SPD - anyone else joining me on the birthing ball?

[elgoldenflower]

Hello out there, was looking for a support thread for those of us unlucky enough to have developed SPD and couldn't find a current one.

I'm 19 weeks (EDD 26.10.11) and have been aware of pelvic pain since conception (v mild at first) but it's steadily getting worse. I now can't walk more than about 30 yds without being sofa/birthing ball - bound for the evening.

My physio is fitting me with crutches on Monday as I can't avoid a bit of walking for my work (I run drama workshops all over the place so have to travel to them and I don't drive).

So far cycling's wonderful but I'm not aloud to use my bike like a mobility scooter as far as I know so cycling usually involves a bit of walking too.

Grr just wanted to be able to rant without annoying my v supportive antenatal thread.

elseIlltell - congratulations, nice big baby there to push out. glad everything is OK.

philbee - sorry for your loss.

Hiya everyone, sorry been out of the loop a little bit with work and stuff.

Have had a few days where the pain has been much better, generally the SIJ pain is a bit easier and the hip isn't so bad at the moment. The SP area is currently worst, but it's bearable at the moment. Feeling really tired as not sleeping well - due to the pains disturbing me, but I'm getting there and less tearful than I was. Thinking of trying a gentle swim, I tend to just use my arms and do front crawl so I'm hoping it won't flare it up too much, will find out tomorrow no doubt!

philbee - sorry about your sad news. I know I only joined this thread just before it happened, but truly sorry.

My pelvic floor exercises seem to be doing the right thing at the moment. I got through a whole day of doing an average amount of walking and housework without turning into my granny today. I have found a number of physiotherapists privately who claim to help "pregnancy related injuries" so am going back to my GP to see if she recommends any on my list. I had hoped for an osteopath, as that is who helped me most in my last episode, last pregnancy, but any help will be welcome.
Next stop is to find a pool to exercise in! I am bit less moany and depressed than I was when I joined this thread - not sure why, maybe I have just got over the surprise of it hitting so early. I want to have a happy pregnancy, so goddamit I will.

hello all

philbee I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I really feel your pain. Try to take it easy for a while and be good to yourself. Wishing you all the very best when you feel ready to start trying again.

eityf Huge congratulations to you! He sounds like a big one! Good riddance to the SPD and wishing you a speedy recovery!

I've been away for a few days, got totally looked after, so very little pain. Now back to housework etc so I'm sore again. Actually what annoyed me more than PGP while away was my hayfever. I was even crying with it, couldn't breathe through my nostrils at all. Kept me awake at night. Argh. Tried everything non-medical that there is out there, nothing helped. So went to doc this morn and at last he prescribed me a nasal spray. Phew! Really didn't want to go down this route, but can't cope without it. Also got co-codamol prescribed for me, not that I feel I need it yet for the pain, but at least I now have it for when/if I need it. It's thanks to this thread that I knew to ask for it- with previous pg, I thought it was only paracetamol we could use, and that didn't even touch the pain towards the end. So, thank you!

Another wee tip for y'all.....had a midwife appointment last week and she was very kind and sympathetic regarding my PGP. She said that for my next appointment, if I feel it's too much to go in to her for it, that she'll come out to me at home! So for those of you on crutches already, or finding it too much getting out and about, it's maybe worth explaining your situation and asking if they would do the same? They're out and about every day anyway doing post-natal visits and can easily slot in an extra ante-natal visit when they're in your area. So...hope that maybe helps someone and hope your MWs are as understanding as mine :)

I took co-codamol (and diclofenac) just after giving birth because of exacerbated PGP, and my DD did not seem to suffer - although she did seem a bit sleepier than the other babies in my mums' group!

kiteflying excuse my probably silly question, but was DD sleepier because you were breastfeeding?

I was saying it flippantly - as in, could have been, but I have no real reason to suspect the painkillers were making her sleepy. She was always wide awake at 3am! Yes, I was breastfeeding, so I was worried the strong painkillers were affecting her because of my milk.

I did worry at the time that maybe it was the painkillers but now I doubt it, or maybe I hope I was wrong to worry. I took co-codamol for a simple headache months later and it nearly sent me to sleep. When I was in massive pain of course I did not notice how strong they were.

How is everyone doing?

I had a fairly good day yesterday again, and was moving around fairly normally, as I was 'only going to the hosp and mainly sitting on my arse for a few hours' I decided to leave the belt at home! BIG mistake. Feeling it today, but it'll teach me, and shows how much help I'm getting from it.

Looks like I should be joining you!

I'm 17 wks today with dc4, and have had the tell tale spd twinges for the last week. I had it in my last preg too, but not starting this early!! Or maybe I just put it down to stretching..I can't remember.

I went to preg yoga last night and it's really noticeably not as sore! No twinges at all last night or today, which is good as I have a busy few days coming up.

