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!

Just seen your post now and really feel for you. When are you due? My little boy is 8 months now. Had spd with both my little girl now five and my boy. Ended up on crutches really early this time and could hardly walk also placenta previa this time too so completely understand how hard it is. Still having Physio now but better than when pregnant. Had the Bowen technique when preg and it helped pain be a bit more bearable. Will follow your thread! Is it your first baby?

cmm Thank you!! This is my 2nd, had SPD with 1st too so I knew it was coming. Just having one of those days were it's all a bit rubbish. Due May 25th but hoping for induction at 38wks. Been on crutches for ages, getting more help this time round but it's just wearing being in pain 24/7.
Helps to chat to people who understand the level of pain & how it effects everything. I was bad for nearly 2 years after my DD but found a really good physio.
Whats the Bowen method? Not heard of that.

Hi! I'm still here :) no baby yet 37 weeks now, so it's getting closer. Tomorrow is my last day at work, and I am really ready for it! A bit panicked that I'm not going to finish everything it's maddening that some things involve waiting on other people and I've sent out increasingly desperate emails over the last weeks and left phone messages today.

SPD is getting worse as the baby descends. I'm now using crutches to get around the house, which is really annoying. I used to be able to make quick 10-15 ft walks without them, but now can't. Sleeping on the sofa, too, as our bathroom is downstairs and the bed upstairs -- I'm hoping I can head back up soon, as I really don't want to spend what could be as long as a month or more sleeping on the sofa!

Hi nannyn
The Bowen is similar to accupuncture but really gentle in pregnancy. A guy who is a male midwife did mine privately. Id probably use it now but he's off poorly at the moment himself and think now postnatally it is the weekness that's a problem. Having Physio at the moment on nhs with core stability exercises each day, it is better some days that others but they think they may refer me for more advanced Physio, what did you Physio do post preg that helped? Sounds interesting!
To all you others preg with spd I totally understand how upsetting it is, so painful and hard and can't enjoy preg in same ways as others, just keep thinking of holding that little one in your arms!!!! X

arden that sounds pretty rubbish! Hopefully finishing work will help you relax & put your feet up. Not long to go, those last few weeks will fly by.

cmm the woman I see uses lots of deep massage & gentle manipulation (not strictly a physio) the best thing she did, still does but it's not so affective now, is aligning my pelvis. We then work on core stability & making sure my back is right too. Unfourtunatly at the moment the ligaments are so loose that nothing stays in place long but I'm sure after birth this will change. Although I'm in lots of pain I can still manage stairs & my back is really good, if I wasn't been treated I think both would have gone by now.

Yeah! I can shuffle about the house again. Apparently LO's moved down a bit more, but that makes it easier for me somehow. Just hope that continues to be true! :)

I didn't quite finish up work, but I put on my email autoreply and all I have to do is type out a couple of reports from the bed in between naps and whatever else I want to do.

cmm and nannyn: do you have tips for what to do for the best recovery after birth? I shudder to think of this going on much longer. DH and I used to do a lot of active things together like hiking, and when I was first pregnant I imagined us going hiking wearing baby. I hope that something that is still possible. We've bought a pram so that I won't have to be carrying the baby at firsst -- originally we were planning on just using slings. I've been doing my physio exercises (which I can tell are worthwhile, as if I skip a day things are noticeably worse the next). I'd like to stack the deck in favour of best recovery if I can :)

Thanks nannyn am doing core stability exercises which are helping a bit but still not on as far as I'd like to be but I can walk around with the pram most of the time, good and not so good days as sometimes symphisis and sacro joints are really weak and painful. Haven't had manipulation though! Or massage by the Physio! They are wondering whether to refer me onto another one !

Garden bird - core stability exercises are apparently crucial and I didn't do these after first preg which is prob why recovery worse after no 2! Although think nannyn sounds like she's had good post natal treatment. I an still in the process of trying to sort out. Know what you mean though. I used to cycle quite a lot and miss it. When are you due?

The road to recovery for me was a long one, I waited too long before getting private treatment. The NHS were usless, my consultant insisted it was a mental issue & wanted me to take prozac! I had to fight for referals to orthopedics & to get x-rays/scans. All of that to be told they couldn't do anything & I should keep taking pain killers, oh & some prozac too if you like!

Finally I saved up to see a private therapist, she gave me my life back & I was pain free for the 1st time in years. She uses lots of different methods, massage & manipulation. This has meant I had the confidence to get pregnant again, knowing she can fix me after.

