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!

We have no maternity Physio here, just got a session of exercises and a belt/crutches this tlme ( and closed again). Last time I had a few sessions. I had osteopath post birth ( private) but none of them will do anything in pregnancy either.

Am 19 weeks with dc4 , only had SPD for first time with dd3 and it tool 20 months to feel almost normal. I've been on crutches for 3 weeks now.
Am having some big adjustments at work so I can keep going but it's generally accepted that I'll be off after Xmas if not sooner. :(

Sitting down gently on the sofa - I like this thread already, thank you HastaLanugo for pointing me here. Have had PGP for the past six weeks or so, and I'm 29 wks now, so there's a way to go yet.

I basically define resting as 'sitting on the sofa' because our sofa seems to be the perfect mix of soft and supporting (the armchairs are useless, they're too low and they tilt me backwards too much). My physio advised against sitting with legs outstretched, but then, she also told me to sit crosslegged on the floor, and I tried that for 10 seconds of agony and decided she was really really wrong about that. I think that if it's comfy and doesn't hurt it's a good way to sit. Though I have found that some things seem comfy to sit on, but then when I have to stand up I'm in far more pain than I'd expect and I think it's that I was sitting at a slightly awkward angle somehow.

My tip that works for me is hot showers. I can't do baths any more because our bathtub is small and awkward, but pointing a really hot shower directly at my pelvic joints seems to make everything ease up a bit, at least for a while afterwards. It's particularly good in the morning after a bad night.

Yes, rosamarina I am fairly comfy on the sofa too, long may that continue...

Just endured another sleepless night, so feeling a bit wretched this morning. Woke up with ache rather than pain, so an improvement :) but just couldn't get comfortable to go back to sleep. Dear God, there is some bad TV on in the early hours of the morning. I desperately need a decent night's sleep, have only managed between 4 and 5 hours each night the last 5 nights in a row - I know that is just preparation for new baby in some ways but at least with first few months of new baby I won't be having to also get on with work, deadlines, and all without more than half a cup of coffee a day!!!!!

angels. I have come close to being signed off. Crutches currently sitting in car in case I need them. I definitely think it gets worse with each child. This is my second and last. 24 weeks tomorrow - finishing for mat leave at Christmas. Roll on December!

Have just over done it :(
Went shopping with dd3 and didn't do any more walking than yesterday but had stabby pains on the way back.

Anyone got a practical way to do shopping on crutches? I'm using a rucksack & dd3 on backpack reins so it's awkward getting the bag on and off which makes me really slow at the till.

Shopping on crutches with child is quite a bold thing to attempt ! No hints really, as I just avoided at all costs. Sorry you overdid it

BTW pushing a heavy shopping trolley is really bad for the pelvis. Deliveries are your friend.

Don't use the supermarket, all done at local shops/market so no trolleys, not using pram for dd3 either. The veg shop delivers but it's the cheese/meat/bread that we buy most days that I'm shopping for.

Where has this thread been all my pregnant life?!

I'm 37 weeks with DS3 and currently in hospital, I was admitted with severe headaches but my main issue is SPD, in completely bed bound now, I can do literally nothing and you know what the icing on the cake is? In allergic to Codine.

I was having tramadol but had to stop as baby could suffer withdrawals so I'm doing it no choice painkiller free.
I've spent the day weeing on a bed pan and crying when made to move for scans etc
I am certain the headache was stress induced because life is miserable I can't even take my 2 sons to school let alone play with them or look after their basic needs. I'm isolated, bored and depressed an in agony. I wish they'd just induce and get this little guy out! I had it with Ds2 although possibly not this bad but he came along by himself at 36 weeks. Physio has given me crutches and a support belt (which can only e worn stood up) and apart from that I left to cope (which I'm not) if I go overdue I could have 5 more weeks of this, the thought alone makes me cry. Pain and depression go hand in hand.

Oh, titsalinabumsquash I am so sorry you're having such a bloody awful time :(

I wish I had something more helpful to offer than massive sympathy and keeping my fingers crossed for you that you don't go overdue.

Do you have a DVD player and/or books/magazines to help with the boredom? Not much help I know but might take the edge off. Or a radio - my radio has been my lifesaver over the past few nights when I have been awake for hours after hip pain woke me.

Here's hoping it's just a few more weeks (or days, if they agree to induce?) and then with any luck much of this nightmare will be over. xx

Angels hope you're feeling better today and managed not to overdo it yesterday.

emerald just linked you here from March but you beat me to it!

I tried bumping this thread a while ago but there were no takers :(

I'm currently 37+5 with horrendous SPD. I have crutches, belts and even a wheelchair loaned from red cross. Taking codyrdramol at present but it doesn't make much difference. I have an almost 3 year old DD who's nursery have let me up her hours and my DH now has a day off during the week. MIL has been fab as well and collects and drops DD off at nursery and doesn't bring her back til tea time. Hoping for induction soon but consultant I'm under is against inductions whereas on call consultant last week would have induced if I'd been over 37 weeks. Have daycare tomorrow for assessments, CTG etc then antenatal clinic to discuss plan of action.

