to expect a GP to know what SPD is?

[luckykitty]

In a nutshell - went to GP this morning in agony - cant really walk, eye-watering pain - have hypermobile joints - support belts, crutches etc - to query this new and vile pain at front of pelvis which feels like someone has stuck an axe me - only to have GP say 'I have no idea what youre on about, I dont know what to tell you' - said he would call my physio then call me-sent me home to rest - hasnt called me - still in agony.
Am i being unreasonable? This is the 3rd GP at my doctors Ive seen who appears to not have a clue/take me seriously.
This is my first child so I dont know what to expect but was kinda hoping for some help

I think they refer to it as PGP now but the GP should still know what it is!
I feel your pain I was on crutches and could barely walk towards the end of my last pregnancy. My midwife told me that they can refer for physio quicker than the GP so maybe worth talking to them? And they've probably got a better chance of knowing what you're talking about!

here

YANBU, I experienced the same in my first pregnancy so by the third pregnancy when SPD started at 7 weeks my GP was now an expert in it. He was still hesitant with the referrals though but thankfully whatever I asked for he did. I have no idea why the health professionals are so lacking in knowledge on the condition which is terrible. With my third I was signed off work from 9 weeks and I was in agony and on crutches for the rest of the pregnancy. I would urge you to read up some more on it on the pelvic partnership as it is now called Pelvic Girdle Pain and ask to be signed off work if possible and take things very easy. SPD is absolutely dreadful, hope you feel better soon

Like Boffin, I am still suffering 16 months after giving birth with a lot of hip pain and SPD towards and after my periods. It is horrendous

I think they refer to it as PGP now but the GP should still know what it is!
I feel your pain I was on crutches and could barely walk towards the end of my last pregnancy. My midwife told me that they can refer for physio quicker than the GP so maybe worth talking to them? And they've probably got a better chance of knowing what you're talking about!
The thing I found that helped the most was advice from the physio to move my legs at the same time and keep my knees together when doing things like getting out of bed. I hope it eases after the birth - it did for me.

My top tip would be to get silk or satin pyjamas - great for turning over in bed, and fit flops - great for joints.

I would also try to see a chiropractor who has a bit of expertise in this area, as they can click stuff back in with a spring loaded hammer thingy that is suitable for use in pg. Just one or two visits may make all the difference.

I have given up trying now,will stay off work and do little and often,i felt the 30 pounds i spent on the osteopath would have been better spent on a dvd and some chocolate or a nice massage or pedicure.It seems so hit and miss what is available for help and i am not made of money. I bought the belt that the physio fitted for me and it is massive so someone has made a mistake either the physio told me the wrong size or the company sent me the wrong size.I have now spent a further 3 quid on velcro and a strong needle and thread!!!
I find if i rest often i can do stuff and i can drive so thats a blessing. It did go off after my dd so i can but hope.
Just one thing tho,i have been padding and supporting myself with pillows for ages and last night i fell asllep in a normal way ie.just 2 pillows under my head,i had the best night for ages so beware of pillow over use,it may not help.

panda i would seriously kick anyone in the crotch who said that to me.Also the old classic pregnant not ill.Well extremes of vomiting(not me but some) severe pain in pelvis,back,head etc.;piles,constipation,utis and thrush all are bloody illnesses arent they? Those phrases should be banned.

Sympathy here from another SPD/PGP sufferer. Mine started at around 15 weeks with my last pregnancy. I found my GP and midwife seriously useless. They did refer me (eventually) for physio, but other than give me a belt, crutches and a warning "not to open my legs too wide" , it was all pretty useless.

In the end, I went private and found a fantastic physio who specialises in PGP/SPD (she has written articles for parenting journals etc.) She is a leading expert in PGP both during and after pregnancy. I had one session at around 30 weeks and it made a MASSIVE difference. My pelvis was misaligned and she manipulated it back into place. I was amazed and really wish I'd done it much earlier and saved myself months of utter misery

I still suffer around the time of my period (11 months post partum) and I have just made another appointment to have another session.

She is in the South Mids/South West if anyone wants contact details.

A good chiropractor can do magic for SPD. I put it off because it's not covered by the NHS, by 36 weeks I couldn't walk and my pubis joint kept cracking. I saw a chiropractor and in 2 weeks (about 4 sessions IIRC) I was back to normal, just a bit of an ache as my baby was engaging.

