Mumsnet Talk

thank you all so much for all the advice luckily my gp has had me refered for physio and have my first session on tuesday but i will try all the other bits of advice too. thank you all again xxx

I found sleeping horrendous, I put another duvet under the sheet for extra padding, placed a pillow between my legs, got dh to wedge one under my back slightly and cuddled one! Had to roll over numerous times in the night and go through this rigmaroll all over again!

I used a mobility scooter if I was shopping and crutches the rest of the time. The hardest thing I found was getting over my embarrassment to need so much help/aid in getting about but believe me its better to accept help than struggle through pain.

I changed my side of the bed too-nearest to the bathroom!

It gets better after the baby's born, if it gets really bad then try and remember this.

Another vote for acupuncture

Two things that have really helped me are gently bouncing on a birthing ball, and lots of pelvic floor exercises. Both seem to put everything back in line again and reduce the pain. I'd also recommend getting a walking stick as the exaggerated limp motion of walking without wrenches the pelvis.

I have hyper mobility an arthritis and have been seeing an osteopath, and doing stretches, avoid carrying stuff and when it hurts don't push through it rest and stretch!

It's not nice, poor you.

Your GP or MW should refer you to physio ASAP. The physio will be able to check your mobility and offer advice on basic exercises and will probably give you a support belt (better than any you can buy yourself).

There are things you can do to help:

1) avoid hoovering, ironing or anything that involves shifting your body weight to one side
2) avoid carrying heavy bags (including hand bags - mine was overflowing and really didn't help)
3) you might read about yoga -yoga made mine worse. My physio suggested light swimming.
4) try not to walk sit or stand for long periods of time. If you work at a desk set yourself an alarm to get up and walk about for five minutes. I used to completely cease up at my desk.
5) sit on a plastic carrier bag in the car. Seems odd but when you come to get out you can simply swivel on the plastic with your legs together and it's much better for you than trying to climb out on one foot. Similar with bed- when you get up use your arms to sit semi upright and swing both legs together off the bed - try not to climb out one leg at a time.

There is also some interesting information on the pelvic partnership website, including a support group.

Definitely chase up an appointment to get a physio referral as soon as you can as once you have a referral you can visit them for ongoing advice and help should you need it.

Oh, and icing and very warm baths on bad days. And modifying my activity (stopped cycling as that sadly really aggravated it, no yoga for same reason). And pilates seems to help, or at least not make it worse.

Good luck and have hope. I read all the stories about crutches and wheelchairs and felt really desperate when it was bad. Maybe I'm just lucky that mine got much better, but I think early appropriate treatment was what really did it.

Osteopath + acupuncture. Mine kicked in at 20 wks, was really bad around 26wks and now at 35 wks I hardly notice it at all. I put that down to osteopath and acu, and I was lucky enough to find relatively reasonable yet excellent practitioners of both nearby (London EC)

Hi,

I didn't have any pre-existing medical issues but I've found that visiting an osteopath has really helped me. The lady I see specialises in pre and post natal osteopathy and though I'm still uncomfortable in bed most nights the constant pains are lessening and I can walk (for a while) without it being painful. She also recommended sitting on a birthing ball and advised how to sit on a low sofa like the one I own (not how I was sitting on it previously!!) which has helped me not to stiffen up so much.

If you're anywhere near SW London i can recommend her??

Good luck xx

Push for a physio referral if they're any use in your area - they can do the support belt and crutches combo - crutches are about the only thing I find that actually has much help for me - although now I'm struggling by on as little codeine as I can get away with.

Hello all i am 15 weeks and have been diagnosed with SPD. i was always going to be high risk due to having Fibromyalgia and Hyper mobility Syndrome. I am seriously struggling with pains at night time and obviously long walks or moving heavy items. just looking for suggestions on how i can ease some of the pain without heavy medication.
thanks