SPD

[HandbagCrab]

Morning :) I've been having pain in my hips and back and the consultant I saw this week thinks I might have SPD. I've been referred to physio so awaiting that appointment.

Is there anything I should/ shouldn't be doing in the meantime? I've read the NHS advice but it's a bit vague. I'm currently off work with a 4 year old so have lots of time to rest but the pain and the inability to move properly seems to come and go of its own accord.

[Pandora2016]

How far gone are you?

Rest is the best course of action I think. My physio described it as like a twisted ankle - the more you move it, the more inflamed it becomes and the more it hurts.

I find a back of frozen dried beans on the sore bits helps. Pillow between knees while sleeping too.

I also have a walking stick and use it on the opposite hand to my worse side.

[HandbagCrab]

Thanks pandora I'm just 20 weeks and had a crap pregnancy so far! I had excruciating pain from internal adhesions in the first trimester and as that stopped I've got this hip and back pain. I'd rather it doesn't get worse. I've been resting a lot and bought some new pillows yesterday to try and get more comfortable in bed. I took ds swimming this week and I felt better walking in the water - is this good for SPD in your experience? I am sorry you are in pain too.

[Borisisback]

I have this - or pelvic girdle pain as it's now called. A physio would really help you. I have to be careful to not sit or stand for too long. I need steady excercise - no running or swimming breast stroke. I walk gently lots (avoiding stairs) and being in swimming pools helps (walking, kicking).. I try to keep my legs together (bit late for that...) by that I mean knees together when getting out of bed, bending down, getting out of car - saves stretching your pelvis. Keep your hips parallel, don't cross your legs or stand on one leg. Use a pillow in bed.

You have my sympathy it hurts

[Pandora2016]

I second the swimming (keep your knees together at all times).

The current highlight of my week is an hour of gentle backstroke.

I've heard that it makes for an easier labour (loose pelvis) which could be bollocks but it makes me feel slightly better about it!

I'm 32 weeks and counting down the days.

[fruityb]

You have my sympathy too have been suffering for about 5 weeks now. Some days are much worse than others I have to say. I don't find the pillow between the knees helps at all and it's not uncommon for me to wake up in pain at the moment. I am blaming the weight of bump on my sides as the pain is more in the hip area.

I use deep freeze gel which really helps and the physio gave me some tube grip which helps a bit but actually can be better when I take it off lol. I'm also sleeping on a doubled over quilt which is providing some softness at night but doesn't do much for being constantly woken up by my other half morning at my snoring (but that's another rant for another day...)

I'm just pinning everything on it going away when baby gets here! Take as much time as you can go put your feet up is all I can say but do try and waddle around a bit!

Pregnancy is so much fun isn't it lol

[HandbagCrab]

Thanks boris and pandora I'll see if I can get to the pool this weekend. I'm having a elcs so easier labour makes no difference to me - typical! I don't really pay much attention to how I move or sit so this is going to be a pain in the bum. I've done nothing but rest this pregnancy already and it's beyond frustrating. Hope you both feel better

[HandbagCrab]

Thanks fruity Do you find any reason behind why some days are better than others? Some days I feel ok, others like today, it hurts just lying here on the seatee. 20 more weeks of pain -yey!!

[fruityb]

I have no idea! I was sore the other day as I went out for a walk in town so put it down to that, but I've also had days where standing up from the sofa was hard or I've had to roll onto my front to get on all fours to get out of bed!

I try to move around as sitting down for too long can be a bad idea, but I can't pin the pain on anything at all. Am just hoping it goes when baby arrives as I like being out and about, even just nipping to the supermarket for a bit. At the moment I have to really think about whether I can manage it or not, which is really annoying and upsetting.
39 weeks tomorrow, get it out!!

[Lilliana]

Much sympathy. I also find some days better than others. Im in agony today . If I do too much one day it makes for a bad day the next day. Physio told me to imagine I'm wearing a very short skirt at all times - no breaststroke, swivel on your bum rather than split your legs eg when getting out the car - sitting on a plastic bag helps with this. I sleep with a pillow propping up my bump and between my legs. This helps as bump is really painful when 'hanging' but I still wake regularly to turn over (massive effort!) due to hip pain. I have crutches which help and a support band that helps but I can't wear it all the time. Pregnancy is so glamorous! This is my second and much worse than my first. Physio has said that she doesn't think I have healed properly from DD as I still had backache and hip pain 3 years later so have to go back for proper physio after I've had this one. Look after yourself and rest as much as you can.

[fruityb]

Turning over in bed at nine months pregnant should be an Olympic sport quite honestly! Putting my feet down on the floor first thing is painful as they've gone all spongey in the night.

All I keep thinking is that once labour starts I can just say "thank god for that!" I'm so happy to be having a baby but I underestimated very much some of the issues it causes. I was aware of sore boobs and morning sickness and such, but I had never heard of SPD or how laying on your back feels like a weight on your stomach or how it's impossible to put your feet above your heart to help with swelling as laying on your back is out of the question!

[RosieWithTheGoodHair]

[RosieWithTheGoodHair]

Wrong thread!

[HandbagCrab]

Maybe Miss Marple has SPD/PGP too!

Best of luck with the imminent baby fruity! Sorry you are in so much pain Lili, the short skirt concept sound like it might help me, not that I wear a short skirt very often and certainly not at the moment!

I've got a telephone consultation next week with a physio so at least that is moving along.

