My pelvis is knackered, what to do next?

[buttercupsareyellow]

Had dd 7 months ago and my pelvis started aching when she was 3 months old. For some stupid reason I decided to go ski-ing on a dry ski slope (dont ask) and having never done this before ended up toppling over. Had a bit of joint pain but thought nothing of it. However, the pain has got steadily worse. Every movement is painful, especially walking. Walking up and down stairs is horrendous, even twisting round to open the fridge door for eg causes pain. Lying in bed seems to make it worse too,lots of shooting pains down my leg.

I can identify the muscles which hurt and if I press down hard on them on my pelvis, as if to support them, the pain goes. Almost as if the pressure is providing some support like the pelvic bones have come apart...

I saw my gp at Christmas who was uselss just suggested joining a gym . I don't think she realised how bad it was. She examine me lying down and moved my legs around but it doesn't hurt unless I'm walking, putting weight on my pelvis etc. She acted as if she'd never come across this before...

I am now at my wits end, living with this pain day in day out is ruining my life. Trying to look after a baby and being back a work while coping with pain every second is horrendous but I don't know what to do. Have made another gp appointment but what tests/exams should I ask for? I just need to get this sorted I spent a fortune on an osteopath who didn't seem to help and also acted like she'd never come across this before. Feel like a medical freak

hi buttercups, sorry to hear that you are in such pain. I can only echo what others have said - GPs aren't expert at this kind of thing and in my experience have been rubbish.

I am slightly hypermobile and have always done a lot of sport. Two years ago I started having pain in what I thought was my hip - it turns out to have been a problem with my SI joints. I have private healthcare so was referred for an MRI and the surgeon simply checked that it wasn't microfractures and told me not to exercise for 6 weeks. I had just started seeing a physio at the time who advised exactly the opposite. Long story short, with specific advice from an excellent physio, I am in much better shape and a whole world less pain. There's no point going to the gym with this kind of injury as you'll only make it worse - first and foremost you need some advice on where exactly the problem is coming from, then you need to work on fixing it before returning to normal exercise.

I highly recommend pilates (my physio swears by it, even though I've been doing yoga for ten years and thought they were similar. In fact pilates is completely different). I don't exactly love my pilates classes but I love not being in pain, and feeling like my body is strong and balanced.

Please do see a physio (privately if necessary, by referral if poss!) and do whatever exercises they recommend; they should push you to do as much as possible at home - as my physio always says, he's happy to take my money, but I can get away with fewer sessions if I work hard on the exercises.

FX that you find someone who can help (keep going until you do!) and once you get the go-ahead you should hopefully be set some exercises that will build core strength as well as good posture and balance. You DON'T have to live with that level of pain, it's not normal, and it's not your fault.

Good luck!

Have had SI dysfunction for years. Can I recommend that when you sit down, especially when driving, that you put a folded towel under the back of your bum (or invest in a decent, firm wedge cushion). It will raise your bum so that it is higher than your knees, which is really important as when your knees are higher than your bum, it puts increased stain on the SI joints, and increased the pain. Car seats tend to be a bit 'buckety' which makes sitting in them even more painful.

Thanks everyone for your advice, it's really helping knowing that I'm not alone with this and there are things I can do to help with the pain. Going to make another appointment with gp to get results of x ray and to push for physio.

I've been googling lots of physios but can't find any in my area that deal specifically with this sort of issue, any ideas if there is a list anywhere I could look at?

buttercups

So sorry to read your OP. I too had SPD from being 20 weeks pg. DS is nearly 2 and I still go to physio and hydrotherapy every week, and use a crutch for walking.

Mind you, just the one now!

I have inflamation of the SI joint, brough on by the SPD.

All the other posters are right re supporting that area as much as you can, with the towel or wedge.

Can I ask what pain relief you are using? And have you tried a TENS machine too?

I find that a plastic carrier bag on my seat helps me to slide out of the car easier.

It's so hard, it's not a condition that you can 'see' so the constant, nagging pain really gets you down.

My legs don't work so great and I have alot of muscl wastage from over compensating with the pain IYSWIM? I waddle rather than walk.

If you are doing the same, then it makes it all the harder to correct.

I really hope that you can get the support you so desperately need.

Sorry, meant to add re physio, even if your GP won't refer you, they will know where you can get the right treatment for you.

I'd say hang on until you get the results so that no more harm is done to you if you get treated for something that turns out to be something else.

Just to be on the safe side.

mouseface that you're still in pain. Thanks for helpful tips. I'm not using any pain relief. I have an addictive personality so worry that if I start taking painkillers I wont be able to stop... I have to say I do over compensate on alcohol though, sometimes a couple of glasses in the evening while I'm on the sofa (so not walking and therefore no pain!) helps me forget what a bloody nightmare this all is.

Do you think you'll ever be pain free and not need the crutch?

Yep, I do buttercup. I also hold a blue badge which I plan to get rid of by getting better this year.

I'd seriously try a TENS then if you'd rather not take medication.

