welcome to the new SPD sofa, have a [biscuit] and a [brew]!

[sillywmama]

Hello all... just thought I'd start a new SPD support thread for anyone dealing with the whole achy fanjo/painful back/ridiculous inner thigh pain. I'm 9weeks pregnant and am settling in for the long haul.

I have to confess I'm feeling a tad emotional that the pain is ALREADY here again but at least I'm better prepared this time! Last preg was spent flipping between teeth-gritted stoicism and hysterical wailing tears. No fun for anyone!

Taking enormous doses of codeine and hobbling around on crutches is something I'd like to avoid this time round so I'm going in all guns blazing for a consultant led care plan, pain clinic appointments and physio ASAP.

Anyone is welcome to join me!

Hello everyone
My baby is 9 months old and my SPD is still not right. Finally got around to going to the dr today and she said ibuprofen and hot compresses.
Does anyone but me think that is a load of bobbins and I should be pushing for physio?
Anyone know how to find a good post natal chiropractor or osteo or something? Feel like it's a bit risky just to walk into one of those crystal-healing-looking practices and trust them, considering a lot of even medically trained people don't seem to "get" SPD.

Morning all!

I went to an ante-natal session last night about general fitness in pregnancy, but at one point the physio who was taking the session said that if you're suffering from pelvic pain you can wrap a couple of ice cubes up (she suggested in a condom!) and put them down the front!

Has anyone tried this? I don't much fancy the idea of an ice-pop in my knickers!

Hi to all the newbies,

It does seem quite mad how many of us are suffering yet there is so little help out there.
I'm clearly quite lucky as I'm getting individual physio, I guess the thing is a cost cutting exercise & as they can't touch you past 14 wks they can only give handouts.
The best advice I can give is to keep asking for help, demand physio, support belts ask to be refered to OT & also pain management if it get's really bad. I had none of this 1st time round but I'm sure as hell getting it now.
I found after my first no one would do anything until 12 months had gone by, at which stage permenant damage had been done. I eventually went private, we've had to make some sacrifices but it's been well worth it.
For those of you house bound my heart goes out to you, it's a nightmare. The end is in sight & when you hold your lovely baby (high on pain drugs) you'll know it was worth it x

Thanks for the welcome nannyn, as you sound quite experienced about things SPD - do you mind my asking, what impact it had on your birth - positions, pain relief etc? I have had 3 lovely home water births and am hoping for a repeat performance but not sure how best to work around SPD
Vezzie, that's quite scary that you're still in pain 9months after your daughter's birth - I was quite looking forward to being able to move again once baby pops
Miko - you're not the only one who doesn't fancy an icepop in your knickers, and I don't know about you but I don't find cold helps, certainly the school run hasn't been improved by the recent cold spell

Yorky my birth story isn't very insperational so I'll not go into it too much. I was told I couldn't have a water birth as I wouldn't be able to get out by myself. I was induced at 38wks & had quite a short labour but they insisted I lay on my back!! Not good, they also pulled my legs too far apart. Needless to say I'm having this one at a different hospital & hope to have a water birth. It took me 2 years to recover but I think alot of that was due to the useless treatment. Most people do recover straight away but don't take it as given, the mistake I made was throwing the crutches away too soon. The relief of having a head removed from your pelvis lulled me into a false sense of security
To the poster who was striding STOP! Small steps, small movements at all times. The less stress on your pelvis = less pain (not by much but every little helps).

Hi Yorky - are you pregnant with your first? I was fine very soon after my first. I had a water birth at home and it was great. I was sort of fine this time too until 2 months ago I did too much, connected with moving house - I could feel it happening - and am still trying to get back on track. Anyway the Pelvic Partnership do have a list of practitioners who have helped people with this problem, and they have emailed it to me, and one is very local! I am still going to try and get NHS help first but at least there is something I can do if I have to.
Don't worry - I am sure you will bounce back much sooner than me if you don't behave like an idiot, like I did.