Izzy, treatment of ladies with SPD is barbaric. I really hope you get some good news tomorrow.

Hi ladies, I'm new to Mumsnet, and have only joined as was feeling completely alone and feeling like I?m going to crack up soon coping with this horrible condition. Am 30wks with my 1st and have been suffering since about 20wks. The pain has amplified massively over the last 3 weeks, and is now particularly bad in one hip aswell as the pubic bone ? I now have to rely on crutches and can only see it getting worse. Have seen Physio, who isn?t much help and the exercises she?s given me don?t appear to be doing much right now. I?m feeling particularly lonely with all of this, none of my antenatal yoga class are suffering (lucky them), but this makes me pretty isolated as I have to adopt special poses to stop me from spreading my legs, and after class a lot of the girls stay behind and talk and are starting to build a little network. But I feel as if they?re reluctant to speak to me and am putting this down to my special needs status! I just hope that my NCT group are a bit more welcoming ? I need some kind of a network for my mat leave (am still at work until early December).

I just can?t help feeling gutted that my body has let me down so badly at what should be a really exciting time ? I can?t even go to the shops to get anything ready for the baby, which is something that I?ve longed to do for years. And I?m terrified of it continuing after the birth, which would result in me being an awfully useless mother to the baby. Is it normal to feel like this? These thoughts come and go, but I am trying to keep a brave face for most people and find myself sneaking off to the loo to have a good sob about how low I?m feeling.

Sorry for using this as a platform to just moan and be down, but I needed to let this out, and hope you all understand.

For all of you that are suffering, one thing that might be worth trying to get hold of is a plastic sheet that goes under your sheet ? I know ? it sounds completely undignified, doesn?t it! Basically it?s made out of similar material to a tent and is 2 layers that glide easily over each other which makes it so much easier to turn over at night. It doesn?t really stop it hurting, but it does make life a bit better. A friend suffered from SPD with her 2nd and has lent me this, so I have no idea where to get one from. Hot water bottles are also lovely, but can?t really sit with one inbetween my legs while I?m at work!

Hi all. Joining too. Am 16 weeks and have had PGP pains for last three or four. It was getting me down, but the last week or so I've just decided to accept it, and try to manage it better. I found something about managing chronic pain, here: www.paintoolkit.org/ which I found useful, although sounds like lots of you are already doing these things. I am finding it ok at the moment. I don't wear my belt, set a limit of 15 minutes walking, don't stand for more than 5 minutes, very careful about sitting down / standing up etc. And the pain is worse by evening, but really not bad. It's just so early, and it's only going to get worse, isn't it? I have a 4yo as well, and I hate not being able to run with her or carry her, but then I guess that's partly being pg as well.

Mincepie I totally sympathise. I had PGP when I was pg with DD over four years ago. I loved yoga, but I ended up spending most of every class on all fours doing 'gentle stretching' and stopped going in the end because it was so boring and the other women were always looking at me with kind of horrified curiosity. Given it's so common I'm surprised I only know one other person who gets it. My NCT class were much more useful in terms of making contacts anyway. And once your baby is born and you start to go to groups you'll meet loads of people there as well. It is really hard. I have found it helpful this time to think 'well, I have a chronic pain condition and it needs managing'. PGP is dismissed because it's seen as temporary, but it can be very disabling, and you are in pain all the time, so it's a serious thing, with big emotional consequences. I went to a physio class for women with PGP last week (gateway to NHS one to one physio - ugh) and the physio talked about it like it was a minor quirky inconvenience, nothing about how down you can feel, how helpless you feel. There are real mental effects of being in pain all the time, especially when you are also trying to prepare for your child. My PGP went completely with DD's birth - I hope you have that too. The Pelvic Partnership (www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk/) have a list of private therapists that people have found helpful. Could that be an option? I am trying to decide whether to cough up the money before it gets worse or wait and see if I can manage. DH a bit sceptical about the cash tbh :(

Izzy I can't believe they won't induce you, that is awful. Good luck tomorrow, I hope they are convinced. You can't carry on like that.

