Did anyone take painkillers for SPD?

[HumphreyCobbler]

I have a physio appointment for next tuesday but the pain is really getting me down now. I am on my own for the rest of the day and have animals to feed (so a bucket to carry), things to water, meal to cook - all of which will leave me hobbling in agony later.

I am worried that paracetamol may mask the pain and I will end up doing stuff that will cause me even more pain in the end though.

How did you manage the pain? It has been really bad for about a week now and I am starting to wonder how the hell I am going to get through another four or five weeks of this

Take painkillers AND follow the rules for not doing things. No lifting, hoovering, pushing anything. Don't walk any further than necessary. Knees together getting in and out of cars... And so on.

Get a prescription for the strong co-codamol. It takes the edge off but you can still feel the grating and movement.

You have my very strong sympathies.

Remember, you can still do damage after the birth. Don't go pushing a huge pram about before you're tightened up a bit. This was my mistake with DC1 and I had back pain for 18 months. I didn't even get a pram for the next one, used a sling until he was able to go in a buggy.

Thank you so much - I will do as you say. I gratefully accept the sympathy too, it was not like this last time.

I did not realise they would prescribe co-codamol for this, my midwife sort of implied there was nothing to be done but physio (which I am pleased I am getting so soon).

My gp prescribed co codamol

However I only took it a few times as it made me feel funny

Exactly as Hawkmoth says.

I was literally crippled with it for months. Was offered Co drydamol (still available then) & acupuncture through pain clinic at hospital until a few days before my C-section. Also had classical osteopathy till one month before & from 6 weeks after - this incidentally was my lifesaver in terms of returning to something like normal.

I also had cranial osteopathy when I was unable to move at all - sympathetic osteopath did home visits till I was able to go to her.

Has a physio or similar shown you how to move to minimise pain when getting out of bed, in/out of car/down to ground level/ standing/sitting/going to loo? If not, get them to do so.

Rest as much as you can. Yes, you need to move

If you have a car, an automatic is really helpful.
Just watch out during birth. Never assume that anyone has read & fully absorbed your notes. Always tell them about your safe separation before they do anything, especially if you have an epidural 7 can't feel what they do to you...

PM if you like.

PS anything with co- in front or codeine in it is likely to make you constipated so get a prescription for lactulose or similar & up the water drinking, as constipation with SPD is worse than frequent loo trips.

Yes...absolutely take pain killers, keep them topped up to so they don't wear off fully. I took paracetamol religiously every 4 hours during the day and it did really help. Follow the physio's instructions on how to get up out of our seat/car and no twisty type turns and don't sit around for hours but also don't do too much walking.

Huge sympathies from me too. My Physio was at the bottom of a hill and the car park was at the top , had to take baby steps all the way up the hill.

Oh thank you all

I thought I just had to get on with this. Have taken paracetamol now and will see the doctor about codeine.

I take note of all you advice about movement too.

you are so kind I am weeping into my computer

agree with all the other posters. talk to your gp about pain relief but in the meantime take paracetamol religiously and be careful on your movement.

Depending on which bit of you is particularly bad - there are also different support belts/slings etc which may be able to help. You physio should be able to advise on the right type for you.

Cocodomol is fine. I have had a long standing back problem and been told during this pg to carry on with 30/500 cocodomol. However i was fed up of the side effects so have been taking the over counter 8/500 instead when i need to. Maybe try some of them before resorting to the stronger ones as they really so bung you up big time which is worsr when pregnant. Hope it stays managable till the birth x

No I didn't. But I was seeing my osteopath regularly to help deal with it - she had a very good "fix" for it, which I could partly do myself when it was really bad and that helped a bit - and limiting my movements to avoid exacerbation.
I didn't have it that badly either - didn't need crutches or a wheelchair, like some people do.

I've never been one to take painkillers for structural problem pains, just in case, as you said, I accidentally did more damage while the pain was masked.

Your advice is much appreciated. The paracetamol has helped a bit but I have still a great deal of pain. Will visit the doctor on Monday and hope for the best from the physio appointment

The pain is at the front of my pelvis, it feels like someone is stabbing a knife in there and moving it around.

