 80 - 90% improvement which was a great relief and I could walk to the shops again without too much pain. Be warned the positions the Osteopath will put you in are not very dignified! Good Luck

[DitaVonCheese]

KeepOn Yikes! Glad to hear I'm not being mental but that sounds alarming. Will be good and not push myself too hard then.

Have now left message asking MW to call me back tomorrow so hopefully can see the physio fairly fast.

heather I actually had osteo for most of my last pregnancy due to aforementioned hip problem (was only thing that touched it) but no way I can afford it this time round unless I get a doctor's referral or something :(

[KeepOnSwimming]

Try the NHS - my physio gives me proper manipulation like a chiro or osteopath would - and it really keeps it in control/better!

The hardest bit has been learning my limits -

• never carry heavy objects
  

- never push a heavy trolley/vacuum cleaner

• never walk far or fast
  

- don't stay in one position too long whether standing or sitting

• sleep with a pillow between the knees on your side.
  
• try to sit on an exercise ball instead of a sofa
  
• get in and out of cars etc ladylike - knees together
  

- don't cross your legs or sit asymmetrically

Follow all of these and you're fine! It's only if I forget does it flare up.

[KeepOnSwimming]

oh and walk holding it all together using pelvic floor muscles - you walk a bit like John Wayne but your muscles compensate for crap ligament tension if you exercise properly, and use them.

[DitaVonCheese]

Thanks - that's going to be tough, I hate not being able to do stuff :( Hardest thing will be explaining to DD that I can't carry her all the time/parenting without physically restraining her I do tell her that I can't carry her because I'm carrying the baby but she just says she'll carry the baby for me so I end up holding her in an awkward position so she can hold my bump for me!

Christ I hope this baby comes early!

[DitaVonCheese]

Oh, any idea if I can have a hot bath or will that make things worse in the long run?

[KeepOnSwimming]

Erm no idea - I'm a shower person - sorry!

[MsChanandlerBong]

Unfortunately I found a hot bath actually made it worse, as it means you are lying on your pelvis. I actually felt a warm shower was more soothing as you can stand up straight and balance your weight equally. Oh, and try not sitting on the sofa tonight - try a chair that keeps your posture perfect, like an office type or dining chair (assuming you don't have one of those balls to perch on).

The list that Keeponswimming gave above is excellent - that is all the things I have been doing to avoid bad pain, and it is sooo much better now.

[DitaVonCheese]

Thanks - have vague memory of reading that heat isn't good with PGP as it just makes the muscles relax even more. I'm a shower person too really, get bored in the bath, just thought it might help my aches and pains tonight - bit late now though!

Am on the sofa tonight but will get DH to blow the ball up tomorrow (and will be on office chair all tomorrow - makes my upper back ache though). Am rubbish at sitting on the ball though, I like to slouch Saw one of those kneeling up chairs from the 90s in a secondhand shop today, maybe I should go back for it!

[KeepOnSwimming]

Having SPD really improves your posture - I used to be a sloucher but now find myself sitting upright where ever due to all those hours on the ball!

[princessdave]

Hi DitaVonCheese, i hope you manage to get this sorted for your last few weeks or at least enough to make you comfortable!

I'm not sure whether I have SPD or not - basically my groin is very stiff when I wake up in the mornings, it doesn't extend down my inner thighs but is literally just my pubic area. I've taken to sleeping with a pillow between my legs on my side (although keep waking up on my back as I've always been a back sleeper), swinging out of bed/car with knees together and crouching in the shower to shave my legs rather than stand on one leg!

I sit down at work all day so have to keep getting up for a wander round or it completely stiffens up. By the time I get home in the evenings it's normally loosened up completely and I feel fine! I'm still running 6-9 miles a week which doesn't seem to affect it either way, neither does lots of brisk walking.

Might mention it to my GP in 2 weeks time when I see him although I can't see him being very interested...? Will just watch the thread and start sitting on my exercise ball as someone suggested.

Good luck!

[princessdave]

Oh and I'm 29wks + 4 so will be keen to hear how you get on in case my pains are the same :)

[AppleyEverAfter]

Mine came on at about 23 weeks, did a pregnancy yoga DVD and felt like I'd been kicked in the fanjo for days. Mine's always worse after I've been doing a lot of physical activity and in the evenings too. Usually by morning it's more or less gone. But I've had to slow down, keep telling DH I can't be lugging the hoover upstairs or doing a week's shop on my own anymore! Carrying a full basket around the supermarket last week was a stoopid idea, too. I only went in for a few bits!

I spoke to the midwife about it and she said if it gets any worse she can refer me to a physio. I've heard you can get a pelvic support band (a big tubigrip) free from the midwife too so think I'll ask for one of those.

Hope it doesn't get worse for you!

[DitaVonCheese]

Thanks all. Have spoken to my MW and she's making a referral to the physio but says I could well give birth before get to see them, which would suit me fine tbh, want this baby out! She did say if it got really bad then I might not be allowed to have a water birth but I'm seeing her on Tues anyway so she'll assess then. Just need to take it easy I think.

Was fine this morning after decent night's sleep then gradually stiffening up. Had to walk DD to school in tears (hers, though nearly mine too) as she wanted me to carry her :( Hoping DH can do the next few weeks of school runs.

Now shuffling around and trying not to move too much!

Good luck dave, hope yours doesn't get any worse.