Those who suffer from SPD

[banana87]

I just thought I'd share something I've learned.

I had SPD with DD and saw physio who gave me a range of exercises and techniques which did not a lot. I ended up with acupuncture which worked very well.

This time I again have SPD but because BUPA covers physio for me, I decided to go private. My physio this time was completely different. He "examined" me to figure out what the problem was (even though I told him it was SPD), and for each session I went to (about 4-5) he "worked" on the area (he says he mobilized my right side as that's apparently what the problem was). He did also give me exercises to do in addition. He was very adamant that simply giving exercises and a belt (like I had before) does nothing to help if you don't first "fix" the underlying cause of the problem. He said the NHS use a very "hands off" approach and was therefore not surprised about my treatment or that fact that it didn't work.

Just thought I'd pass that on as I would have found that info very useful to know last time!

thanks. I have gotten much better results from my osteopath - who makes adjustments - than from having seen the physio who seemed to have nothing to offer me except a useless belt (which is about as compressing as a pair of tights.) to be fair, my NHS physio did try to make some sort of adjustment as well but it didn't really seem to work!

Thing is, there's two things that can cause/worsen SPD - misaligned joints and muscles trying to compensate, and the amount of relaxin.

In the first case, sorting the problem to an extent is usually feasible with manipulation and then exercises to prevent it getting worse. However if the problem isn't imbalanced joints but only too much relaxin making everything floppy, all they can try is belts and exercise.

In my first pregnancy I got SPD very badly, saw my osteopath who did a little adjustment but said really there was nothing he could do, and the NHS physio confirmed that I had a 'perfectly balanced' pelvis that was simply falling apart - so she could ban me from commuting, give me a belt to try, and suggest exercises but essentially all I could do was not walk.

This time I have it again, but it's different - there's definite imbalanced joints and the physio (NHS) really helps when she leans on bits of my pelvis. The exercises seem to be stopping things getting worse but the relaxin is certainly in overdrive again - joint pain all over.

So could be that last time there wasn't much that could be done whereas this time there is. Though what NHS physios offer round the country varies hugely, too.

I've found the osteopaths have really helped too, up to a point. They described the misalignment of my pelvis and joints so the work they've done on the area has really helped. I've not been given any exercises by them though - so my pregnancy yoga teacher has taught me some pelvic strengthening exercises too.

Think I might get an acupresure session to see me through the final few weeks

I've had SPD since week 10 and have a private physio.

She said her goal was to get me back in the saddle (I have a horse) before the end of my pregnancy.

Her methods, manipulations and exercises go against everything that the NHS seem to dish out - but I'm 24 weeks and virtually pain free with perhaps just one day in seven being bad. If I had the bottle I'd get back on the horse, but am going skiing this week - so feel physically good! :)

If you can, throw money at the problem!

banana thanks for the post NHS physio not doing any good have to wait another 3 weeks to go back to see her just booked my private appointment your post finally made me get on the phone and book it instead of think about it.

Alpine chucking money at it as suggested :)

totally agree - chucking money is only solution!!

I saw an osteopath recommended by PINS (Pelvic Instability Network Scotland) and I went from being barely able to walk to being able to fully function without any pain (£400 later...)

Osteopath told me that in 98% of SPD cases the problem is mechanical, ie. not cause by relaxin, and therefore totally fixable.

I'm attempting a cheaper method this time - a maternity reflexologist funded by NHS. So far so good, but 20 weeks to go!

Hi,
I was diagnosed SPD at 15weeks, im now almost 17 wks. I just got my letter today from NHS and was shocked it completely ties in with what you are saying!
All they have said is that it is a CLASS and will be given excersises and MAY be required to interact! I am disgusted!!! I thought physio was to find out the , to help the person not persons, everyone is different! My pain has moved to the bottom of my back and is constantly clicking! Others are different! i thought they would find the root of problem and to have a hands ON approach! Its only one class too!
I am livid!!!
I dont think we could afford private but i might just have to see what we can do! Gutted!
The letter even seemed like they dont actually care lol! oh well i will give it a go and see!

I would really recommend acupuncture! I have had awful SPD since 20 weeks (33 now) and it is starting to really help. I am getting it free on the NHS through the women's health physio.

flossi - don't write off the class yet! After a couple sessions I was referred to the antenatal exercise class and all the other women (about 7 of them) found it really helpful, and with two physios running it there was also plenty of individual attention.
I'm back on 1-to-1 treatment as I couldn't manage the course, but seeing as I was in a wheelchair for 3 months last time, and this time I'm still walking a mile a day, that's a huge improvement.

oooh didn't realise I might be able to get the acupunture on the NHS, will talk to my midwife tomorrow

If anyone is in London and wants an osteopath and not extreme prices, I've been going to the British School of Osteopathy who charge less because it's a teaching college, they've been really good and I've had many more sessions than I could have afforded if we'd gone privately

I had SPD throughout my pg and I found that going to pilates twice a week really helped. I am generally a little bit lazy and so could never really be arsed with the physio exercises at home. But many of the pilates moves are what the physio recommended. And if you have a decent teacher that 'gets' SPD, you're on to a winner.