I have successfully fed the pigs as my friend popped round and carried the bucket!

I have got the dc coming home on the bus every night next week and DH can do the drop off so hopefully no need to drive at all. Getting in and out of my tiny car is a nightmare, as is moving my foot across the pedals.

Oh I absolutely could not get in and out of my small car. I didn't drive for ages and it was really depressing.

If you do have to carry the bucket, carry it with both hands in front of you, uneven loading will really do you in.

Have you tried sitting with a bag of frozen peas on your groin? I was given the advice but didn't. Did use a wheat bag there though, for a few minutes at a time.

If you are lucky, it will improve if/when baby engages and the head isn't pushing on the brim of your pelvic girdle. This was a revelation for me, thigh it didn't happen this time (3rd DC, who was floating free until five minutes before birth... I've never seen a baby with such a perfectly round head).

Humphrey - I'm sure the physio will tell you the same but try to keep your knees together as much as you physically can (hard when you're walking!) - so when you sit, turn, stand up, pretty much everything bar walking.

I have tried to find a video of the technique my osteopath used on me, that I could do myself a little but have failed so far so will try to describe it for you. It really does help, I promise!

Lie on your back with your feet hip width apart on the bed and your knees bent up to right angles(ish). You won't be on your back long, don't worry.
1. Place your hands on the outside of your knees/lower thighs, and push your knees together at the same time as using your outer leg muscles to pull your knees apart. So you're creating resistance in your thigh muscles. Do this manouevre for about 5 seconds if you can (You might want to get your DH to do it for you, it's easier with another person holding your knees) then relax your leg muscles before you let go with the hands.
2. As soon as you release the outer knee, place your hands on the inner knee/lower thigh and push outwards, at the same time using your inner thigh muscles to try and pull inwards. Again for about 5 seconds and again relax the leg muscles before you let go.

3. Then repeat 1. again; and then repeat 2 BUT after the 5 seconds, suddenly let go with ONE of your hands while still using your inner thigh muscles. Your knee will bounce inwards, you might feel a sudden crack (this is your SP going back into position).

Then do it ALL again but next time, release the OTHER hand quickly at the end. If your SP didn't crack the first time, it probably will this time!
It can sound like a gunshot if it's a good release, other times you might not hear anything, or even feel anything, but it will still probably provide relief.

If that doesn't make any sense, or you need more explanation, I'll try and make it clearer. If your SP is well out of whack, it might hurt a little to do this to start with, and your muscles might feel too weak to put much pressure on (I found that when it was very bad, one leg would be too weak to do a good job) - this doesn't matter, the manouevre should still work so long as you get some pressure. If it hurts TOO much then please don't do it, of course. And if you start to feel dizzy, sick or faint at any point then STOP immediately and sit up, or roll over onto your side (knees together of course). You may find it easier with a pillow behind your upper body to help you reach your knees but the flatter you are, the better, so coercing someone else into helping you is a better plan. :)

HTH!

Advice given for getting in and out of small car (or any car) - put a plastic bag on your seat first, then back into the car, knees together, sit on the bag (you'll be sideways on the seat) and, keeping your knees together, swivel 90 degrees around until you're in driving position. (This works on the passenger side as well ). The plastic bag just makes it easier to swivel. :)

Thank you SO much, both of you, for the detailed help. I am incredibly grateful. Will do as you suggest.

Just done it! Had to get DH to hold my knees. I could only exert a pathetic amount of pressure and there was no click, but it really does feel better afterwards.

Will try again later.

Again thanks

You're welcome, glad it's already feeling a bit better. :)
I didn't always get a click, but did sometimes and definitely had the "gunshot" crack a couple of times!

I tried it too, THANK YOU SO MUCH! The pain is so much easier now! I got a tiny gunshot crack, and then everything stopped grating and hurting. I actually managed the stairs without moaning after!

Hurrah! :)

Wowsers! Will try this too. Ended up bed bound last time. Hopefully you have saved me!