My chiropractor isn't happy to yank me around yet as I had a mmc in Jan and mc in March so having to find other things to do. I suppose I need to speak to my mw, should I ask to be referred for physio? I don't remember them being much good last time tbh, except to supply a support belt.

So the ball is out and in use, already!

Blah, just generally fed up 100years! Pregnancy going both v fast and v slow - can't believe I'm 25 + 3 already but also can't believe still have all of last trimester to endure SPD through. As long as I get a nice wee baby at the end and SPD cured by delivery, rather than a colicky wee spud and ongoing SPD (aaah the sort of prosepct that haunts the wee small hours when I can't get back to sleep after another graceful turning over in bed!) Glad to hear belt helping you so much - is it a serola one? I've held out so far but may cave.

Starting to get it through my head that doing less = less pain, but then real life intervenes! Got stuck in heavy traffic earlier and now my back and hips are playing up a lot. CAn't sit on arse tonight (MIL BBQ / SIL birthday shindig) and can't sit on arse tomorrow either as work beckons. At least it's the weekend after that!

Hi harrassed and comisserations on your SPD. Glad to hear yoga helping! I would go for a physio referral - hey why not while we still have an NHS and physios on offer! Might be a more helpful one this time (fingers crossed)?

oh, brain like sieve!

button good luck for your induction today or tomorrow!!! Hope all goes to plan for you and lo and you can wave goodbye to SPD

Hello all,

Not been on for ages as we've been moving house. My goodness can I warn anyone from doing this with SPD on top of pregnancy! Just so tiring and frustrating co there's so little I can do. It felt like it tripled the stress of it all - even though DP has been amazing. Mostly unpacked now and will soon be able to clear the baby's room of binbags of our clothes so I can start arranging it, see what we need and gently cajole DP into decorating in there.

Been seeing an osteopath for 3 weeks now and it has really helped my mobility. I still need crutches to walk any distance but all other moving around the house has become much easier and I'm generally more comfortable. I've also got some exercises to do on my birthing ball which help keep my lower back more mobile and help it take the strain from my hips. Had 2 good nights of sleep now without paracetamol so I'm hopeful I might be able to stay fairly mobile and comfy until near the end. FC! My Osteo also recommended Yoga so I'm on a waiting list so will be going for a bit before I'm due to drop hopefully.

Also thinking of you button

Harassed, hope you find something to help you. My NHS physic sadly didn't actually supply me with a belt, and so had to buy my own!

Missus, sorry you are fed up. Mine has been a lot better than it was at the stage you are at, so for me it's not been all bad. Yes it's a serola I've got, definitely recommend it.

elgolden, Nope I wouldn't want to move house while this is going on. Doing when not pregnant is hard enough, let alone when pregnant too.

Hope all is OK for you Button.

bleurgh, posted on Friday night but internet has been playing silly buggers all weekend. Still fed-up, sorer than I've been for a while. Maybe due to slipping and falling on arse in shower on Friday morning. SOunds more dramatic than it was - had been sat on edge of bath to shave legs (prior to acupuncturist that arvo) and when I went to get up I slipped and fell. Onto my right hip, which is the more troublesome one. Then I slid along the bath, getting coated in hairy shaving cream . It actually wasn't too sore at the time but got worse as Friday went on.

Then had another attack of nesting on Saturday while DH away and not there to restrain me, climbing on chairs is always a good plan but managed not to fall off! Wondering if I've knocked myself out of alignment. Not seeing physio regularly, last time was about 6 weeks ago and it was all reasonably aligned then. If doesn't settle will have to go back and whinge some more to her. Sitting on arse at mo hoping rest will help and really disracted by random appearance of a PJ & DUncan music video!

els and 100yrs, glad to hear you're both feeling a bit easier. DO you think it's eased up as you've got nearer the end? I still have 14 weeks to go and the thought of things going on as they are is pants. And frankly boring!

Hope everyone else has had a good weekend

Hey Missus Definitely go back to the Physio, see if they can help.

Sorry to say though that I'm only 25+4 so similar to you - my progress is undoubtedly due to treatment and exercises from a really good osteopath who is keeping all the muscles around the hips mobile so that they can compensate healthily for the overly mobile side of my pelvis.

Hi all
Have been away on holidays and had a fab time....proof that rest does help our situation. DH did all the lifting and carrying of DD and bending and stooping to pick up/get things for me. Was dreading the holiday to be honest...thought I'd be so sore all the time and unable to do anything nice and therefore would be miserable company for all. Glad I was wrong. Even hired a mobility scooter to go around the zoo one day! Now registered to get a scooter at certain shopping centres if I should happen to want one in the next few weeks!

Totally relate to you all feeling there's so long to go still....I'm also only 26+5.