Hi all, good to hear your experiences! girl would you mind saying how much the sessions have been? I've had PGP (SPD) for 4 weeks now and have had 3 sessions of NHS acupuncture which I could not recommend more, however, I have to stay very sedentary in order to manage the pain and was hoping a manual therapy may allow me to return to normal life..am I being unrealistic? (I'd rather know if dog walking is not going to happen for the next 21 weeks) I am waiting for a NHS physio (could be another 4 weeks) but have heard rather mixed reviews on their helpfulness, though have to say it was wonderful for my hypermobility - related knee problems (pre pregnancy)

Oh, little thanks for the Pilates tip, will look into that, am hardly a fitness freak but used to walk every day and swim twice a week and I'm not enjoying this level of inactivity!

In my experience the SPD is managed in different ways to be honest, I had it towards the very end of my last pregnancy and didn't get any treatment but what kept it at bay was going on hour long dog walks with my friend every day - if I missed a day the next day I would be in agony!

This time (had it from 15 weeks on and off, very much consistently from about 27weeks) I have to find a balance between not walking too much and walking enough, I also can't sit in the same position for more than 10mins without it being agony when I get up.

The BSO charge £22/session so not ridiculously cheap but a lot less than I was being quoted by private osteopaths.

Thanks for the acupuncture tips, I'm going to talk to my midwife tomorrow but I'll probably have to go private because I'm due in 4 weeks!

This is a very interesting thread, thank you.

In my experience walking exacerbates the SPD, rather than alleviating it :( . Mine only stated being bearable at 35 weeks when I stopped work and basically stopped moving - all the walking I had to do to work just made my hips feel like they were falling apart, it was only the days I was still that I has no pain.

I will definitely investigate osteopaths next time though, and pilates, and probably yoga and anything that will help because I couldn't walk without significant pain after about 24 weeks, and couldn't even walk to the shop down the road at 28 because I would have had to crawl home.

god sorry jareth that sounds awful.

I definately have some times with the SPD (like today) when the only thing that calms it is icepacks and lying on my side, but also I often need to walk it out.

my yoga teacher has said to do pelvic tilts which can help...

Sorry Girl didn't mean to pick on your post

One of the biggest reasons for delaying a second pregnancy is SPD, as I was so extremely limited by it. Not being able to walk for more than a few minutes without wanting to lie on the floor and cry is enough to send the sanest person over the edge. Then the bastards lied to me and told me it would go away after the birth.. I've still got it and DS is almost 4.

Sorry. I'm feeling rather sorry for myself tonight.

So.. yeah.. anythink that could potentially mean that I have a relatively pain free pregnancy would be amazing. £400 is bugger all tbh, that;s only £10 per week of pregnancy, or what a private room would cost after the birth

(btw, not pregnant. Just trying to be...)

girl the BSO prices sound great, about half the price of normal sessions, I'll look in to it! With my London hospital you just call the acupuncturists yourself to refer, as I was in huge amounts of pain I was seen 4 days after the call. The relief was almost immediate, I went from not being able to walk the 2 metres from bed to the toilet without screaming and crying to being able to do it whilst clenching my fists and wincing! Now, after 3 sessions it's even better than that, just stiff sometimes. But like jareth walking seriously exasperates the situation so to get these results I have to take it really easy. For example, I did quite a lot of cleaning one night and I was back to the major pain again.

it's such a fine balance isn't it - and then you think you're ok so you push yourself more than you ought to. To be honest I need to walk it out when I've been sat too long, which causes shooting pains once I get up, but have to make sure I don't walk too much!

Didn't think you were picking on my post at all jareth!! We're all suffering together....

My midwife is making an appt for me with the physio, I mentioned acupunture and she didn't say anything about getting it on the NHS - which hospital are you with carlita?

BSO has been good, I've had the same student and the same tutor look after me throughout, apart from once I came in having severly jarred my pelvis on the way and they got a 3rd opinion from a tutor who was a bit of an expert with pregnancy and SPD, so I see her as well as the main tutor, but the student does most of the work - the students are in their fourth and final years.

I'm at the Whittington girl. Google yours plus Acupuncture though as mine have a number you can call directly.

awesome, thanks for the tip

Just to share a positive story - I've been diligently doing pelvic floor exercises and doing bum-clenching and lower abdominal-tensing when doing anything at all (and less diligently doing pelvic tilts etc). Having finally got over the worst of lightheadedness, I walked/stood for a good couple hours this afternoon, in various shops, two supermarkets and walking home. All slow walking with knees together, but I didn't have to rest.

The pelvis feels only a bit sore but my arse is really tired! Though I didn't have to walk ds to nursery this morning.

I remember last time round it was a bit earlier when I was banned from commuting and rationed to 300 yards walking a day, and even when that got too much, reminded that gentle pottering round the house was vital, rather than sitting still all the time. Hopefully I'll be able to stay walking this time rather than needing a wheelchair - though I'm sure ds is hoping I get a mobility scooter to give him rides!