For most people recovery happens naturally when your hormones die down & everything snaps back. After the birth don't give your crutches up too soon, be careful pushing the buggy/supermarket trolley. Try to change the baby on a change table or sofa rather than the floor. Do exercise but make sure it's not going to strain your pelvis, listen to your body.
Don't give yourself a hard time if you can't do all the things other new mums seem to do with their little one, you will get there.
Look at the lists of practisioners on the pelvic instability sites to find someone in your area. It's so worth the money to get some relief.

cmm: thanks for the advice. I can be bad about keeping up physio, so I will make sure to be extra good about continuing to do them after birth! I'm due at the end of the month -- just 2.5 weeks now!

Just had an interesting afternoon: went to hospital with severe upper abdominal pain, which was worrying after a recent high BP measurement and urine protein. Turns out it's not preeclampsia or liver problem, but instead the same processes that cause SPD at work in my ribcage and sternum! Now that it's been pointed out to me, I realise the pain is very similar. How odd. I didn't know you could get it your ribs too! I just hope no other major bone structures go wonky next...

I took the opportunity of being at the hospital to get a look at the birthing pool and do a dry-run (literally) getting in and out, which was no problem. Easier than the bath at home, despite one midwife's dire prediction as she watched me hobble down the corridor. So I can look forward to the pool when the time comes!

nannyn: thanks! Lots of good tips. I saw a good private physio for two visits when the NHS appointment took 8 weeks to arrange. I think I'll plan on a visit to him after the birth just to get checked out and new exercises if he thinks necessary.

And how horrible they thought it was a mental problem! I'm glad you finally got help. I think it's terrible when they try to tell women that it's all in our heads... I went through 6 months chasing down my weird chronic condition with only 1 test showing anything abnormal, and was lucky enough to have good cardiologist on my side who I could go back to for help when lots of doctors told me I must be imagining it.

Hi all! How is everyone doing? I'm at 38 weeks now -- within what my friend calls the "due month". I finally finished working on Saturday, after having been officially off since Wed (things take a little longer to write when one spends half the day sleeping). Very nice today to completely ignore the existence of my email.

Having a lot of trouble with my rib issues, now it appears I can't sit upright for more than about 30 minutes without it hurting lots. This is going to make all the shopping for baby clothes and such I planned difficult. But perhaps I can lie down in the back seat of the car as we go places. I'm a bit down that it looks like I won't quite be able to do all the things I'd imagined doing once I was off I knew the SPD was going to make things difficult, but now adding the rib thing has really cut my capability way down.

On the bright side, it is completely wonderful to get some sleep, and especially to be able to stay still in bed (um, on the sofa...) in those precious minutes right after I wake up and nothing hurts yet! :) I was actually rested enough today that I didn't even nap. I think I'll try to sleep in the bed upstairs tonight -- I came down to the sofa because I was so unstable on the stairs in middle-of-the-night toilet runs, but I think that was more from being exhausted than from the SPD necessarily. So I may be okay now.

arden glad you're finally getting some rest, it makes a huge differance. Have they looked at inducing you if you're in that much pain? I'm already booked to go in at 38 weeks (8 weeks & counting) to see if I have a 'favourable cervix'???? If I have they're going to start me off.
I've been having a rough week, I think the baby has moved down & is now sitting in my pelvis. Certainly feels like it anyway. Hoping it eases as we're moving house in 4 weeks ( I know mental!)

Hope you manage to get your shopping done, keep us posted with any updates xx

Ugh, just having a moan, ignore if you want, i had my anomoly scan 6th march and due to fotel lie and high bmi they couldn't measure everything, so they said they would book me in within the next 4 weeks to complete it.
Well they said they would get back to me by the next monday, but no such luck, had a consultant appt the week after and popped in to ask about new appt, and was told they are having a new system put in so won't get an appt until after 26th march.
Fine with that, but would of saved worry and hassle to be told that at my last scan.
Got a phone call yesterday and was told only 1 appt left but in a hospital 1hr bus ride away! now im on crutches and have been since 13 weeks, i can barely manage a 20 min bus ride into town/work.
It is also at 5pm in the after noon, meaning either ds and dh would have to come with me and get home around 7ish, too late for ds really, and it wouldn't be fair to have him on the bus for 1hr each way at that time of day, or i would have to go by myself, dh really wants to be there.

So after stewing over it last night, i phoned my hospital and said i just can't meet that appt, i would be working all day that day, and then the next day early morning, i honestly have been in tears imagining the amount of pain i will be in that night and over the next few days.

They have told me that there is no other appts within the right time frame for the scan either here, or at the other hospital, and that they will pass this on to the manager, even though i spoke to someone superior.

