PGP/SPD still there after 2 years

[BabyBabyBaby4433]

Got PGP (some called it SPD in the past maybe) when I was 4 months pregnant. My toddler is 2 years old and I still can't go for a walk, a pilates class or the gym without being in a ton of pain afterwards. I've now had an MRI and apparently everything looks normal and there is nothing anyone can do for me. WTF. Anyone else? I do have hypermobility as well which does make you more prone to PGP but still...

I was in the best shape of my life when I got pregnant. I ran two half marathons, was lifting weights 3x week. I am honestly a shell of my former self. I'm fat and depressed. I used go to physio regularly (a highly recomended one that specializes in these issues) but it only helps in the moment. 2 hours later I'm back to being in pain. I can't do anything but the gentlest pilates. Swimming I'm only allowed to do certain strokes, it's boring as hell. Walking more than 20 minutes puts me in pain for 3 days. This is affecting me greatly now. I powered through the first year thinking it will get better but my life is unrecognisable now. The only way to NOT be in pain is to literally do absolutely nothing.

Anyone have this problem? Any suggestions? Posting in AIBU for traffic as I've exhausted all avenues.

Have you looked into post natal rehab with a PT who is really good at managing post partum issues? Mine only settled once this happened. I was incapacitated by it by late pregnancy with symptoms starting at about 9 weeks. I’m also hyper mobile. Physiotherapy was a great relief but didn’t fix it.

There’s a very good chance it may well feel a lot better with the right kind of movement. Mine now only comes back when I don’t train!

There’s a few UK trainers who work remotely, look at strongafmums, emmajeffreypt & strongbystella on Instagram as a starting point.

The only thing that helped me was a good osteopath, she worked magic to help reduce the inflammation and tension in the muscles. It also turned out i have an issue with my piriformis muscle that was contributing to the issue. If not, you could try accupuncture, its brilliant for muscular stuff. Sending sympathy, severe pgp is horrific!

I’m sorry you’re in such pain OP, you have my sympathy as someone who also suffered with very severe SPD/PGP.

You mentioned that you have hypermobility, which I also have. This is often dismissed as just ‘being extra bendy’ but it can cause all sorts of horrific pain and problems, especially during big hormonal shifts like pregnancy and perimenopause. It’s a connective tissue disorder and can affect many parts of the body, including joints, organs and skin. Its also progesterone sensitive which means it gets worse when you’re pregnant or on hormonal contraception that includes progesterone - are you taking the pill, Depo injection or have a coil by chance?

It is not normal to be in such pain, and physio is helpful but isn’t looking at the whole picture. If I were you I’d be going to the GP asap and asking for a referral to a rheumatologist to screen for autoimmune conditions and assess how severe your hypermobility is. There’s an assessment called the Beighton Scale, which you can do at home too. Read up on hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder and see if any of it applies to you.

I spent the best part of 10 years in pain every day, very similarly to you, and it nearly ruined my life. Gained tons of weight, had to leave my healthcare job as couldn’t do the shifts on my feet anymore, and it got to the point I could barely walk and was looking at mobility aids. Getting diagnosed with hEDS and understanding what it does to the body was so helpful and I’m doing much better now, though the road to getting diagnosed was not easy. If you ever want a sympathetic ear feel free to DM me.

I was going to suggest trying acupuncture, too. I have it when I get a flare up of Achilles tendonitis, and it sorts it out far more quickly than any amount of physio, heel inserts etc.