You can hire them I think or maybe ask around if you could borrow one.

You sound as though you do have something wrong otherwise why would it hurt?

I hope your GP comes up with a good plan of care. xx

buttercups I joined the pelvic instability network in Scotland (free on the web) and I was emailed a list of practitioners, of which I am scouring through at the moment. Some are osteopaths, some chiros and some physios. I am about to go to my GP and ask for more help, and maybe even an MRI or something. I can certainly email you if you pm your address to me, or you join the pelvic they should email you the same info as I have?
mouseface completely inspired by you too, I remember you on the SPDsofa thread and I am glad you are down to one crutch instead of two! Wishing us all speedy healing x

Thanks indigobarbie, I've had a look at the website but just thought it was for people in Scotland will email them for a list of physios. I spent a small fortune on an osteopath who used to look puzzled when i told her my symptons, I don't think she had any experience of these types of problems. Would be good to find people who specialise in this sort of condition.

Hey indigo!

Lovely to see you. Yes, go and get more help, it's out there.

I have an specialist orthopedic hospital 10 mins down the road so I am very lucky. The pyshios are fantastic and I get lots of support.

Can't wait to be fixed.

I hope your GP can get you to where you need to be. xx

Just had the results back from my pelvic xray, all fine wanted there to be something on there so the gp could say, yes this is the problem this is why you're in so much pain. Now I'm back to square one again. Would damage to the muscle not show up?

Buttercups, this could actually be good news. (((hugs))) I take it everything is in the right place then? I was told that an MRI scan can show up inflammation in the connective tissues, I wonder if you might be able to ask for one of those?
I am trying to find an osteopath with experience in this thing (they don't all seem to advertise if they are experienced in it, and I'm loathe to go to one who hasn't treated anyone before), I forgot to mention I saw a chiro for treatment whilst I was pg and he did say he wouldn't be able to fix me until after the baby was out. I spent a small fortune then, but it was worth it to get some relief.
I am not to chuffed at the prospect of spending more now, but I am determined to get better. Mouseface is a light in dark times I feel, am I inspired by her experience.

Was just hoping indigo that the problem would show up on the xray and I could get it sorted. My DH seems to think its a muscle/joint problem that's causing all the pain with walking, movement etc.

I saw an osteopath who didn't have a clue and it helped not one bit. I think you're right to make sure that you find an osteopath that specialises in the problem otherwise a complete waste of money, but more than anything so disappointing when it doesnt help!

See if you can get a referal to a Muscular/skeletal consultant rather than Orthopedic consultant. Saw one 10 years ago, had pelvis x-ray, but with dye into sacroilliac joint, and then local anasthetic, so if temp pain free could diagnose the joint.
Also MRI scan.
Pain management clinic may also help you.

Quick update. Still suffering with this, things no better. GP referred me to orthopedic surgeon this week, hoping he'll be able to shed some light on what's going on. Going to push for mri scan, just worried about how I will cope if mri scan gives me the all clear. Worried I'll never get a diagnosis for this thing.

Did ask about physio, but was told I'd have to see the consultant first to rule out any other problems.It all seems like such a long process. GP didn't have a list of specialist women physios in my area either, hoping the consultant will be able to help with that.

How's everyone else coping?

I had PGP in pregnancy and afterwards. 4 months after the birth, it wasn't getting better as I'd hoped it would, so I went to a pyhsio who specialises in pelvis injury and problems. About 6 visits later it's almost better. I suspect I'll always have an issue with it though. It'll probably be weaker and more susceptable to damage on the left side than the other if I don't look after it - by that I mean, sitting correctly and doing the physio exercises to stabilise the pelvis, but I'm very happy with the physiotherapy treatment I received. I didn't even consider going through the NHS though, I just went straight to the private physio - they write to your GP to tell them what treatment you're receiving of course, in case it impacts on anything else, but the last time I needed pyhsio and went through my GP I had to wait 3 months for a 1st appointment so didn't even think about doing that this time - I just wanted to get on with it.

Sorry, I should have said that it's not that the GP is useless but they aren't very often a specialist in the area you need, so I think if you can afford to you may as well go straight to see a specialist, it's often A LOT quicker that way. Of course if you went to see a physio, they might well refer you elsewhere first anyway, but that would still be quicker!

Updating in the hope this thread may help others in the future.

Well, after months of being in pain and frequent pointless trips to various gps I paid to see a private orthopaedic surgeon. He did an xray and saw what the problem was immediately, SPD. Even i could see from the xray how tilted my pelvis is and how far apart the bones are, there was also lots of swelling. He recommended nurofen 3 times a day to help reduce the swelling and physio. If physio doesn't work then I might need a steroid injection.

I am so angry that the xray I had done on the NHS came back as 'normal' especially as the consultant I saw today said he was surprised it hadn't been picked up, it was obvious to him.

AIBU to make a formal complaint about my local x-ray department?

Thanks to everyone on this thread for their advice.

Can't wait to start physiotherapy now, though not sure how I'm going to afford it though that's a different story...