Could i have SPD?

[lainey1981]

Hi all,

for the last week i have been suffering from extreme discomfort/pain in my pubic bone area. This gets particularly bad late afternoon/evening, meaning raising my leg to change clothes or to put my feet up on the sofa is agonising. My lower back also feels like it is clicking sometimes.
Could this be SPD? I am 26w and don't have a midwife appt for nearly 2 weeks, so just wanted any suggestions for what it could be and what can do to alleviate the pain?

thanks in advance :)

Hi there, i had spd in both my pregnancies. I had pelvic pain and pain on my pubic bone which felt as if i had been kicked hard there, if you see what i mean! The first pregnancy i was given the wrong advice by doctors and midwifes and by the 37th week i was in agony. The second pregnancy i saw a chiropractor who was wondeful, she sorted out my pelvis and adjusted my pubic bone! Sounds strange and i am not sure excatly what she did but it worked wonders! Another tip is no squatting, try not to open your legs wide and when getting out of bed keep your knees together. I was very worried about giving birth with the spd but saw the chiropractor every 4 weeks and giving birth was fine. After dd2 was born i had an appointment with the chiro again within a week of her birth to check how things were. So i would strongly reccommend a chiropractor if it is spd, best of luck x

Sounds like it, yes. Sounds like you might have sciatica too :(

Right, let me see if I can remember.

At night some padding under your sheet (single duvet works well) can help alleviate symptoms.

When you get changed do it sitting down as much as possible (no standing on one leg with trousers)

Avoid hoovering/cleaning the bath/pushing a shopping trolley as much as possible (online shopping is your friend)

Biggest rule is keep knees together (when sitting on the sofa, when getting out of the car, anything) All this should help.

A support belt might be worth it too, as would physio. Swimming can be blissful when in later stages of pregnancy (it's the weightlessness)

Hope this helps.

It could be; you need to be seen - can you bring forward your next appt? Then you will need a referral to a physio; keep a very careful eye on progress if said referral. I waited, and finally rang up, to be told the ealiest possible date was 8 weeks hence. I wailed down the phone"But I'll have the baby then and I'm in pain now". "Oh - the form didn't say you're pg, come in tomorrow"

I found Alexander technique lessons were really good. I'd gone a course before, and re learning minimum stress balance with bump made a huge difference.

Sounds as if it might be - I was told by my MW that sorting out possible SPD asap was important, so I'd second seeing someone as soon as you can. Last pregnancy I had horrible ligament pain in my groin (which I think was not SPD) and some SPD pain too, as you describe. My GP thought it wasn't SPD, the MWs thought it was, and consequently nothing got done.

I've seen a chiropractor for the first time, five days ago, for what I think is SPD, at 20 wks. I'd like to say it worked wonders at once, but I'm still really sore and haven't noticed an improvement. I'm seeing her again in a week, and if nothing changes, I'm seeing a physio instead. Both private, I'm afraid - try to get on an NHS waiting list for a physio but it might take months.

The chiropractor said she could possibly treat the symptoms of SPD but not the cause, which is relaxin flooding your system and making you hang loose! She also gave me some sensible advice -

-plastic bag on car seat to make swivelling in and out with legs together easier.
-sit on upright chair whenever possible, using a wedge cushion, maybe.
-turn over in bed by bringing knees up together and turning them with legs closed (Very important!)
-sitting on the bed to put on trousers, tights, etc.
-Avoiding pushing heavy buggies or trolleys (HA!).

sounds like SPD
go and see your GP to get a referral to the obstetrics physio, or call to have the mw appointment moved earlier or an extra one.
they will go through what positions to avoid etc and show you some exercises to do with a gym ball which helped me enormously.

Do your pelvis floor exercises religiously, they really do help to keep on tightening everything.
keep your legs/knees together when you come off the bed, off the car.
avoid driving if possible
if you need to sit for long period of times get up go for a little walk every 20 minutes or so.
sleep with a pillow between your legs.
if it hurts go lie down feet up for a little bit and it should feel better.

mine was mild and even then sometimes I wouldn't go downstairs all day as going back up was so painful towards the very end.

good luck, in my case I really could get it under control with the exercises.

The one positive thought to hold on to is that high levels of relaxin will enable maximum (and fastest) give in your pelvic joints: you may be glad of every millimetre.

Also,if you already have children, watch out for matchbox toy cars: I trod one one, foot shot out from underneath me, and it made it all sooooo much worse.

One thing I meant to add..

Don't be too put off if your MW/GP just says something like 'it's normal to have hip and back pain in pregnancy' Seems that some of them don't 'believe' in SPD So be persistent if yours is like that.

Pelvic floor exercises/pregnancy yoga/core stability exercises will all help, so see if you can find one you like to ease the symptoms.

by the way it stopped around a month or two after birth.

thanks everyone for your advice, I shall call my GP tomorrow and try and get an appointment.
I have admitted defeat this morning and got dressed sitting down (following your advice) - soooooo much easier
x