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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

any advice on symphysis pubic disfunction

13 replies

terilou87 · 02/08/2012 08:28

i have been having alot of pain in my pelvis and back area i'm 26 weeks pregnant and when i walk it feels like my bones are grinding together i can actually hear them clicking and stuff. i have read up that there isn't a lot that can be done, i cannot take codine as am allergic so all i can have is paracetemol which does nothing for me. i have a bump support but this makes the pain worse, any one else have this with any good ideas what i can do?

OP posts:

WantAnOrange · 02/08/2012 08:32

Have you been refered to a physio?

Grumpla · 02/08/2012 08:34

Get a physio referral as soon as you can!

I didn't see anyone until I was over 30wks (even so it was helpful) and she said if I had come earlier on there would have been much more she could have done to help.

Physio did some "manipulations" on me (eg moved bits of me around a bit, quite painful at the time but moved easier after) and gave me a medical support belt thing which helped with walking.

Sleeping with pillow between legs helped.

Other than that, just take it easy and remember that it doesn't last forever (even if it feels like it!)

If you are still at work have you had an OH assessment? You need to e particularly careful of sitting for long periods, and thy need to make sure your chair is appropriate.

Original poster

terilou87 · 02/08/2012 08:34

yes got the appointment next week. i have no idea what they are going to tell me to do though. the pain is really bad i can hardly move.

OP posts:

Grumpla · 02/08/2012 08:36

The support thing was not a bump support btw, it was a very tight stretchy band around my actual pelvis. I think a "bump belt" would actually distribute that weight onto your hips so prob not a good idea.

blackteaplease · 02/08/2012 08:38

You can do stuff, get your midwife to refer you to a physio asap. I had the grinding pains at 20 weeks, and the physio realigned my pelvis which stopped them. She also gave me exercises to strengthen the muscles and a proper support belt. The ginding pain has stopped but I still have aches across the front if I do too much.

If you don't seek help it can get worse and you still have a way to go before your due date. Is this your first? I would recommend resting as much as possible, keep your knees together, sleep with a pillow between your legs and try to avoid too much walking/ stepping up stairs and getting up and down off the floor.

Hope it gets better soon.

Original poster

terilou87 · 02/08/2012 08:39

i work as a call center op so sit down all day. that hurts too but i start matermity soon my last day is next friday. my chair is fine though we have big comfy ones and theyve given me a back support aswell for it. i already have a support belt i dont think it works if anything it makes it worse. thanks for advice

OP posts:

blackteaplease · 02/08/2012 08:39

cross posts.

Yes my band is a big strap that goes around my bottom and hips rather than the bump itself.

Original poster

terilou87 · 02/08/2012 08:42

thanks grumpla i will get one of those instead then,
@blackteaplease no this is my 4th and my eldist is 5 so not much chance of a rest, iv notice keeping my knees together helps alot, and walking hurts so i avoid it,

OP posts:

blackteaplease · 02/08/2012 08:45

Your physio should give you one at your appointment.

Not much chance of a rest then with 3 others! I have 1 dd who is a toddler and I'm always up and down off the floor, up and down the stairs and running after her which doesn't help.

Can you draft in some assistance over the weekend with the older dc so you can put your feet up? That will really help

Chigertick · 02/08/2012 08:47

Just seconding (thirding?) the advice to go for physio. I also had accupuncture which I found really helped.
Other advice is to sleep on a duvet so it's really soft and wear "shiny" nightwear to help get in and out of bed.
A physio will show you how to get up from laying down properly and I was told to get dressed sitting down as far as possible (which was amusing when I measured 40 weeks by 30 weeks with twins )
Try sitting on a magazine in the car to swivel round (or you can buy special seat things that do this from halfords).
Keeping your legs together as much as possible is good advice and yes yes to the proper pelvic support belts they are really thick elastic and Velcro but do "hold you all in".
Unfortunately my spd got so bad I was signed off work, but as I said I had twins and had previous back problems.
Really hope you get some relief soon.

thedoublek · 02/08/2012 08:48

The physio is great for showing you how to move in new ways to avoid pain and should help you discuss how you will give birth with limited mobility. I saw a chiropractor after I gave birth and he was amazing. I had to pay but he said he wished I had come to him before the birth and he would have as he said 'sorted me out'. Maybe it's worth trying to find a friendly local chiro - although your midwife, dr etc will prob be against that but hey it's not them struggling about on crutches with a bump!
I really feel for you it's such a horrible thing and medical professionals were on the whole very unsympathetic . 'no one ever died of spd' said one particularly ill informed midwife who assured me 'SPD was great ad the baby just slid out!' wtf!!!
Basically to get the help you need and are entitled to you have to be quite bolshy! Bring a feisty friend, partner, mum with you to appointments and insist on being referred to a gynae physio or sometimes they call them women's physios. Don't let them palm you off with ' it happens to lots of women'.
In the meantime plenty of rest and keep those knees together! Xx

Original poster

terilou87 · 02/08/2012 08:50

yeah im still with their dad so he does alot, and my mum takes them over the weekends if she isnt working, so i do get alot of help but my youngest is 3 and if shes crying or anything i go on auto mum and sort things out, i have stopped picking her up though coz shes too heavy.

OP posts:

Whiteangel · 02/08/2012 15:06

I've been to the physio three times over my pregnancy and they have been fab. Managed to get my SPD under control through a mixture of rest and being careful how I do things. Managed to work to 37 weeks but have started to really struggle during the last week (I'm 40 weeks today). One of the best bits of advice she gave me was to remember that the pain is always there even when you can't feel so to not do silly things (like putting socks on standing like a flamingo) as I'd pay for it later. Really helped. She also gave me a tubigrip for around my bump which is much more comfortable than it looks and helps distribute the weight more evenly, especially when on your feet. Good luck and take all of the help you get get and don't feel guilty about it!

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