SPD 6months after giving birth, need help!! I m in agony

[jofeb04]

Hiya
ive had SPD now for six months after giving birth, and from about 17weeks gestation. feels like its never going to go away!
Im on some really strong painkillers, along with hot water bottle.
ive been having physio, walking for 5minutes now :) but cant manage any further.
My problem now isnt just the SPD pain. Its also all of my body aches. Really stiff neck, painful back, all my legs hurt. Been told my both doctor and physio that its all to do with not using these muscles for so long (wasnt able to move at the end of pregnancy).
Has anyone else suffered as severly as this? Im in agony at the moment, not due any more tablets fo another hour.
What else can be done? I cant go swimming, not strong enough yet.
Thanks for any replies if i dont get back on here till tomorrow.

A friend of mine was in a wheelchair, off and on, after having her first baby, for about 18 months. It was really bad. She ended up getting some sort of special Canadian physio (there's a practice in London) which entirely sorted her out. She's since had another baby, and had no SPD at all, she just had to be careful about her alignment during pregnancy, and do her exercises.

I'm not actually sure who she saw about this, though. I can try to find out, but I'm about to go offline (I think) for 3 weeks.

Hi there
Poor you -I had SPD during my second pregnancy and was on crutches for the last month so can imagine how horrible it must be for you now.

I was one of the lucky ones though that had almost instant relief as soon as I gave birth so haven't got first-hand post-birth experience . However I know someone who had hydrotherapy due to SPD post-natally. It was recommended by her physio and she seemed to think it helped. Ask your physio about it.

Also I wanted to recommend pilates when you're much further down the line. I've found its really helped with the niggling aches and pains I had.

Sorry its not more helpful but hopefully someone else will post soon

i had it for a good few months after DD, but not to this extent, sorry.
i know that some people that suffer with lower back pain have mild epidural injections, maybe you could ask GP if that may help with SPD pain?
sorry i dont have anymore help for you, hope it starts to ease soon.

Thanks for the advice?
Anyone else out there, theres bound to be someone else who has had it for this long!!

Hiya,
I really feel for you. I was diagnosed with sacroilliac joint dysfunction when I was pg with dd2. So I suffered mainly with my back. I was on crutches for the last few months of my pg. When I had dd2 the pain went away for a few weeks but then it came back big time. And like you it affected me all over. From my neck to the joints in my toes. DD2 is will be 3 in August. Since then I have been diagnosed with a damaged disc in my lower spine. They also think that I could possibly have arthritis, but this is not confirmed.
I'm probably not helping much (other then to scare you), am just saying that in my case I pushed for an MRI scan from the time my pains came back. I had to wait till my DD2 was 2 before they let me have one and that confirmed my diagnosis.

I am now 24 weeks pg with dd3 and I have SPD on top of my back probs.

Your problems could simply just be the spd taking its time to dissapear but if you think something is wrong keep on at them for an MRI. Also if your tabs aren't working I suggest you get stronger ones. I know what it's like to be in that much pain for most of the time, and whilst some people dont like stronger meds it might at least give you the boost you need.

As to hydrotherapy, I personally have never tried it, although have heard it is very good. For me the physio's messing with me just made me worse, so just be a bit careful. You can get natural things which are supposed to help your joints, just check with your local health food shop. I was on cod liver oil with glucosomene (think thats spelt right).

I also went to see an osteopath and she was helpful in my diagnosis.

Take it easy and I hope you are feeling better soon hon!

When i still had pain after 6 months i was referred by my GP to a specialist rheumatologist.

It may be that something ie one side of your pelvis has "slipped" and you are now malaligned. (NOT technical terminology - please dont quote me ).

It was discovered when i had investigations that, mysteriously, despite having had quite a few x-rays of my lower back/pelvic area, that I had a malformed (from birth) sacro iliac joint that was uneven in shape and split in to three parts. I also had extra vertebrae fused. I also have hyperflexive joints which doesnt help.

This was why i was having so many problems (but had been having some milder problems even before my pg).

Im not suggesting this is the case with you but your GP needs to refer you for further investigation at the very least. Go back.

When i still had pain after 6 months i was referred by my GP to a specialist rheumatologist.

It may be that something ie one side of your pelvis has "slipped" and you are now malaligned. (NOT technical terminology - please dont quote me ).

It was discovered when i had investigations that, mysteriously, despite having had quite a few x-rays of my lower back/pelvic area, that I had a malformed (from birth) sacro iliac joint that was uneven in shape and split in to three parts. I also had extra vertebrae fused. I also have hyperflexive joints which doesnt help.

This was why i was having so many problems (but had been having some milder problems even before my pg).

Im not suggesting this is the case with you but your GP needs to refer you for further investigation at the very least. Go back.

whoops - sorry. Should also point out the mysteriously bit was that i had gone 27 years without anyone discovering my malformed sacro iliac.

I also think that your aches and pains could be your ligaments stiffening up after pg (what Hausfrau mentioned about relaxin) - have you stopped b/feeding recently too?

I have supported many women with SPD (I am a doula) and I have had SPD too (hence my interest). There was a mumsnetter who had very severe SPD (Pie) and she had it so bad that she was in a wheel chair at 20 weeks and stayed in it for a long time. As far as I know she is still in some pain and taking occasionally some heavy drugs (I haven't e-mailed her in weeks so I may be out of date but her DD is 2 1/2 yo so the pain lasted way longger than 6 months).
This is a particularly accute case and the London consultant orthopedic surgeon who saw her said he had never seen it that bad (except in American football players!!)
Anyway more to the point - and more positively... I find most women benefit greatly from osteopathy from a specialist osteopath (one that deals mostly with pegnant women). I have seen them do "miracles".. on me and on my clients!

I had this, took 11mths and physio to get back to some movement normality. go to ur doc (havent read thread, at work, just wanted to help)

cx

I had it for years after my last child. As it started disappearing, I'd do something like kick a ball and almost collapse in pain.

Someone suggested a hydrotherapy pool - I found that was helpful and it might be worth finding out where your nearest one is (your council might know). I still have problems with my wrists now and I don't think my pelvis will ever be as strong as it was before I had children but I'm much more careful now.

I still have SPD and my son is 14 months old. I was referred to a physio and saw her about 7 months after giving birth and my pubic bone was still separated. With exercises I managed to close it within a month and was discharged. Am still in mild pain. I find I do something that pulls it apart, especially turning supermarket trolleys around corners. I still can't go swimming, do exercise or walk for more than 15 minutes without putting myself in pain for a couple of days. I can't offer advice, but wish you good luck.