PGP / SPD still here after birth

[MincePieFan88]

Posting for traffic. I had pretty bad PGP during pregnancy, I was on crutches by the end. I'm 3 months post partum and I'm still in pain. A 45 minute walk leaves me in pain and hobbling around for 24 hours. Tried having sex and it was the most excruciating experience, I'm scared to try again.

Anyone else? Physio has given me exercises and I'm trying to tone and exercise but is there an end to this? It's massively contributing to what I suspect is PND. Before pregnancy, my favourite thing in the world was a nice long walk (and a hiking holiday!!).

Was the physio you saw a specialist pelvic health one? Sympathies, mine resolved after birth but the pain during pregnancy was awful.

Sympathies. I had terrible SPD in all my pregnancies (three) and last time, I wrongly assumed it would disappear as soon as I'd given birth, which happened in my first 2 pregnancies. It didn't, I was still barely able to climb the stairs for several weeks after I'd given birth. Being completely honest, it will probably take a while to heal - but it will do, just keep going with excercises, gentle walking and physio. A year later, mine is almost back to normal.

If you can afford it, I recommend seeing someone privately who is recommended by the Pelvic Partnership. Mine stuck around for 6 months post second child, I saw a private osteopath and it was cured in two sessions.

It’s quite normal for PGP to hang around a few months after birth unfortunately. The thing that cured mine was hydrotherapy - absolute game-changer. Even if you can’t access this, gentle stretches in a warm pool should help.

Pelvic Partnership is also a great resource: pelvicpartnership.org.uk

In addition to all of the above are you still breast feeding as hormones are also a factor.

Whilst it is still so severe you need to rest and avoid triggers.

I think its one of those things that you get fobbed off over - I had PGP and luckily it disappeared after baby was born but I was very worried it might not and was repeatedly told not to worry because it always goes away after birth!
Definitely try and find a specialised physio and go private if its an option. NHS physio is quite limited in my experience.

I ended up going to an osteopath when baby was 3 months. She eased it out significantly within a few sessions between physio, manipulation and accupuncture.

2 months later I was walking smoothly (I had to conciously correct a habitual limp after I realised it wasn't through pain any more) and able to start C25k to get some fitness back.

I still get twinges many years later from specific motions like stamping on to a spade or rolling round into side plank so have to be a bit cautious with assymetric motions.

The osteopath made a HUGE difference whilst I was pregnant, managed to get off crutches but will still in a lot of pain.

Mine mostly went after birth, improved more after giving up breast feeding.

I stupidly kicked a kiddy football at some point and nearly crippled myself 🙈 which is why I said to avoid what aggravates it.

Just to add - I had to really push for physio for PGP. I was fobbed off for months - many women are with this condition. Don’t be afraid to be persistent!

I had pretty bad PGP too, I wasn’t on crutches though but it was terrible towards the end. Mine got better after I had the baby but it was very much still there. I continued to be very careful about movements so as not to aggravate it e.g still kept a plastic bag on the car seat to swivel, I had a special sliding sheet for the bed too, careful engaging my core and keeping legs together when turning etc. I also saw an osteopath which helped. It got a lot better although it’s still not fully resolved as I still notice it at night. Hopefully it improves for you! This is one of many women’s health issues which is woefully neglected and often dismissed as ‘normal’. Very frustrating.

I would also say you need to see a specialist women's health physio via the Pelvic Partnership - and if you already have, go back and ask for more help. I had it very badly and although I am more or less completely better now, it still flares up when I do too much or make a wrong move (soft play is impossible).

Six years on I find I am much more prone to hip, thigh and lower back pain as well - I assume it's all linked. I'm actually thinking about going back to my physio for more advice, as I'm mid-40s and can see it getting worse if I don't strengthen my body now.