Feel like my lady garden has been smashed in with a hammer

[iamwhaticallpregnant]

I am now 26 weeks pregnant and it really really really hurts down there. It hurts when I sit for a while - and then have to move. Like it has seized up or something. It hurts when I cross my legs or uncross them. Feel like the bone down there has been smashed. Just at the front.

Anyone else got this?

[Magicrabbit]

Ouch! Are you sure you haven't developed SPD? I've had it since 26 weeks and I'm nearly 38 wks now. There are loads of threads on here about it, plus info on the Internet. It took a few weeks for me to realise what my pain was but after speaking to midwife, then referred go physio, I was diagnosed with SPD. My symptoms are pain at front of pelvis all the time, becomes increasingly worse with movement. On bad days it hurts to sit and then stand up again due to pressure there. I can't open my legs t all really. I have also developed sciatica on my left side, at top of my leg and buttock. That can be a secondary symptom of it. Get it checked with your mw, although the crap news is there's no treatment got it I'm afraid if it is SPD. Good luck.

[iamwhaticallpregnant]

O M G - I am always going on about a trapped nerve/pain feeling on my left leg/ top near buttock. I said I thought it might be sciatica. I don't know what SPD is but I will look up now. It hurts more on some days than others. If I am active it hurts less - then I might sit still for 10 minutes and get up after and feel real pain there. I am not sure about my bones down there but just feel like it has been smashed. No treatment? oh no. Does it go after the baby is out? I will look on net now. Thank you a lot.

[spandau1980]

Spd im afraid.. i related to being horse kicked between my legs.. with lovely added clicking sounds im 26 weeks +3 x

[Dovetale]

Yep sounds like SPD to me too, if you google a diagram of the pelvis you'll see a ligament at the front of the pelvis and the pain is caused by inflammation in that ligament. You can also get it in the back 2 joints.

When I had my physio session she recommended icepacks for that front ligament to reduce inflammation. It's really worth getting yourself to the physio as they will give you lots of information about how to do daily tasks correctly so you don't exacerbate the problem, but basically it's about keeping your pelvis as stable as possible.

The big things that helped me were:

1. don't stand on one leg so sit down to put socks, knickers, trousers on
   
2. don't sit on one hip or rock side to side, keep your weight on both feet
   
3. keep your legs together when getting in and out of the car so bum in first and then swing your legs round
   

Hope that helps

[foosty]

sounds like SPD to me too - hellish. Sorry to say it's likely to get worse as your pregnancy progresses, but will likely disappear once you've given birth.

Do something about it now to minimise the pain - for me, acupuncture worked MIRACLES. You could ask your GP for a referral.

Also, your GP can prescribe stronger pain killers than just paracetomol -ask.

Keep your knees together as much as possible - put a bin bag on your car seat to help you slide in and out the car.

you can buy pelvis belts which help a little but I just found them really uncomfortable

Get yourself a full body pillow for bed - I had one similar to this which was lovely. I still have it and dig it out every now and then when I've got a sore back, it's really comfy!

You have my sympathies - I had SPD with each of my 3 pregnancies, getting worse each time. By the end of the 3rd I was literally crawling around by each evening - DH would regularly come in from work to find my lying in a sobbing heap on the floor. It was awful. Do whatever you can to get a bit of relief now. Getting kick in the fanjo by a horse was the way I'd describe it... horrible.

[philbee]

The Pelvic Partnership website has lots of good advice:

www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk/

If you can pay for private treatment they can send you a list of physios, osteopaths etc. who've helped other women. I'm 17 weeks and have had PGP for about a month, have made an appointment today. There's another thread called something about twisted hips and SPD where we've been talking about treatments that helped.

Get your midwife to refer you for antenatal physio as soon as you can, there's often a wait. They can give you a belt and exercises, but I think from what others have said that those aren't always helpful on their own, it's good to see someone who will manipulate your joints (safely of course).

I personally find a lot of what's written about PGP really depressing. I'm hoping I can manage it ok and stay off crutches until the baby's born. I have found that making changes to how I do things has eased the pain and I am more aware of my limits. I hope you get some good help.

[iamwhaticallpregnant]

Thanks everyone. I have an app with midwife on Monday so I will ask then. I was working as a teacher and had to give up my class because I was in so much pain - and the type of teaching I do is very physical involving a lot of standing and walking about for 3 hours straight - and I thought I was being a wimp. It is impossible to put on my socks on sometimes. I feel a bit better today but I havent been very active the last two days. Thanks for all your advice and lovely messages - I am glad it is not just me.

[rogersmellyonthetelly]

Def spd, I'm currently experiencing the same and it's not fun