Just stumbled onto this thread and thought I'd join you all.
Hello Yorky and Miko, not good to see you here, SPD is rubbish! Today at 25 weeks I felt proper SPD pain and I'm not happy! Fortunately/unfortunately I've had it before - from 30 weeks with DD1 and 7 weeks with DD2, so I'm prepared and have already been seeing a chiropractor.
My births were both back to back (nothing to do with SPD, but added labour length and pain) and I was able to be active throughout, just being careful of spreading my legs - I warned the midwives about it. I delivered DD1 stood up leaning on a hospital bed raised up high and DD2 at home on my knees leaning forward. The pain did go not too long after their births.
All I got from the NHS here was a class with a physio telling me how to get in and out of bed, cars, up from chairs, things to avoid etc. I've still got my support belt and slip sheet for help getting out of bed. Ice packs do help. Seeing a good chiropractor helps. I'm sure that's why I've lasted until now.

Has it already been said to stop hoovering, ironing and pushing shopping trolleys? All these things aggravate SPD.

miko ice on the pubis really does help, as opposed to warmth around the rest of the pelvis where muscles get involved. I've used frozen veg held in a second pair of pants!

To give a better birth story, I was in a wheelchair for 3 months before ds was born (my arms are buggered so can't use crutches). Hospital MWs had no problem with a water birth though were glad MrNC would be there to help move me around - in fact were suggesting a homebirth! The physio couldn't do much as my SPD was purely hormonal but slapped a huge purple sticker on my notes warning I had SPD and my knees were not to be moved further than x cm apart, to be remeasured on admission. She said to get MrNC to get some string when I went into labour and put it round my knees to ensure no-one could move them further!

I also saw an osteopath who again couldn't fix the hormonal parts of the problem but could ensure no joints were imbalanced. I'd go for an osteo over a chiro.

Spent ages in water pool in labour, then got out and had epidural, then was assisted to get on all fours and push... sod all happened so ended up in theatre to try a ventouse or failing that, cs. No stirrups involved - I was lying on my side on a sloping bed with a couple guys holding me to stop me sliding off, and no-one tried parting my knees even though the string had got lost about 24 hours earlier!

Took about 2 weeks for the pain to mainly go but then returned to physio as there was all this other pain in the same region. They explained I hadn't used any bum or thigh muscles for 6 months so I had to walk 30 min 5x min a week, starting slow and building up speed, then attend their postnatal exercise classes. This time as joints are also involved it may be different (due in 1 month, still slowly walking), not least they don't have nearly as many exercise classes!

Oddly, I had way more pain at 8 weeks this pregnancy than I've had since, except when I got another stomach bug at Christmas. I guess it's all related.

I did try an ice-pack on the pubis last night but LO started protesting me and kicking me really hard. I don't think she liked it.

So I gave up and went to bed in tears, feeling v sorry for myself.

Osteopath this evening. Fingers crossed.

Not hoovering I understand (looking forward to telling DH that one) - but ironing? Am I going to have to get poor DH to do my ironing too?

What is this ironing concept of which you speak?? MrNC and I recently realised neither of us had ironed once in the last three years and only a couple times in this house (moved in 6 years ago).

Though slightly embarrassed at my parents recently when they dug out a toy iron from my childhood with 5 stacking bits and ds clearly had no idea what it was...

Anything that is one sided makes it worse. Ironing is usually done standing with just one hand doing all the action, like golf (!) and hoovering so it means you are imbalanced and puts a strain on.
I never ironed before children, and then not at all with DD1, but now she has a school uniform I'm finding I'm ironing that and then spotted how crinkly everything else is. I also started ironing DPs t shirts as he was looking a bit scruffy.
Thankfully DP is away and we've been getting as much wear out of clothes as possible before washing so my weekly ironing pile is small. Will get to it now sitting down and if it hurts I'll just have to not do it anymore.

Now even gladder that DH is forces and does all the ironing here (won't let me touch his uniform so he might as well do the rest of the pile while he's got the iron out )

No Vezzie, this is baby number 4, eldest will be 5 next week so I'm blaming the cumulative effect of the relaxin for this one being so much more painful than the others have been.

Thanks for the birth stories, nice to know that I don't have to write off my home birth yet. Sorry you had such a bad time nannyn

hello, room for one more? im willing to share my jaffa cakes! :) im 25 weeks today, got diagnosed with SPD on Monday by the gp n then the midwife confirmed it on Tuesday. im kinda relieved to be honest to put a name to it, i think everyone was thinking i was being a whingy pregnant lady up until now. it took MONTHS of me going to and from the doctors as the pain got worse (they kept telling me it was stretching pains and would get better) and finally i saw a doctor that wasn't a grumpy old man and she said she'd had it herself and recognised the symptoms straight away. im being referred for physio but i doubt it will do much good :/ also how the ruddy hell are you lot sat at computers? because im seriously uncomfortable! has anybody felt popping/clicking/grinding in their hips n lower back or is that just me?

