Is there an SPD thread somewhere?

[izzybizzybuzzybees]

Ive just been given crutches for SPD and I'm looking for other sufferers. I've done a few searches but can't find any current threads??

anyone? Surely I can't be the only one suffering?

There are some, don't worry :) although I think they come under different names, like pelvic girdle pain?

There used to be the SPD sofa but I've not seen it for a while.
Sympathies from me as I had a rough time with SPD last time and am worried about it again this time.

There were a couple not so long back but think they died off.
I do feel your pain I've been laid up now since Friday unable to walk at all and I'm only 23 weeks, so a hell of a long way to go. Dreading it as I was house bound for the last month of my first pregnancy and the last 6 weeks or so with my second, and it looks like it will be even longer this time around! Which isn't great over the summer holidays with a 2 year old and a 4 year old running around the place!

Thank you for the replies. I did have a look but couldn't find any current ones. Tried PGP search as well.

Mrs paynie I'm not too much further on than you. I'll be 26 weeks on Wed. Pain only started around week 21 but has got steadily worse. I didn't suffer at all in first pregnancy, although expected to as I have hypermobility. I am struggling now but still at work, I work part time so have had thurs,Fri,sat,Sun away from work. Got crutches at physio on Thursday but no way of using them at work. Not sure what will happen it how much worse I will get?

Aww Hun, wish I had the answer but it does vary. I have it quite severe, so it gets awful for me, but I've heard of other people that can still walk around up until they have the baby. My first time wast so bad, only got it around 25 weeks, and only used crutches for about 10 weeks, but was housebound towards the end. My second time it started around 9 weeks and I was on crutches by 15 weeks and in agony and housebound by 7 months (moving house at 36 weeks was not fun!). It never really went away after my second, and still hurt a lot when doing too much walking or exercise. This time around the pain didn't really hit until about 14/15 weeks, but I was on crutches pretty much straight away. My physio has told me there isn't any more she can do for me this time around, but recommends manipulation work after I have had the baby, so hopefully that will help it to go away afterwards. I'm self employed so luckily can control my own hours of work, but have had to cut it down a lot already to only working once or twice a week now.
My best advice is good management can make your life so much easier. Things like the way you climb the stairs, get into bed and in and out of the car can all have an impact on your pain. The pelvic partnership has a good website full of advice.

I'm sorry to hear you have it so badly. I am really starting to struggle hence the crutches. I can walk without them but it is becoming more and more painful. In fact I just came out of the car and was walking to house when I got the worse pain ever right at pubic bone. When I used the crutches the pain was less but I can't use them at work and feel a bit silly for short walks like to car. I'm dreading work tomorrow and honestly not sure how I will cope but worried about being signed off as sick record is so poor already :-(

I know what you mean, I used to feel so silly on my crutches, especially when you get the looks from people who obviously don't know what the problem is, I used to find it embarrassing. But if they help then use them, surely it's better than being in pain. I even use mine around the house to get from one room to another.
Have you thought about taking early maternity leave from work? I can't imagine it's easy working when youre in pain and can't use your crutches?

I am taking mat leave starting at 34 weeks and have 4 weeks holidays to use before then so my last shift is 2nd sep then I stop. Cos I work part time and shifts i actually only have around 10 days or shifts left I think.

I really don't know how I'm going to manage as I although I was bad when I was last in work (tues night) it was nowhere near how bad and sore as I am now. Crutches impossible in work so orob won't even take them in. I just don't know what to do!

Obviously I don't know what kind of work you do, but I think you should speak with your direct supervisor or manager and ask them to do a new risk assessment for you. All employers need to complete one for you when pregnant, so maybe this could help you outline what you are able to do and what you might need help with?

Why can't you use crutches in work?
If its not possible they need to move you or put you on gardening leave.

Think along lines of physio etc so I can't use crutches and tend to patients, it just wouldn't work. There isnt anything I could do with crutches really. It's a manual job with most of day on your feet. Bit of a nightmare really!