[squeezed]

Dd is 14 weeks and thinking back to the spd makes me shudder. Wish I could have gone swimming but wouldn't have been able to get in/out of pool.
I had an Emma Jane belt from boots. I wore it low across my hips. Physio said put it on and off through the day to reduce the pain when it's removed. Take the max paracetamol each day for cumulative benefits. I also had codeine at times. Keep your legs together when getting out of car/bed etc. Sit on an exercise ball and tilt your pelvis to relieve pressure. Sleep with pillow between your legs.
Physio gave me exercises that DH could help with and it took the pressure off my pelvis. it felt amazing just to have temporary relief.
I had sweeps at 38 weeks because I couldn't take anymore pain and I was housebound on crutches from 30 weeks. However, a few days post birth I had no crutches and I've just started the gym again. It shows how it can get so much better post birth.

[Afreshstartplease]

Are sweeps at 38 a common thing for bad spd do you know squeezed? I'm 30+3 with bad spd on Max dose cocodamol each day. Have support belt. Massively reduced working hours taking mat leave in two weeks.
I've yet to see physio due to huge waiting list (being seen this week)

I would literally bite the mws hand off if sweep is suggested at 38!

Should add this is DC4 so body well and truly knackered

[fruityb]

Oh squeezed you've just made me so happy! Another positive story I can add, have seen it gets better afterwards and I'm nowhere near needing crutches you poor thing!

I'll be out walking daily as soon as I can as I love being out and about. It's really bothering me that I'm in too much pain or just too big lol.

I know it'll all be worth it, that's all I keep thinking!

[fruityb]

I have a sweep booked in for 40 plus a couple but am at midwife ok Tuesday. Do you reckon if I ask they'll do one? I really don't relish the idea but anything to speed this up!

[MillieMoodle]

Might be worth trying a chiropractor if the wait for a physio is too long? I have been in agony with spd/pgp and also a prolapsed disc in my lower back. The midwife and docs have been utterly useless, I've not been able to get a docs appointment, even when I've been unable to put any weight on one leg and have effectively been marooned on the sofa. No crutches, no painkillers, no physio referral, nothing! I see a chiropractor anyway for the prolapsed disc and she has worked absolute wonders for my spd/pgp. It comes and goes but without her it would have been a much more miserable time. Finally saw a consultant this week who prescribed some codeine and said the best thing I can do is to keep seeing my chiropractor. I have to pay privately but she is honestly worth every single penny. 37 weeks today and hoping my back/pelvis/hips hold out through labour! for everyone who is suffering at the moment, I really feel your pain!

[leoniethelioness]

I'm 33 weeks and have just been diagnosed with PGP. I'm waiting to see the physio. I'm taking co-codamol and have been signed off work essentially until my mat leave starts in 3 weeks. Rest has made a big difference, as has the chance to sleep in the day when I've been unable to at night. Most of my pain is caused by sitting down but I have to change positions regularly. I walk excruciatingly slowly and feel quite low about not being able to work or enjoy myself either.

Wish I had gone to the GP at 18 weeks when I first had pain in my coccyx. Now it's a dull ache across my posterior pelvic area and hips as well as sharp pains turning over in bed, getting up and sitting down, and in my coccyx.

[HandbagCrab]

I had 3 sweeps with ds. They didn't work but weren't particularly painful so don't worry about them, take them if you can!

So sorry to hear how much pain people are in. I'm starting mat leave as soon as I can because I can't cope with being signed off more and having to sort out sick notes and tell work and stuff. If the physio on NHS isn't forthcoming I will certainly seek out a chiropractor :)

[Afreshstartplease]

I'm not holding out hope on the physio being much use

I had it in my last pregnancy too and ended up abandoning it, finishing work at 29 weeks and living on the sofa

I've pushed myself to go three extra weeks this time but days like today I regret it

[CarrotPuff]

Get yourself a support belt. You can use it if walking or standing for long time.

You have to alternate between sitting/lying/walking/standing so that you're not doing any of the above for too long.

Only walk for the period of time that is not painful, don't push yourself. Walk slowly, the smaller steps the better. Walking is actually not very good for pelvis, swimming is.

Don't push heavy shopping trolley, pram or buggy. Hoovering is not very good either.

Keep your knees together as much as possible, I.e. When getting out of the car, bath, bed. Don't cross your legs when sitting down. Exercise ball can help - make sure your knees are below your hip level.

Pillow between knees when you're sleeping. If your hips hurt duvet under the sheets can help.

Don't stand on one leg, sit down when you're putting/taking off shoes, socks, trousers, etc.

Don't carry toddler on one hip, or heavy bag in one hand - spread the load between two bags.

Do pelvic floor exercises!

In general avoid any activity that makes you sore.

You have my sympathies, SPD sucks. It will mostly go away as soon as you give birth though.

[HandbagCrab]

Thanks for all the help and advice. To be honest I am now shitting myself because I spent weeks 5-14 lying on the seatee/ sofa trying not to die of pain, not able to have fun or do basic things or go to work. To think I could potentially spend the next 20 weeks in the same boat fills me with terror. I was looking forward to pottering around getting ready for the baby with my early mat leave. It's been really bad today but I am hoping it psychological because I've been talking about it.

[MillieMoodle]

Also if you are going to look into a chiropractor, mine is a McTimoney one; they practice in a certain way and it's much gentler than others. Well worth a try! Good luck OP, hope the pain eases soon.

[TheFairyCaravan]

I'm a 20 year veteran of SPD.

Please do not do breast stroke when you go swimming. It's really bad for your pelvis. I've seen pelvic surgeons, women's physios, osteopaths and spinal surgeons and they all say that. Swimming is fine, breast stroke is not.

You really need to rest. Don't do anything unless it's necessary. Don't do any hoovering, buggy pushing, or supermarket trolley pushing. No heavy lifting either.

A Serola belt is much, much better than the belts you get in Mothercare etc.

Icing the joints is really helpful. It's much better than heat.

I had a sweep at 37 weeks and DS2 was born the next day after a 20 minute labour. I had been in a wheelchair/ bed from 26 weeks. I was on crutches from 16 weeks.