Hello MzPixielated, I too am 25 weeks and the woe is really kicking in for me now.

I don't know how I manage to sit at a desk either to be honest, the last few days have been a lot of huffing and puffing and experimenting with a cushion brought from home, but no, I'm not actually comfortable at all. I've just told my boss that the two-hour meeting that they want me to minute today could be slightly disturbed by me getting up to stretch and move around every 20 minutes or so.

I went to the osteopath for the first time last night, I guess it's too early to say if it's done any good. I was in worse pain in the middle of the night and less pain when I woke up this morning, however now that I've got to work it's just as bad and I'm sitting here on the verge of tears again.

I've made a doctor's appointment for Monday - I've decided that I want codeine if at all possible. I'm so utterly miserable right now. I was properly howling/sobbing last night I was so fed up. :(

Sorry it took so long for you to get diagnosed, MzPixielated. I was lucky enough to talk to a GP who knew exactly what it was when mild pains started, so by the time it got worse I was forewarned. It boggles my mind how little general knowledge there is about SPD, when it seems that everyone with kids I've mentioned it to either had it or knows someone who did.

I had clicking/popping for the first time last night, when I tried to sleep on my side. Based on this thread I tried on a double-folded down duvet, figuring maybe it is better on a soft surface. But I woke several hours later in extreme pain and barely able to move, finally popping when I did so. Back to my back -- I know they say not to sleep that way, but it seems to be the only way I can. I think it is because on my back I can shift about, move my legs and tilt from one side to another, which helps with the pain. On my side I'm basically immobile.

oh bless you mikocat that sounds awful, you would have thought, considering your situation, work would have given you lighter duties!
i tried using a soft cushion in the car (its agony, my partner drives a car with bucket seats and stiffened suspension men!) but i found a soft cushion just made me rest onto my hips more and didn't really help however a firm cushion like foam or something is much more supportive, so maybe it could help at the desk?
Thank you arden :) im just glad to have a diagnoses now so i can actually get something done about it. sorry to hear you're in so much pain, i didnt like the thought of the folded duvet tbh because i figured it would restrict movement further (?) a turtle on its back sprung to mind! ive given up on paracetamol, i may as well be popping smarties because they're useless.. although heat patches help, those ones you stick on and they warm up (the lady on the tv has them for period cramps but i put them on my back)
i still dont know a lot about SPD but from what i can gather its very saddening.. sometimes i feel a bit hopeless i think its because A. this is supposed to be a happy time and im surrounded by women enjoying their pregnancy and B ive always been active and suddenly finding it harder and harder to do things irritates me hugely. [waddles off for a sulk and a cup of tea]

I think we're going to need to start meeting in a sofa shop!

Found a new site for SPD sufferers today via twitter so I thought I'd share.

www.supportpelvicdysfunction.co.uk/

It's quite new but seems to have some good links.

For those of you struggling on office/carseats try the cushion under the back half of your bum & a small towel rolled in the small of your back.

ardenbird getting comfy at night is the holy grail of this bloody thing, it's different for everyone (I can't bare being on my back) keep trying pilllow combo's hopefully you'll find one that works.

Hope you're all having a good weekend, I for some insane reason thought toilet training a toddler would be a good idea! In lot's of pain with an extra ton of washing. Doh!

Ugh! Completely sympathise with the saddening/hopeless bit. I kept bursting into tears this weekend over the silliest things -- I think part of it is being overtired from lack of sleep, but all I was trying to do was reorganise our computers so I wouldn't be in danger of tripping over cords anymore and I found myself stuck on the floor wrapped in electronics and DH had to basically lift me out. (task finally accomplished, though... Makes getting to and from the sofa much easier now)

Also starting to get jealous at MW appointments, where I see these women with big bumps walking around like it's easy or something. My SPD started right at the beginning of the second trimester when they say things are supposed to be wonderful :(. It got a lot worse 3wks before Xmas, and all the plans DH and I had about a nice babymoon over the holidays went out the window.