I don't know what to do, physically i know i will pay big time if i go to the scan, and then if there was something wrong i would be by myself and have a 1hr bus ride home until i could be with dh.
But at the same time, i desperatley want a scan asap, i just want them to phone me up and say, sure come by on so, n so date it's only a quick scan.

and breath.

Hello poor unfortunate SPD ladies. Apologies for not reading all eight pages of this thread but I have a question: is it normal to still be experiencing SPD pain at six months postpartum?

First started getting pain at 14 weeks - ridiculously early for a first pregnancy I thought! With hindsight, I really should have pushed my midwife to refer me for physio, but she didn't seem particularly interested when I complained of pain at every appointment. It was only when I started NHS antenatal classes at around 33 weeks did I realise, during a session with a physio, that I couldn't DO any of the things she was describing as normal daily tasks (i.e. "when you're bending down filling the washing machine, for example..."). I had a quick chat with her and she gave me a support belt there and then, but it was too late for any actual physiotherapy. I was really very debilitated throughout the entire pregnancy, and virtually housebound for the last five weeks or so.

Anyway, I find that if I've done a certain amount of walking during the day (a couple of miles, say) by the end of the walk I can feel a familar pain behind my public bone and underneath. I can't hold a door open with one foot in order to get the pram through, and it sometimes hurts to stand on one leg to put a shoe on or turn over in bed, just like when I was pregnant but much less, obviously.

Should I go to my GP? Can I be given physio or some other treatment? My concern is 1) Things will never be "normal" again, and 2) in a future pregnancy it will return with a vengeance and I'll be reliant on crutches or worse.

Any advice?

Oh,my nannyn, you're moving house?! I hope no one expects you to carry anything!

I must say I'm still happy to wait as I don't feel ready yet! We managed to go shopping, with me leaning the seat back as far as it could go and slouching for the drive. Completely exhausted myself on Wed and we did a quick trip to Boots today for a few last things. Now I just need to actually pack stuff in a bag.

I think things are moving along I think the baby has dropped some. It is oddly both harder to move but less painful. I've heard that the baby's head can stabilise the pelvis some. Had a bit of show yesterday and woke up to what might have been a contraction at 4am (really weird, I was dreaming and I'm pretty sure the part where I felt the baby's head rising like a lump below my belly button was a dream, but then I woke up and everything was really tight and painful and I couldn't speak speak and just thought "ow"). But nothing since then I wonder if the effort on Wed triggered things, but I don't think I'm up to that again!

OTTMummA, I hope something works out. That sounds like a horrible bind! I can't imagine taking an hour bus ride. I've in fact been too scared to try just climbing the stairs onto the bus since Dec (and even more so, getting back off...we have really high steps).

hiviolet, I hope someone can answer your question -- this is my first pregnancy, so I don't know. I am hoping that there is a way to make it vanish, though!

Hi ladies - can I join in for a brew? I don't want to (in the nicest possible way) as it means admitting that my SPD IS on its way back with this pregnancy. The best thing? It has arrived at 5 weeks!! I have been denying it to myself for the last couple of days because it is clearly too early...but no, here we go a flipping gain. It's so awful isn't it :(

This is child no3 for me and it got really bad from 17 weeks last time and was then exacerbated by breaking my coccyx - I was SO relieved to see the back of it with the help of baby coming out and some bowen to click me back together. Ive given my pelvis 5 years off so you would think it could behave - or be a little but lenient at least!

I feel for you all and hello, I will be around for the next 35 weeks!!! If I make it that far.

hiviolet you might find some success with the Bowen therapy - it's actually quite gentle, but I was definitely "realigned" - pelvis put back where it should be so that helped. Either that or some osteo - which will use similar priniciples but is perhaps a bit tougher. I mostly felt recovered a couple days after labour this just helped on its way - I hope you can find something to help - that is so horrible to still be suffering.

I'm not doing any lifting, just sitting & directing with my crutches

violet it is perfectly normal to still be in pain, unfortunatly the NHS isn't very good at helping with SPD. If you flip back through this thread you'll find links to support websites with lists of private practisioners. I was in pain for 2 years before I went private & got realigned. You can't begin to strengthen your core until everything is back in the right place.
In the mean time, not walking so far, internet food shopping, pillow between legs at night & changing nappies on the sofa or changing table. If you keep pushing yourself you could damage your ligaments.

