Ex-SPD sufferers - are you 100% better?

[ChubbyScotsBurd]

I had what I thought was mild SPD while pregnant (refused a physio referral cos all they'd advise was keeping my legs together ... wish someone had told me that gem this time last year, arf). Omly when my LO was born did I realise just how much pain I was in! Anyway, it got swiftly better and I forgot about it.

I went to an exercise class recently for the first time since DS was born (over 3 months). It was a kick-boxing based class, loads of crouching/kicking/twisting. I could definitely feel twinges of it again though, although only while doing the exercise, not after.

Should I see a physio? Or will it pass in time? Please don't tell me not to exercise, I'm actually losing weight right now, it's great!

took around 6 months for me to feel totally twinge free

i had it quite badly - walked like a penguin and Physio threatened me with crutches (which i refused)

i am in awe that you are kick boxing 3 months after having your DS

I had SPD with dts, its been 4 years and I still have trouble with what feels like my lower back, I can lie on my back at all, X-rays have showed nothing.

I am nearly 5 years down the line and I still have pain on occasions - sometimes to the point where I can hardly walk. Then it goes again for months. There is certainly a general weakness present all the time though, eg, I can't push heavy objects with the side of my leg/foot.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I think I am extreme.

I had SPD with my second pregnancy (Ds is now 3.5 ).

I was on crutches at the end of the pregnancy. As soon as I gave birth I was able to walk without the crutches but still had some pain/discomfort if I overdid things or sat in certain positions eg.legs crossed. Also, strangely, standing on one leg was, and still is sometimes, a killer (eg when shaving your legs in the shower)

When DS was nearly a year old I took up Pilates and have found that excellent. My instructor is an ex-physio so was able to advise me as to what to do/not to do/approach with caution etc.

It's been great as it strengthens your core and seems to give your pelvis the support and strength it needs.

I must admit I read your bit about kick-boxing 3 months after giving birth and thought OUCH -that would have given me lots of pain and discomfort at that stage. Maybe you need something more gentle to start off with?

I still get a bit of discomfort if I sit in particular positions (2 years after ds2) but I don't let it stop me doing anything. Keep it up!

DG -I have problems with pushing things with my foot like that too. No longer can I kick the laundry basket to the utility whilst carrying armfuls of stuff!

Yes, that's the kind of thing I mean. Also, reading your post earlier, I sometimes can't stand on one leg either. I find myself sitting down to do things like shaving and putting on socks. It makes me feel rather old!

The worst thing for me is, I can be walking along having been totally painfree for months, and suddenly, something will go inside me, the pain will be excrutiating and I can hardly hobble. I never know when that might happen.

DD is almost 18 months and SPD comes back every month (as it's hormonal).

In between, I'm like totaleclipse and can't lie on my back and have to be careful with what I lift/do. I was on crutches from about 23 weeks until DD was about seven months old and I used a wheelchair for the last month of my pregnancy.

I am going to take up pilates to help strengthen my core.

Dumble, that's exactly the thing, shuffling things with the side of my foot - ouch! I had thought about pilates, there's a class starting soon I think, but I'm fat and inflexible . Is lithe supple bendiness a prerequisite, Betty?

I hope I'm not doing anything too soon ... I had a section but the doc said I was fine to exercise at my own pace after my check (at 10 weeks). The thing is, my own pace is sat-on-my-arse so I need something fast to get the ticker working hard!

The pelvic pain did go remarkably fast - as in by the time I had stopped taking the section painkillers I felt 95% ok. Only looking back I realise how feckin' sore it was .

That sounds horrible DG.

I have small relapses but I notice I'm worse if I miss a few weeks of Pilates, its as if the ligaments/muscles weaken so there seems to be a reason for it.

im completely better.

i have a personal theory that fairly intensive arnica taking pretty much cured mine, but is entirely anecdotal, based on me alone and doesnt actually stand to reason... but just in case it works, i do mention it on these threads. i started taking it when i was in agony just because, well, i was in agony and ive known arnica to work for me with sprains and strains etc. it may be coincidence, but it did get a lot better and was in fact almost gone by the time the baby was born.

re exercise, current uk advice is generally to stay still as much as pos, but i found research from other European countries (Netherlands?) which suggested that gently exercising it in order to increase the 'safe' comfortable distance ones legs can be apart was a better approach.

Are you BF? It can take much longer for your ligaments to firm up if you are. I've still got to be quite careful when I'm exercising, nearly a year later. But I believe it gets better eventually.

Ooooh, I am BF ... oh dear, I hope I'm not going to injure myself ...

But I must, I must!

Maybe I should talk to the instructor next week.

ChubbyScotsBird -don't worry about size or suppleness, people in my class come in all shapes/sizes/ages/flexibility.

I'm not big (size 12, 10 if I breathe in a lot ) but have very limited flexibility in my lower spine - there are definitely larger people with better flexibility than me.

Just make sure you get a good instructor -as I said mine is a ex-physio so she can advise everyone individually if they need to adapt the exercises. People in the class have various problems including backs, shoulders, wrists.

Thanks Betty, I have emailed the instructor. Sorry to hear so many of you are still suffering, it must be rotten .

I had my DD a year ago and only got SPD AFTER the birth..and still get sore

Hd it with ds3, qute bad for a bit but totaly disappeared soon after birth- came back early with this PG though. Ah well.

I'd say pay attention to your body and do your kick boxing to the extent which it works for you.

I have to say that the idea of kick boxing would have made me wince when I was still recovering.

Ds2 is 7 mths and I still get it occassionally, usually a lovely crunching sound when I've been in one postion for too long. I was on crutches for the last few weeks of pregnancy too (not that I could use them much with a toddler in tow)