SPD Query

[theressomethingaboutmarie]

I went to my doctors this morning after suffering over the past couple of weeks with a really achey hip/pelvic area (left side only). I thought that this was SPD (relying on Dr. Google) and mentioned this after describing my symptoms. He didn't know about SPD or what the acronym stood for but started to talk about pregnancy related osteoporosis which he admitted himself, was very rare. He signed me off for a month (I will work from home as opposed to commute) as movement makes me pain worse (turning in bed, adjusting my seating position etc).

I thought that SPD was widely known within the medical faculty. I'm a little baffled at being diagnosed with something that he himself was very rare (and I've had no bone issues in the past and have been religiously drinking milk and eating yoghurt as well as taking pre-natal vitamins).

Has anyone had similar?

When I went to the doctor with mine, I mentioned my pain and she said well it's not sciatica, and I mentioned I thought it might be pelvic girdle pain and she said something to the effect of call it what you like it's just normal pregnancy pain. My midwife also said the same. I think a lot of people in the medical profession think back pain is back pain in pregnancy, even if it's hip pain. I would suggest trying to see him again and asking about seeing a physio, it helps some people.

Maybe you should print him out some information and underline your symptoms? lol.

Unfortunately there are still a lot of HCPs that don't recognize SPD as an actual condition. Im now suffering for the third time, and have been mostly lucky to receive good care for it, however, after hobbling into a midwives office on crutches at 16 weeks with my last pregnancy in obvious pain, to then be told by the midwife on duty "it can't be that bad, you're only a few months pregnant" I wanted to beat her with my crutches!!
There are varying degrees of SPD, and unluckily mine is quite bad. Sometimes groin pain, back pain and leg strain are just pregnancy niggles, but sometimes when the pain is there constant and made worse by activity then it's likely to be PGP/SPD. If you think it might be, get a second opinion.

My midwife told me to exercise more when I had SPD! Cluelessly I did! In the end I begged my gp for a physio referral and my physio had had it twice she was fab. unfortunately I'm still in daily pain with it now and ds2 is nearly 18 months.?

I had SPD very bad with DS2 and was on crutches from 15 weeks ( i had a hip operation a year before and still had the metal plate in which made it worse) and my doctor wasnt that interested just said preganancy pains - unfortunatly they had told me I had ligament streaching with DS1 and thats why I kept bleeding and was in agony and after a trip to hospital at 23 weeks was found to have an incompetant cervix and was 6cm dilated and needed an emergancy operation. So had learnt to trust my instincts and seek a second opionon. So I did and midwife agreed was extremmly bad SPD and even though a c section was booked at 36 weeks because it was that bad, at 31 weeks she referrred me to consultant and she said no one should be in that much pain and c section was brought forward to 33 weeks!!
Trust your body and instincts and if not happy get a second opinion every time

I've been seeing a chiropractor since 13 weeks this pregnancy (my third) had SPD with my first towards the end but never mentioned it to anyone as I thought it was just 'being pregnant', which it most certainly is not. 2nd time around I did a bit of internet searching too when the familiar aches, grinding bones sensation and shooting pains came on around 16 weeks. I was diagnosed with SPD by midwife and GP and had to do a self referral to physio clinic at our local hospital. They were worse than useless.

My recommendation to you, if you can afford it, would be to forget about NHS physio services or getting your GP to understand/accept what's wrong and go straight to a chiropractor who has an interest in pregnancy related conditions.

There obviously are some good NHS physios but the two I saw at our local hospital clinic were clueless about the condition and offered nothing except a support belt (which they didn't even know how to fit), an excercise sheet full of excercises I couldn't do (they didn't even bother to demonstrate the exercises or ask me to attempt them) and a cheery 'see you again if you need crutches' as a goodbye

My chiropractor on the other hand has been wonderful and says SPD/PGP, call it what you will, is very treatable. She sees no reason why I should end up with crutches or in a wheelchair. And since I've been seeing her my symptoms have been minimised to more than cope-able levels. I have every confidence she'll be able to keep me stable enough to cope with my other two DCs both under 4yrs.

If you can't afford to see a private chiropractor (roughly £50 for 1st session and £30 for each subsequent session) then please do go back to your GP - or another in the practice and don't give up until someone treats you as you ought to be treated.

It's an absolute disgrace that so many women are being failed in this way by the NHS who would rather hand out crutches than offer proper treatment.

(Can you tell this is a particular bug-bear of mine?!!)

Best wishes with your pregnancy x

Similar to posters above, I've not had a great experience with medical professionals and this condition. Have had pelvic pain since around week 22. By week 24 I was in agony and could barely walk. A GP told me to get more exercise, go for a swim, and the only way to avoid this was not to get pregnant in the first place. Very helpful. Midwife told me to buy a support belt in mothercare, but if I could go private to see a physio I should do that as it would be weeks before the NHS would see me. Fortunately on the advice of a family member who is a dr and has had this condition, I got in contact with an obstetric physio who specialises in this, and she was able to manipulate my hip and do acupuncture, both of which really helped. However what was also very important was that I happened to have a week of annual leave booked at that time and so was able to rest completely. On returning to work pain has been manageable but has by no means gone away. It's important to be careful about who you see. I had a pregnancy massage last week with someone who treats this pain a lot, thinking it would be a nice way to relax but also manage the pain, and it made it a lot worse...! The difficulty is that there is no consensus on what's best to do, and everyone is different! I am going back to physio this week and hopefully that will help again. I am hoping that when I finally finish work that will make a really big difference.