I have recently been told by physio I have SPD. Not been given crutches as yet but they did try to give me them, I'm only 22 weeks couldn't face next 18 weeks with them but suffering badly tonight think I'll be going back to see phyio for crutches soon. I'm actually dreading work tomorrow sitting in front of a computer for better part of 8 hours won't be good more so that the pain doesn't really go away when I sit :(

Sounds like a nightmare! I would definitely consider bringing your mat leave forward a few weeks then you can bring your annual leave forward too so you've got less shifts to do? Other than that you need to take it as easy as possible between appointments.

Sorry to hear you are suffering too Laura, I would get the crutches now if you think you need them, putting it off may just make your pain worse in the short term.

That's what I'm now thinking mrspaynie the exercises they gave don't seem to be helping any which I was hoping they would

I found the exercises the same, nothing much has helped me I have been told that seeing an osteopath can help with SPD but I don't have one anywhere near me that I could get to so can't comment as to if that could help.

I'm not sure how much I can move my holidays to be honest as already taking annual leave from 3rd sep til mat leave starts on 30th and August is pretty full leave wise. We are at maximum numbers off just now. I've just counted and it's 11 days I have left to work. I think I will see how tomorrow goes and decide from there what I can do. Manager not too sympathetic and cos of my record with sickness not great with me personally!

Hi izzy, I started physio today, my spd started at 9 weeks this time. 14 weeks now and I've had some manipulation and been advised to wear a hip belt. Might move to crutches later in pregnancy but trying to get away without for now. Back to physio next week. Also might be looking at a csection due to the state of my pelvis and general joints. I was on another spd thread recently but can't find it from the iPad.

Sorry you are having such a hard time.

Sorry to hear someone else is suffering. 9 weeks is very early to suffer :-( I ended up being signed off sick and have been for 2 weeks, today I got another which takes me to middle of the leave I had booked off so that's me off til baby comes. Had an antenatal appt this morning and dr mentioned they might induce me early if things continue to decline.

I had terrible SPD in my last pregnancy. I'm 25 weeks and this time it started much earlier but isn't as bad as it was at this stage last time. I'm hoping that's a good sign.

Luckily for me I now only work part time, one job is mainly sitting down but I only do maybe 3-4 hours in one go. In my other job it's very physical but my boss has been so good to me encouraging me to sit down when I need to and not do things I'd usually do. I feel guilty because I usually work hard non stop, but seeing as other staff are still doing far less than me even with my breaks then I know I shouldn't feel so bad about it!

I'm having issues getting comfy at night now so not sleeping well. Does anyone have any advice? I can't remember what I did last time, maybe I've just blocked it all out! And are those girdle things any good?

I have SPD, the best advice someone gave me was to give in an accept your limits, don't do anything you don't need to, since taking this advice I have felt loads better and although it means I am not able to do all the things I like it makes life less painful and it's only for now! .

I am lucky I have a great hubby who does do loads around the house. Work is my only real issue, I do tend to find I sit for 8 hours at my desk daring not to move until hometime but hey, it's a short car journey to the sofa! I found the physio helpful to a point, she gave me some good tips, nothing I hadn't already been told though, pelvic floor exercises and the like...

Sleeping/rolling over is painful, I bought a dream genii which helps to a point, environment is key and a bath before bed is relaxing.

I spent a fortune bought a dream genii last pregnancy, but DD has stolen it because she loves it. I might have to find a cheap replacement and see if I can whip my one away from her!

I have a huge body pillow that's ace from last pregnancy but the top half is a bit on the floppy side now and I can't find one the same! My physio is off or two weeks so next appt not til sept so I have booked an osteopath appt who specialises in pregnancy and post natal problems. Hoping that helps but at the minute I will try anything!

In have it at 26 weeks, not too bad yet but worse and earlier than my first pregnancy. I've been taking a fitness class taught by physios (called maternally fit but think is just in London) and one of the instructors told me to buy huge maternity pads, soak them in water and put them in the freezer. Then put one on your pubic bone when it hurts or when you've been walking and leave it on until the ice melts. Did this last night and it really helped!