GPs should definitely know about SPD/PGP (speaking as one). Much sympathy to anyone suffering. I'm lucky that way but got hyperemesis in my last pg and any doctor who uses the pregnancy is not an illness line should definitely be shot. In this area GPs are not allowed to refer someone to obs physio which I found annoying when I diagnosed it last year in a patient whose mw had missed it and wouldn't accept that it was SPD after I said so. (she's a well known doctor hater). The patient eventually got her referral but only after a month.

I'm suprised noone had tried accupuncher (sp?).

My SPD started at 22 weeks in my first pg and i got refered to phcio and the woman offered it to me and it was fab it worked up till 37 weeks and at 38 i give birth and the pain was gone. I got twines for about a month after birth but nothing as bad as it was and then it was gone completely.

Also i did not have a belt or anything eles as the accupuncher really helped.

I cant get acupunture on the NHS and we have to be so careful atm with money as I think im going to have to bring my maternity leave forward as I dont get paid sick pay from work, only SSP which is better than nothing but still crap. Feeling really stuck - literally! Doesnt help that I dont drive and have to get 2 busses to work either.

Can anyone tell me if what their experiences are of being induced? Have been doing lots of reading, wanted water birth, natural as possible, but have read that if SPD is horrendous there is a chance that they will induce you? I dont really want this and havent given it any thought, but now the whole epidural thing scares the pants off me and there is no way in hell i could be awake for a section. Ever.
Mass panic! please help me shove me head up my arse so I dont have to think about it all!!!
And just to add insult to injury my hands are killing me - was diagnosed with carpal tunnel a couple of weeks ago and using crutches to get about is putting terrible pressure on my hands!!! I totally respect anyone who goes through this and finds the strength to have more children!

Luckykitty, even though every single SPD suffer in the planet wants to be induced so the agony is over, IMO it really is best to soldier on and get to term. Inductions are often a struggle anyway (ask fellow MN SPD sufferer NuttyTaff, who ended up spending five days in labour). As my consultant told me, the best thing you can do for yourself is contrive it so you have a water birth.

BTW I got so little support with the SPD from the NHS that I eventually wrote to my MP with a grid listing all the silly comments from professionals and dates, all the lost referrals and dates, all the patronising fob offs and dates, and that made a massive difference to how I was treated. It was not quite red carpet all the way after that, but certainly a big effort made by all the senior people at the hospital.

Surprised to hear of GPs not knowing what SPD is. It is very common, and although the term 'SPD' is now outdated, most practicing GPs will have come across it referred to as 'SPD' at some time in their training. I see a lot of patients with pelvic girdle pain and I usually refer them direct to obstetric physio, and (because they are clearly working to a deadline in this case!) they are very quick at seeing patients.

Generally though, since many GPs see very little of pregnant women these days (nearly all care is midwife-led, and any patients with problems are seen by the obstetricians), I can see why they may become de-skilled with maternity care, possibly especially male GPs. We can't all know everything about everything...

SO no, YANBU; I would expect most GPs to have heard of it, but not necessarily how to manage it. They should easily be able to find out who to refer to locally though.

Am also a bit that there are GPs out there who don't know what SPD is but hey - they don't all have time to read up on the journals they are sent. Don't know what the newer GPs excuse it, tbh.

My osteopath pretty much saved me from SPD - I have had an unstable pelvis for years, giving me sporadic sciatica, which he had been treating for about 7y prior to my pg. Because of this, he continued to treat me throughout my pg and I am sure this is why I didn't get SPD. My bf, who had also suffered from bad sciatica, hadn't had ongoing treatment for it and she got SPD in her pg. Of course I realise we are two different people with two different pelvises but still - I would say it is worth trying.

I was induced in my pg but at term+14, so I only had pessaries and was informed that epidurals after induction are more likely to involve extra medical interference (ventouse, forceps, emCS, that kind of thing) but thankfully I managed to cope without and pushed DS out myself. I didn't need the syntocin drip though - I believe from others that is the worst bit about induction.

I am so very grateful for all your advice and just generally having people who know what Im on about and how I feel.
I have discovered that I have very little co-ordination when it comes to using crutches! However you guys are right in that doing nothing makes a world of difference
I have appointment with midwife on fri and consultant next week, am hoping that everything is still attached and in some sort of working order so that baby will put in an appearence when she is ready and doesnt have to be tempted out before.
Thank you again for sharing your experience with me, I really am grateful as I dont know any other people with this prob let alone what to do about it.
I hope everyone is doing ok x