Bimble 5 weeks is rubbish! I knew straight away I was pg I felt it straight away in my pelvis. It's so hard when you're running round after little ones too. At least yours are at school for a bit. On a positive note although it started much earlier I've been able to manage the SPD much better this time as I know more & have demanded aids & assistance where ever I can. I have a house full of mobility aids & more painkillers than the chemist. I've also changed hospital, this one is a teaching hospital & they're much more knowlagable.
Hope the weeks are flying by for you all, OTT have you thought about a private scan? That way you can pick a time to suit, you can get a dating scan for £50-£60. Might be worth it to not be in pain & worrying.

Bumping as has some useful links etc and after much mumsnet searching looks useful for other suffering too

I suspect I have spd from having agony turning in bed and getting out the car for 2 weeks, just walking upstairs hurts so much. I thought it was just cos getting heavier at 1st but it's been getting worse and the pain seems more than other people have been in when pregnant. This is my 1st. Anyway described it to a midwife and she said book in and they'll get a physio but also to get some sloggi bridget jones knickers. So I'm 26weeks pregnant and what sloggi knickers shall I get? Should it be the better size that I am normally or what to go over my bump? Also hate this pain so much and getting upset with it all but then feeling guilty for not enjoying being pregnant cos want this baby boy so much and lost our baby last year so feel like i should enjoy everything but I,m so depressed with the pain and sleepless nights now

Hi, there seem to be loads of SPD/PGP threads at the moment, so I am on a mission to drive people back to this central support group. Bring a pillow!

Dear God, reading some of these older posts I am just thankful that I am not in such pain as some of the poor peeps on here :( Will remember that if I have another night of no sleep and hauling myself out of bed like an ancient crone!!!

As Hasta has v v helpfully revived this thread, I wonder if I can find anyone who knows what 'kind' of rest is the best? Physio told me not to walk (not literally never to walk, but to reduce it and certainly not to Go For A Walk) but I forgot to ask her optimum way to rest - sitting on sofa? Sitting in my super-comfy desk chair? Sitting on bed with legs out in front? And as for standing... should I reduce that too ie do the ironing while sitting down, peel carrots sitting down not at the counter standing etc...?

I am just terrified of going to bed tonight as the last 3 nights have been awful and getting a bit phobic! Am hopeful after having seen the physio though and getting many tips for comfort along the way.

Sure some others will come along soon. On the rest front, obv you need to keep your legs aligned. Official advice advocates sitting properly (like you would in a dining chair) however, I think it depends on where you are affected. In my first pregnancy, I hurt under my bum, so sitting on a soft sofa was hell, but this time is am spending s lot of time on the chaise end of our sofa, reclined, legs up, but body straight. Twisting is not good! And unless you are rendered immobile, do only what is necessary. For a first pregnancy, I suggest as little as truly possible, because what is possible becomes a lot harder in subsequent pregnancies due to having an existing child to care for! If you find yourself affected by the type of work you do, your employers do have a duty to make 'reasonable adjustments' to keep you are work. I have been given support for the parts of my work that usually involved walking around large areas of a site and I also get to work from home where possible. Basic rule: if it hurts, don't do it!

few people here

Hi all

Just popping in to share my experiences of having SPD/PGP treated by a chiropractor this pregnancy (3rd). Had SPD both previous times and received little or no treatment from NHS, just the 10 min appt with a physio to be given a belt that never really made much difference to me. All very dismissive, with that 'you'll be fine once baby comes' attitude, actually it took about 6 months to feel any real improvement.

My chiropractor is a woman with 2 small children and a real interest in pregnancy related conditions. I have managed so much better this time around, still some pain and discomfort, still lurching along when I walk but the grinding bones and shooting pubic pain has only just started in the last 2-3 weeks and at night only. She said she couldn't cure me but could keep me stable and promised me I wouldn't end up on crutches - and she's been right. I have found it much easier to cope this time feeling more stable and without the awful pubic pain.

I've had to pay as NHS won't pay for chiropractic services but it has soooo been worth every penny. £35 a session and I've seen her roughly every 3 weeks since 16 weeks - am 40+4 now and it's been 2 weeks since last appt, won't bother going back now til after baby comes.

I know it's not an option for everyone due to affordability but just wanted to flag up to those of you who are struggling with pain and getting about just how beneficial I've found it. If you can afford it it may be worth considering.

Best wishes with everything.

That's such a shame you had to go private. After self referral I went straight into weekly sessions with a physio who is just amazing. Mind you, with my first pregnancy in a different town I just got a chat and a tubigrip support. Knowledge is definitely power with SPD as you sometimes have to tell the HCPs what is wrong and what treatment you need.