Had physio again yesterday and quite sore from it, but not as sore as the previous 2 times. She complemented the strength of my stomach muscles, said it was from the swimming I've been doing every week, and that really helps hold the pelvis together when stomach muscles are in good shape :) Also a contributing reason for why I haven't been toooo agonisingly sore the last while.

el how are you settling into the new house? I admire you....I was a wreck moving house when not pregnant, never mind pregnant with PGP!

button.....any news? hope all's well.

el I'm with you on not moving whilst preg! We moved when I was 10 wks prg, so nobody knew, and on strict orders from mw not to do a thing as have had two mc's very recently. Was exhausting! And we still have boxes to unpack as the exhuastion hasn't lifted properly yet.

iwill glad your holiday helped!

100 I had heard that I might have to buy my own belt. Yaay to cutbacks .

Still very early stages for me, and hoping it stays that way! Was very achey over the weekend, but it was a stupidly busy weekend. Felt rotten yesterday though, and full of cold, so took the day off as dh (roofer) was rained off and got looked after. Def made a difference today. I have mw tomorrow, so hoping for a referral.

missus hope you are improved after your fall?

harrassed I hope you got that referral?

I've had a rotten few days, dunno why though, as I haven't been over-doing it. Not sleeping either, which doesn't help. :(

Iwill - thanks, haven't really improved since gracefully falling on my rear end , still sorer than I've been for a while, plus my symphysis pubis is much sorer whch is new. Feels like it has separated. Oh happy days!! Haven't been able to make a physio appointment yet cos of some issue with the phone lines to the hospital, hopefully fixed now.

Maybe it's something in the air, as it seems everyone has been feeling a bit off who has posted recently, so fingers crossed the wind will change and bring some relief. Been sleeping v badly too, not as bad last night but maybe just feels that way as only managed about 2 hours on Sat night. Sore, hot, snoring DH so ended up decamping to spare room and couldn't sleep there either. Grrr!

Dunno where I got the impression most people were further along - think my IQ is dropping by the week

missus I also only got about 2 hours sleep Sat night :( - 'tis miserable. And my memory is failing by the day...yesterday at dinner time, I still had chicken, spuds & carrots on my plate, but saw the bowl of peas and thought I'd forgotten to take some, so was reaching for them, but according to DH, apparantly I had already eaten some! I have no recollection whatsoever of dishing them up for myself, nor of eating them!!

Woke up in good form this morning but already sore now after just doing 2 loads of washing. And I'm doing all the recommended....ie not lifting basket full of wet washing etc etc. Even just getting dressed in the morning is an effort. And as for DD....she's often still in her PJs until nearly lunch time. I'm guzzling painkillers these days and although they say it's fine if I need them, I still feel guilty....12 more weeks of this to endure. Argh

hope you manage to make that physio appt. soon.

Hi,

Still here, but not too bad. I'm 18+4 now, and bump is huge as this is dc4, but I'm still at that early twingey stage. Hoping that by being careful it'll stay this way. I noticed on Sat evening it was quite bad, but I'd been standing around at a bbq & presentation evening. I'm glad my job involves mainly sitting at the desk! Although office is upstairs and the loos downstairs......

iWILL forgot to mention it to bloody mw!!! Planning to phone her later and ask for refferal. Also need to talk to her about swollen legs, as my bp is slightly raised. Don't do too much today!!

missus hope you get your physio appointment soon. You sound very sore!

I'm another one not sleeping. I'm thinking of investing in a maternity pillow thingumy jig. I set my pillows up, but the buggers all move about when I'm asleep .

Hey all,

Hope you're doing ok. My sleep has now gone rubbish - I do sleep but wake up so many times with groaning changes in position I don't really feel rested. harrassed do get a pregnancy pillow, I can't do without mine, wouldn't be able to stay aligned at night - mines a theraline which I found online for about £27 I think. It's huge and goes between my legs to keep them aligned and then tucks under and around my bump and gives me something to cuddle onto to help me sleep on my side comfortably - it's got beanbag beads in it so it's very malleable.

I'm feeling very sorry for myself at the moment, all has been going well with my osteo so I decided to attempt a trip to town on my crutches to get a few errands done, buy presents etc - it was awful! I hate negotiating people on crutches as most of them ignore me, despite crutches and huge belly and just rush past me making me stop to let them get past - as if they're thinking 'I'll be really quick so it's alright for me to squeeze/push past you and make you stop' The odd person is lovely but mostly they're horrid. Also shopping on crutches is virtually impossible, I couldn't reach bottom shelves without major difficulty (partly can't bend down cos of bump now anyway) and I had to hold a basket and one of my crutches while hobbling around on the other crutch.