Hi everyone,
Sorry to jump on here but I am a bit concerned by the changes in my spd tonight and wanted some advice/find out if this is normal. I'm 39 wks with DC3,and have had terrible pain at the tops of my legs for months, as well as terrible left hip pain for the past five weeks, mostly at the back of my hip. It's grinded and made a horrible click sound a few times, mostly when getting up in the night, but today since about 6pm my left hip has been constantly grinding/knocking with every step. It's weird as the pain in my hip seems to have gone tonight too but instead the bones seem to knocking- my dh can actually feel it when he puts his hand on my hip and I walk. Has anyone else experienced this? It's like something must have moved as the pain in my hip seems to have gone but its been replaced with this horrible bone grinding constantly.

sam - hi - you poor poor thing, that sounds awful :( I sympathise as I have the hip/top of leg pain myself though it sounds as if yours is worse :(

Have you walked too much lately? I ask as that was the thing that set off my hip pain in the first place and made it so bad one night that I had that clicking thing you talk about and could barely get my legs to move. Really hope you can get some relief Do you have a physio you could see?

Mincepie - so sorry you're having a miserable time - if you were in my yoga class I would talk to you!!! I hate the fact that little cliques seem to form at these things but I think sometimes it can just feel more that way if you are feeling low and in pain, you lose the energy needed to chat to people etc.

Also can I ask you and philbee about the yoga thing - my physio said yoga would be good for me and hasn't mentioned anything about certain positions not being ok - maybe that is because my pain is fairly mild compared to many people? Or was she wrong...?

sam I would speak to someone about that especially so close to birth as you don't want to risk any more damage.

Does anyone else get fed up of explaining to people? Most people didn't know I was pregnant when I first started on crutches this time so its been a double conversation. I especially hate it with families I work with as I keep home very separate to that.

Thanks philbee and Emerald. Amazing how much better hearing from people who understand makes you feel!

Philbee thanks for the links - the paintoolkit is really helpful, and I'll have a look at the private therapists too. I did try a chiropractor, who specialises in womens health. Unfortunately I didn't find it much help, although friends have said that with a couple/few sessions with a chiro tends to be more help than a one-off, so perhaps I'll go back (once she's back from holiday).

Emerald, I do find the yoga helpful and would recommend it, but make sure you find an antenatal class, as there are some poses us pregnant ladies shouldn't do unless extremely experienced in yoga. It does help to ease the "stiffness" (how it feels stiff seeing as the pain is caused by loosening, I don't know!!). And is also really good for other more minor ailments, like aching ribs. I love that I can go there and just relax and switch off my mind for an hour and a half too - it's definitely needed! Some yoga poses, like the Warrior, invlove having your legs positioned quite far apart, so she has a couple of alternatives for getting the same chest openening benefits - one of which is doing it with my hands against the wall. All of the alternatives are about making sure that I don't open my legs too wide (forwards and sideways), as that will only make the pain worse, so if you do go, make sure you tell your instructor.
And just be really careful not to overdo it even though the pain seems to be mild - for me earlier on the pain was less constant and intense, and I didn't always feel the pain until a while after I'd overdone it.

I'm wondering if maybe he has moved/finally engaged as I had a show this morning too. I actually prefer the pain to this constant bone chiselling though! The midwife is coming today to give me a sweep so I will ask her about it- though they haven't been any help at all with this, I've just had the "take paracetamol and wear the tuber grip" line for the past few months. I think I don't moan enough at them! I don't think I've done any more than usual, less if anything thanks to the rubbish weather!
Yoga sounds lovely! (Minus the clicking!) x

I've been admitted now until baby is born for morphine pain relief which is making me sick as a parrot and I feel grotty but at least slightly less in pain.

I have a handling team coming out to brief the staff do they don't do anymore damage during labour.

My thoughts are with everyone, this is an awful thing to have.

So sorry titsalina, hope you're bearing up ok and good luck xx

Titsalina really sorry to hear that you're in such a bad way with this. Glad to hear that you're finally getting some pain relief, shame about the side effects though. I really hope that labour comes soon for you and that everything settles back down to normal really soon after having baby. xx

Thinking of you Titsalina, really hope it settles down after LO is here xxx

Great link sillywmama I found this really useful and it has encouraged me to make a 3rd doctors appointment to insist I am sent to a specialist physio. Previously drs have said it is just pregnancy pains and midwife says there is no point being referred to a physio as there is nothing they can do.

Had this is last pregnancy and it never fully went afterwards. Drs were completely uninterested that I was still in pain and told me it was just because my hormones still hadn't settled after the birth.

Determined not to be fobbed of to suffer in silence this time. Only 25 weeks and already in soooooo much pain. Housework is agony but with 4 children already I don't really have any choice but to struggle on. No fairy god mother to help unfortunately.

I have found some of the exercises on the spinning babies website help a bit and sometimes give temorary relief from the pain.

moany post alert

Been out for a few hours with dh dd1/3. First place couldn't find the lift and had to walk for what felt like ages to get to it, second place was looking at cars and pushy salesman pissed me off , third place I couldn't get out of the car/back in cos the space was too narrow. Am v sore after climbing back in :(

Oh and went for my 20 week scan this am and dh had to drop me off as the car park is too far from the hospital doors. Not sure how I'll manage next week for my appointment :(