Also, good information available on www.pelvicpartnership.co.uk, I think you can contact them to seek recommendations for professionals in your area. If you can afford it, private seems to be the best way to go, unfortunately.

Good luck!

Sorry that should be www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk

Definitely try to get yourself referred to a Physio. I think there are different names for SPD - e.g. pelvic arthropathy, pelvic girdle pain - I had this too and went into the labour ward as an emergency over a weekend due to severe pain/ mobility problems. They made emergency referral to antenatal physio who saw me about 4 weeks later and was v helpful. I was very lucky in that mine has not got worse, but I know some people who are on crutches due to it and really incapacitated towards the end of pg so it's definitely good to get appropriate help sooner rather than later.

Thanks for the support and advice. I feel sure it's not normal pregnancy pain; I didn't have it with DD and I know from speaking with others about my symptoms that this has a name and treatments. I did feel let down. He actually asked me what I wanted him to do about the pain. I told him that ideally, he'd help me to manage it!

Hello OP
poor you. And your GP is an idiot. I am always so cross when I read about the terrible advice women receive from HCPs.
well, working from home will definitely help, as will following the advice on the pelvic partnership website helpfully linked above. I also agree that if you can possibly afford to, go privately to a physio or an osteo who specialises in obstetrics. I hope you get some help.

There's something and hermione, take yourself off to an osteopath. I suffered with SPD when pregnant with ds and physio was less than useless. After he was born it was gradually getting worst and worse and could barely pick ds up from the floor it was so painful. 3 sessions with an osteopath (she was trained in pregnancy and women's problems and it was gone. The first niggle I get when I do have another baby I will be straight back to the osteo.

What worked really well for me was acupuncture! Fantastic pain relief and no pain from the needles.
I was impressed!

re the GP, he has no idea what he is talking about . Have you tried your MW too? A friend of mine was referred to a physio (NHS) through her midwife.

Will look onto an osteopath then. I had an MRI in December, results are lost!

My GP asked me why I wanted painkillers for an STD when I went in, he had also never heard of SPD and he went away to look it up, imagine what he must have thought of me 25 weeks pregnant and him thinking I'm telling him I've got an std. I had to finish work at 30 weeks it was agony, physio was no help either, there is light at the end of that long long tunnel, dd2 is 2 weeks old now and it's completely gone

Hey everyone, so sorry to hear you are all going through this too. I'm 19 and a half weeks pregnant with dc3 and suffering the same symptoms. Ended up at hospital twice because of it, first time they thought it was severe cystitis and I was given antibiotics. I ended up back at hosp and the dr I saw said he didn't think it was a urine infection and said it was severe ligament pain as I had a c section with my ds now 5. It's now been happening on and off, last night and today is bad again and I am so worried I'll end up on crutches. I have a dd, nearly 11 and ds, 5 who has severe special needs, can't walk, talk wtc either, I am also
On
My own and worried how I'll manage if this gets worse xxxx

So sorry to hear about others suffering - OP and Notmyselfatall - definitely push to get the treatment and support you need. The pelvic partnership are brilliant for advice - you can give them a call (phone number on their website). This is my second time around with SPD, am on crutches at 27 weeks, but am starting to get more help and it at least helps me to manage the pain and feel more positive. I've recently started hydrotherapy and found that really good. I've also seen a physio, osteopath, and now a chiropractor - all can offer different things IME - good to see what will work for you if possible.

Homestart may also be able to help if you are struggling with the house/other children.

I started a support thread for people suffering with SPD/PGP here

Hiya viola, sorry to hear you're going thru this too, since i last posted I have made an appointment for midwife for today at 3, pain is worse than earlier now I am in the middle of Gettn Homecare started for ds, carer coming in to get ds ready in morning and to shower and put him to bed at night

Most people have covered my thoughts on this (I'm on the pro-chiro team!) but just wanted to add that my chiropractor said there is no excuse for 'pregnancy back pain'. It's all completely treatable and anyone who brushes it aside should be ignored forever more!

I've also found pregnancy yoga to be useful, but only during periods when the pain is moderate, not severe. Spending time on hands and knees, which you do a lot in pregnancy yoga, has helped me as I think it takes the pressure off your pelvis. However, it's really important your teacher knows you have PGP/SPD, and that they understand the condition and what you can and cannot do. Otherwise you might end up in poses that do you no good whatsoever!

I had SPD with dd1, it appeared suddenly when in Germany on a conference at 16 weeks, went to osteo and got a bit better, eased off by 32 weeks. Sore but managable.

dd2 it started at 18 weeks, but by 23 weeks was on crutches until born early at 38 weeks on day due to be induced due to SPD. Did postnatal pilates afterwards, took 9 months to get back to normal.

With ds I went to chiropractor every couple of months, and from the time I found out I was pg I did pregnancy pilates DVD three times a week. A few niggles, but walked 4.5 miles pushing pushchair on the Thursday before he was born.

While it is bad, don't push pushchairs, supermarket trolleys, don't do any housework which hurts, rest up. Try to find osteopath/chiropractor who knows what they are doing, find an antenatal pilates class with a trainer who knows what they are doing. During pilates don't do anything which hurts. It really was so different with ds, even though third pregnancies should be worse.

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