spd chiro or osteopath

[ledkr]

Hi. I am 26wks and have good old spd agin.Its manageable as long as i do very little but with xmas coming and dd8 and xmas to prepare for i do need to move somewhat.
I had osteopathy with dd which worked ok and am planning to see someone next week but can anyone tell me the diference between the 2.And what did you find more effective, physio hasnt really worked. Hot baths and tubi grip give me some relief. Any other suggestions.I feel gutted as this was such alonged for pg and it spoils it.

no spd but very sore hips (esp at night) causing all sorts of issues. my fault for running at cars when i was eight i swear by my osteo - minimal handling with maximum outcome. does yours specialise in the treatment of pregnant/post-partum women? i picked mine for this very reason and she's a bloody lifesaver

Chiropody is a branch of Osteopathy. Chiro works on spine and generally the back whereas an osteo will work on the whole body (treating digestive problems etc.)
I went to a physio osteo who was also a acupuncturist and she was brilliant for my chronic spd. Rare creatures though! This second pregnancy, spd hasn't been a quarter as painful.

yes mine is def not as bad as with dd8 but i think this is cos ive not pushed it this time and am carefull getting in the car etc.Kept my legs together for a change :o
The one i used before was prgnacy trained but he is also the guy who p-layed Oliver in origional film and claimed to be the father of Mike Jacksons kids so i may go elsewhere this time haha

I went to see an Osteopath, worked wonders.............i virtually crawled in to see him and skipped out (as much as you can do when heavily pregnant!!)

never even considered chiro as my gp recommended an osteopath as the best path for treating spd and my trapped nerve in my ribs at the same time.

She was a miracle worker!

Im soooo excited that there may actually be some relief from this pain.I have xmas and dd birthday all before the main event so any improvment is a bonus.

saucetastic you're incorrect about the similarity between osteo's and chiro's.

I worked for the chiropractic governing body many moons ago and chiro's are not in any way a 'branch' of osteopaths.

Chiro's do not treat just the spine and back, they are successful in treating the body as a whole but in concentrating on these areas to do so.

Chiropractic is not as highly regarded as Osteopathy.

The crucial difference is that Osteopath's work on the alignment of the body from the head, it is very gentle, you almost feel like nothing is being done. Chiropractic, depending on which type you go for, treats the body believning everything stems from the alignment of the spine.

McTimoney Chiropractic is very gentle whereas something like British Chiropractic is known more for 'clicking' you back into place.

I used an osteo for my spd in last pregnancy and he was fantastic.

Hope that helps.

Apologies for misinformation. Not helpful at all! Will take it up with my osteopath.

SPD - great isn't it. Am pregnant with my second - 18 weeks and really have had not great rests from it since being pregnant with my first 3.5 years ago. I have tried many things. McTimoney Chiro, Conventional Chiro - did not really work for me because they did not treat the muscles/tendons as well as the joints.
Am now seeing a specialist physio in SPD in Tewkesbury a two hour drive away - but well worth it for me.
For me the important thing was finding someone very experienced in SPD. All the professionals (private and NHS) say that they know how to treat SPD but with the exception of this specialist I have not felt any great improvement with any of them. The specialist said that if I had had the right treatment when I was pregnant the first time I would not be having the chronic problems I have now - as my pelvis is aligned but still experiencing pain due to long term muscle imbalances and sensitivity to pain.
I have researched alot over the years and believe that there are a few things that help me:
Getting/keeping the pelvis aligned by someone who knows what they are doing !!!
pilates to strengthen
massage to treat the tightness
acupuncture to release the muscles.
stretching to release the muscles.

The pelvic Partmership is a great source of info. and has a list of physios. chiros and osteos. etc

I had a fantastic chiropractor who said she couldn't treat the SPD itself but could get the rest of me back into alignment which took the pressure off the SPD - it was fab and the only way I kept mobile (and also got the baby into a good alignment - I literally walked in with my bump at an angle and walked out with it straight - and had a very easy delivery, especially compared to my malpositioning marathon first time round!). Having said that, she told me before she examined me that there were some things she couldn't help with and had an osteo who she would refer me on to if she felt the chiropractic couldn't help.

God it's awful isn't it.

If you read this book: Trick or Treatment
then you will definitely go and see an osteopath and not a chiropractor! There is much more evidence for their effectiveness, and it's less likely that they will break your neck (that is not an exaggeration BTW).

ledkr if you are within reach of London please message me and I can recommend a specialist osteo. Loathe to put her name up here in case I never get an appointment again!

Also I found a specialist support belt very helpful. Much better than the old tubi grip.

Thanks everyone.lantern i am in Cheltenham so may check out the Tewksbury one who fleury is seeing. Where do you get a specialist support band. I looked online and they were a bit crap and people were saying they didnt work.
I saw osteopath today and he cracked my back once whilst led on each side but one side wouldnt crack. He then gave me acupuncture on my back and ankles(for fluid retention)I dodnt really feel any better and always a bit doubtfull about acupuncture. I was uncomfortable laying there and kept thinking id have rather spent my money on a massage and a bar of galaxy.
Going back next wek but am dubious.
Can you name the Tewksbury one fleury

Meant to say. It does help speaking on here as i really dont think anyone understands. We went trick or treating yesterday and despite my friends earlier asking if i would be ok to walk far,when we returned they were happy to sit and chat whilst i saw to the kids tea and party games. Hillarious.I wished id accepted the critches just to wack them with.
Been signed off work tho so at least i dont have to struggle.

I got a specialist belt from the NHS physio - they didn't actually do any physio with me but the belt was brilliant! I started with it at 25 weeks or so too and needed a second one in a different size towards the end. It is absolutely worth getting hold of one of these - get a referral from your midwife?

I am seeing physio thursday.I will ask. Must admit i am remarkably comfy today following the osteopath. I started to ache when walked around town but on the whole a lot better when standing up and getting in and out of the car.

Glad you are more comfortable today.

I got my specialist belt from a company recommended by the physio at the hospital. She had a few I could try on. It was like this one. In my personal experience it was a lifesaver and helped hugely. I suppose each to their own though. Are the reviews you are seeing on-line from people with the real heavy duty support belts actually fitted with physio advice? As there are much lighter ones available too.

If your osteopath does not specialise in pregnancy then I'd be dubious too. My osteo spends a long term working on my pelvis and not on my back, and certainly prioritises being unable to walk above fluid retention.

I also found it useful to accept crutches as until I had them people didn't really "believe" me. They were a very visible sign that I was not undertaking business as normal. And yes that would include tea and party games!

Guardian writer Simon Singh on Chiropractic: here

Just another vote for osteopathy to cure or improve SPD symptoms. Experienced crippling pain during my first pregnancy which my osteo completely cured after about 3 sessions. This time around, felt the beginnings of that sharp SPD pain a few weeks ago, went to see the osteo and have had no more pain since then (now 25 weeks pregnant).

One important thing worth bearing in mind when seeing an osteopath is that the pain can often get slightly worse after a session, before getting better. So some people think the osteopathy has actually made the problem worse.

I believe it is because if your spine/pelvis is out of alignment then your muscles etc. have to overcompensate to hold things in place, and when the osteopath realigns things it takes some time for everything to readjust, which can lead to some increased pain in the short term, but it usually settles down fairly quickly. (I think this is right anyway - experts feel free to correct me!)

physio fitted me with abelt today and yes very comfy indeed. She then told me to buy it off the net. Hm im sure i pay ni contributions every month. Am going to treat myself thio. Think i may not bother with the osteopath.He only cracked my back once and seemed more interested in acupuncture.Going to try the pelvic partnership to find abetter one.