On top of this experience I did something stupid, I was waiting for a cab to work when an old lady fell over getting out of a car - she put her hand out to me to help her up so I shoved my crutch into the other crutched hand and helped her and it's pulled all the muscles in my upper back between my shoulders. This wasn't too bad then I turned in the middle of the night and it wrenched worse and now I can barely sit comfortably without pain and pain is as bad as the SPD was at it's worst. I just burst into tears at the though of more pain and disablement and bless my DP just cuddled me and told me it will be alright - got me some paracetamol. I did get a bit more sleep but I think today is a dressing gown day, I'm sitting propped up on the sofa with loads of cushions at the moment.

Anyway sorry for the mega whinge, ups and downs of it all. No more good samaritan for me! On the very positive, our LO kicks up a storm at the moment and every kick makes me smile and remember it's going to be worth it.

hi all, got through to physio dept yesterday to find my physio is off and earliest appointment when she gets back is 18th August... went all pathetic on the poor receptionist as nearly had a little pregnant weep and said 'it's just I had a fall' in a pathetic wee voice. So she booked me in with the other obstetric physio for first thing tomorrow, who is chokka covering her own caseload plus any extras - so a bit of a result! Not sure what she can do, hoping she will use her physio powers and say I'm out of alignment and manipulate the old pelvis and magically make me feel less crap. Rather than saying it's the SPD progressing as baby grows, sorry, go away and do your pelvic floor exercises...

Still sleeping v badly. Taking some cocodamol last thing at night and I get over okay and sleep ok-ish apart from the grand rolling over show every hour or two but since the weekend I'm waking up when they've worn off and struggling. Last night caved in and took more at 5am after lying awake for 2 hrs, rolling around and groaning, partly for my sanity and partly for poor DH!!

els please whinge as much as you need to - whinging here really helps my sanity, as does reading other people's good and bad days! Good days = hope things won't suck every day (and they don't) plus pleased by proxy for other ladies I know are sore. Other people's bad days perversely also make me feel better - it makes me feel less alone and gets me out of the state of mind that tells me I'm being pathetic and should cope better with this. In other words, it's a real bugger for any poor soul with a dodgy pelvis!

And you just more or less word for word postd what I said to a colleague recently about being in town on crutches, right down to the pains of trying to get a bag of crisps from a bottom shelf while carrying a basket and on crutches.

Hope your poor back is better soon

iwill - I know another 3 months!!!!!!!!!! On one hand, cannot wait to get rid of SPD and meet lo, on other hand, freaking out as this is DC no 1 and it's all getting rather soon!

harrassed - hope you too have managed to get a physio referral and that your bp has been okay since.

Oh dear, what a long post! I'm blaming sleep deprivation rather than natural inability to get to the point

hi all,

I'm also living on painkillers....keeps me & the rest of the family sane. Others telling me to go easy on them though.....if only they knew what it was like without taking anything.

I've now started the regular c-r-a-c-k-i-n-g in the pelvis....had been happening occasionally, but now it's with nearly every turn in the bed, every time I get up out of bed and while walking. Ouch. Anyone else cracking up? (and I mean literally & audibly, not the laughter kind, unfortunately!!)

Started getting a pain in my ribs now too....googling tells me it's what they call rib flare :( Never had it with DD, but this baby is lying transverse and has obviously run out of space in there. At times breathing is even painful, and there's this tight, sharp pain in around the chest. And it's worst when lying down. So when hips are aching and I feel I just have to lie down with a hot water bottle to ease them, that works on the pelvis BUT instead I can't breathe properly & get a pain in the upper back & chest. Can't win. Aaarrggghhh. Will mention it to MW, but not due to see her for another 2 wks.

On the plus side, I actually had a nice day yesterday, although took painkillers so that I could enjoy it....MIL came to look after DD. A very good friend came and joined me for my swim, then we went out for a nice long, relaxed, fancy lunch together. And we were invited out for our tea last night too, so no cooking to do :)

good to share the ups and downs.

Hello Ladies - just wondering if I might be able to join you on your thread?

I am 24 + 5. I had SPD (pelvic girdle pain) in my first pregnancy and was on crutches then but this time it started at 12 weeks and currently is as painful now as it was at the end of my last pregnancy. Needless to say I am on the crutches again and I am feeling VERY sorry for myself. The pain on turning over in bed is UNBEARABLE. I feel like a horse has kicked me in my pubic bone and my lower back is agony - the pain radiates right into my knees also so I can even kneel at all or bend my knees. Does anyone else have this?

It just feels like something is going to snap when I turn over in bed - and I am knackered all the time cos I'm not sleeping. To top it all my ankles and feet now look like space hoppers with fluid retention and I am getting carpal tunnel syndrome - yippeeeeeeeeee!

Anyway just wanted to get that off my chest - my hubby is trying his hardest to be helpful and sympathetic but I just know he doesn't get it and I feel like I am moaning all the time (which I probably am). I had an osteo appointment last week and have another this week - fingers crossed I might get some relief!! It's definitely great to find this thread where everyone (unfortunately) is in the same predicament! xx