Would crutches seem like attention-seeking?

[MakeHayIsAWhaleNow]

I am only 24 weeks pregnant, but have been suffering badly with back and pelvis pain. This is something that has affected me before - I have a dodgy lumbar region anyway (i hyper-extend and have possible disk damage from a childhood accident) and have had PGP to varying degrees in previous pregnancies. I have been seeing a chiropractor who straightened my pelvis and really helped, but cannot help my back, unfortunately.

Anyway, I have a long walk to/from school, uphill, and it really aggravates it. Today due to rain I had a big umbrella and was using it as a walking stick which seemed to help a bit - and now I am thinking longingly of the crutches we have in the shed, just for days when it's really bad, but I would really feel like I am attention-seeking especially as I am relatively early on in my pg.... What would you think if you saw someone with a tiny bump using them? And would I then be stuck with them for the remainder of my pg (which seems a very very long time....)? Any experience of using crutches in pg?

Thank you in advance....

[SweetPea86]

It's got nothing to do with any one else, if you need them and no it will help get those crutches out.

If some one says out hit them with the crutch :)

[MakeHayIsAWhaleNow]

yes, I guess if you are armed with a crutch no-one is going to make comments....!

I just think I'd be horribly self-conscious, it's never been bad enough to need them before, but I can hardly stand (or sit...) at the end of the day at the moment .

[fairypangolin]

I had bad PGP with my first pregnancy and was in crutches from week30 onwards. Felt horribly self conscious but it was better than being housebound. I think most people would just have sympathy for you TBH, you'd have to be very mean spirited to assume its "attention seeking".

[TeWiSavesTheDay]

I really think you should use them if it would help. Leaving them in the shed when you are in pain would be daft! You've got a lot of pg to go, treating yourself kindly now might help later on.

Anyone who thought you were attention seeking would be a complete bastard anyway!

[IneedAsockamnesty]

That's bonkers

Get them out of the shed

[KateCroydon]

I'd think you needed crutches.

[LadyRainicorn]

I had similar issues. Didn't have access to crutches, buthad one of those hiking sticks (on sale for £3, bargain!) And towards the last two/three months any big days out I nneeded a wheelchair.

I don't think anyone thought I was attention seeking, and it made such a difference. Go for it!

[LargeLatte]

I can honestly say that since I left primary school, I have never once looked at someone with crutches, bump or no bump, and thought 'what an attention-seeking show-off'.

However, under the age of 11, I was obsessed with crutches and really wanted to break my leg so I could have a go with some. So be prepared for jealous stares from school children.

[EATmum]

[Off topic here] ... I always wanted crutches as a child.

[Back again] My sister had horrible SPD in pregnancy, and was in a wheelchair the first time round. Cannot quite imagine that anyone would have been anything but sympathetic ...

[CrustaceanRelation]

Crutches helped my pgp loads. Of you need tgem, you need them

[ThisIsMeNow]

I'm not even sure if people would relate them to pregnancy unless they had knowledge of spd etc?
Get using them! Use as and when you need to and stop thinking about others.
Hope they help

[MakeHayIsAWhaleNow]

Thank you all - I guess it's all in my head then . I'll stop eing a numpty and dig them out - I hope they help, at least for the school stagger run (it's all noticeably better at weekends, thankfully, so I think that walk's the killer).

[Manchesterhistorygirl]

I had crutches from about week 32 with my second pregnancy. If you need them, use them.

Ds1 wanted to use them though he thought they were fun!

[Kendodd]

I was given crutches because of SPD. I was too embarrassed to use them so would stagger around in agony instead (stupid!)

[3birthdaybunnies]

I used them with dd2; sometimes got stuck and get dd1to toddle over to collect them. Do look into other solutions too though - chiropractor and pilates for pregnancy meant I kept it under control with ds despite the dire predictions after dd2. I walked 4 miles just days before he was born.

[Featherbag]

I've just given in and started using crutches at almost 33 weeks and oh, the relief! I have SPD and sacroiliac dysfunction, and just HURT all of the time! I wouldn't use them before because I'm too stubborn being on crutches means I can't work, but with only 2 weeks to go until I'm officially on maternity leave I can't actually bring myself to care any more.

[BettyBi0]

I had the same thoughts as you OP. It feels like such a statement of disability (albeit temporary) if you start using crutches. I think there is an element of denial there too and not wanting to admit defeat.

My Dr warned me that if you start to develop abnormal unsupported ways of walking to compensate for the pelvic pain then you risk creating even more problems with misalignment further up the back and damage to hips and knees too.

PGP sucks big hairy bumchunks!

[Mogz]

Go for it, I'm thinking of asking for some as hobbling from one room to the next is getting to be too much.

[CrispyFB]

I always used a foldable walking stick. I'd keep it in my handbag and whip it out when I needed it. It was particularly useful if I needed a seat somewhere as people would usually offer then before I had to ask awkwardly.

If the crutches really help you, then go for it. I could never use them properly, and resorted to the stick (probably not as good) and those free electric wheelchairs in malls/Tesco etc for shopping! I got all sorts of funny looks as mine would get bad enough for those things from around 18-20 weeks and my bump was not very big, but screw 'em!!

[JohnSnowsTie]

My friend is a physiotherapist and says some pregnant women with SPD etc turn up to their appointments in wheelchairs, it's that bad.

If crutches will help, use them. I had evil pelvic pain in my first two pregnancies and it was soul destroying.

[MakeHayIsAWhaleNow]

Unfortunately dh is rather against the idea - thinks I'll become dependent on them. How likely is that? Is it a case of dip in and out when necessary, or once you start using them that's it? I get the abnormal ways of walking putting more pressure elsewhere, but tbh my walking is anything but normal currently, particularly by the end of the day!

Thank you all for your lovely comments....

[JohnSnowsTie]

I think it's up to you rather than DH - you're the one suffering. And you'd only use them during pregnancy, wouldn't you? Anything to make life easier IMO...

[HumphreyCobbler]

I don't understand your dh - what does he mean? If you need crutches then you need them. They are not addictive.

spd really hurts. use the crutches!

[Chocolateteabag]

You may very well become dependant on them - if your SPD/PGP/Back pain gets any worse! Tell DH it could then become a wheelchair issue - see if that helps get his head round the idea
But seriously - once the baby is out hopefully the pain will ease. And if not look into a chiropracter (if not before) to help.

You wouldn't try and "walk off" a broken leg would you - this really isn't any difference

[Featherbag]

Tell your DH when he carries the baby he can have an opinion on the crutches!