Is this my life now-constant pain? SPD

[Fluffygreenslippers]

Spd pain started at about 12 weeks pregnant. Midwife totally useless, said there was ‘no point’ referring me to physio. Told to take paracetamol. Pain got steadily worse as baby grew but could still hobble about. Awful, awful labour, ended in theatre delivery with forceps, legs in the air in stirrups. Spd wasn’t in my notes, useless midwife didn't even do a birth plan, I was too out of it to tell them, I’d had every drug under the sun and not slept in three days.

expected spd pain to go away after birth as thats what it says online. It didn’t, it’s worse if anything. All the pain is at the front of the pelvis, where the gap (?) is. Nice gp (new as moved house) referred me to physio. Had first session 2 days ago at 12 weeks post partum, while being examined I got stuck on the table and was shrieking in agony. Physio gave me some exercises to do but says she cannot guarantee i’ll be pain free. Was very sore after, as I sit here i have that constant aching pain at the front of my pelvis. I have tried the exercises and don’t find them particularly difficult. My core is okay i don’t have diastis recti or anything.

i am so upset that pregnancy has left me basically disabled in chronic pain. Before this i was very active, walked loads and enjoyed weight lifting. Now if i walk just a mile i am in so much pain i have to take two days to recover. Is this my life now? Is there nothing else i can do?

Have you seen an osteopath? I had significant relief from spd when pregnant after a couple of osteopath appointments.
In the mean time go back to the Gp and get a referral to a specialist.
sympathies SPD is awful.

I saw a Chiropractor at 6 months post-partum for knee pain that I thought was related to my back. He told me it was SPD - which I thought had resolved, but clearly it hadn’t. He did a (painless) manipulation of my pelvis and suddenly I have two strong legs again. I still have some exercises and strength work to do, but I am dramatically better. Expensive, but worth it (so far as I can judge).

I know it’s a different situation to yours, but maybe not so different?

If you can afford it, try a private specialist women’s heath physio, or a good chiropractor. I think they could help you.

Reflexology really helped with mine. I had pain after birth, especially at my time of the month, but it hadfully gone by the time I had my second (2 years later) and luckily didn't resurface.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I think i’m going to look into osteopathy as well as the physio.

I had really severe pelvic pain. I felt very ignored by midwives too. It was so dramatic. Pre pregnancy could do the split sand very fit by end pregnancy I was housebound.

It lifted a bit for me but still bad pain. Osteopaths didn't really help me. Just time and lots of strengthening exercises around my glutes. I did a lot of 1:1 pilates working on pelvic stability. Sorry op it was a slow road.

Yes I’m pretty much housebound now and it’s not helping my weight and can’t be good for my health. I am going to try and work out everyday as well as do physio to build my core strength back up. Also everyone I spoke to about it, including midwives (!) had no idea what I was on about. When the gp knew what I was talking about I almost cried.

Pilates is the best for post-natal - try to find a good teacher who will do online with you if you can afford it. Work on pelvic stability, it's very small movements but so important. It took me months and months. Stick with it x

Midwives that don't know about SPD? That's appalling! I second seeing an osteopath.

Mine didn't go after birth either. I was OK walking short distances with mild pain, but walking any distance the pain would just get progressively worse until i couldnt walk at all. DH had to rescue me in the car on a number of occasions! Which was embarrassing.

I was referred for physio but couldn't attend because they could only offer week day appointments and I had no one to regularly look after DS when DH was at work (and babies weren't allowed).

It went on its own when DS was about 2 years old!

But I lost so much fitness in that time and it took a long time to get it back, but now I can go running and swimming again and am pain free.

My advice would be to keep trying the exercise but if it’s not helping go back to the GP.

Pilates has helped me, as has swimming (but never breast stroke, swimming on my back seems to help)

i am 2 years out and my spd has never gone away and it’s really messed up my life, I never get a good sleep anymore and even sitting hurts me. I am in the process of being referred for a scan to see what’s going on but it’s been a long time coming, as like you, I was dismissed in pregnancy, and physio has really not helped.

good luck with it x