36 weeks here and suddenly a lot less averse to concepts like 'sweep', 'induction', 'cs' etc...
Mostly knackered rather than the SPD which isn't that much worse, just suddenly a bit worse, but it's the too-clever-for-his-own-good 3.4yo that is the problem - he's realised if he sits on my foot with arms down, I can't reach him to pick up and put back in bed!
Thankfully MrNC is around a lot of the time but I've been organising a rota of friends and family to visit when ds isn't at nursery!

Currently arranging for a mattress to get delivered which may help. Nearly at max levels of codiene, though. On the plus side, have managed to avoid throwing up for 3 weeks now...

Hello ladies, I hope you are all managing OK?

I've been for my first individual physio appointment today (the group one was useless) and have come away with a tubigrip bandage to wear everyday (I thought they were going to give me a roll of it, but no they just cut me a strip to put on) and a support belt to wear when walking. They offered me crutches but I just CAN'T get my head round that yet. I may well change my mind if things get worse!

I've been on co-codamol from the doctor since last Thursday, does it make anyone else feel weird and nauseous a while after taking it?

Hi Miko - yes, codiene can do that. Try a slightly lower dose (you can get codiene 15mg pills so could try 45mg codiene rather than the 60 you'd get from 2 30/500 cocodamols), and take after a bit of food.

Last pregnancy I spent much of it in a blissful dopey codiene haze, but this time with ds I haven't been taking nearly as much and have had the nausea side effect instead. After a few weeks that wore off.

Have you had physio yet?

I'm 37+2 and taking it as easy as possible as the last week has been not happy for the pelvis - partly thanks to lots of stressful appts when they thought about inducing me on Monday but now say I can chill out until due date, just get bp monitored regularly. I was discharged by the hosp physio as 'nothing else we can do' but may ring and see if that's true. It's about the level where I got a wheelchair last time (arms too buggered for crutches), but with ds I'd need an electric one to get anywhere and they're heavy and hard to get on a bus...

Hi notcitrus, the physio (student) only seemed to test me by pulling things about and asking where/how much it hurt. Then they gave me the support things, checked I was doing my pelvic floor and abdominal exercises and told me to keep doing them.

They said to come back if that didn't work, maybe in 3 weeks. I tentatively mentioned that my yoga teacher had suggested acupunture and they said that could be on option if I come back.

But there was nothing more 'hands-on' than that - is there normally? I had phyiso once for a neck problem and there was a fair bit of 'manipulation' involved. Do they not do that with pregnant women?

Is there room for a little one large waddling whale-sized one?

I'm 31 weeks with DC2 and have had an aching fanjo for about a month now - it started earlier with DS so I think I've done well to keep it at bay until now, and I'm lucky as it's not debilitating (yet crosses fingers), but I'm not having much joy with any support from mw. She recommended I go and buy a support belt from John Lewis, but that's as good as I've got from her. Great to hear some of the tips here - I lent my birthing ball out but shall go and reclaim it this weekend, and try some of the tilting stuff I've read about here. Really dreading another 10 weeks of this though, and I'm managing a demanding toddler largely on my own (DH works away a lot) - ugh, need some tea and sympathy, and then I'll shut up! Thanks for listening... Looking forward to spending the last few weeks in your company ladies...

Hi all! My physio appt is finally on the horizon, this Friday. I've been using crutches for 3 weeks now, and it has made things ever so much easier. Now I can't believe I waited so long to get them I had thought I should wait to see the physio and have them say if I needed them, but I had to buy a shower stool as I could not get into to my bathtub anymore (I sit on it and rotate my legs around, instead of stepping over the edge of the tub which was just impossible), and the same site sold crutches for £18 I figured, not much more than a meal out, perhaps worth it instead of waiting. Glad I did. In a lot less pain, and I can move about faster too.

Hello all, I haven't posted before, but I have been suffering from SPD - 32 weeks pregnant with twins, have a toddler who's turning 2 this week.

Just felt compelled to post as I am now living in Canada and saw a physio who has literally transformed my life and outlook on SPD. She uses the Rost Therapy to deal with pelvic pain during and after pregnancy. It recommends lots of things which are the opposite from what I'd previously been told about SPD. Anyway, have a look at the website, I can't even begin to tell you what a difference it has made for me: Rost Therapy