SPD- useless midwife

[Nicky1306]

Hi,

Had my appointment with the MW today I will be 24 weeks on Saturday.

I told the MW I had pain in my groin, feels like I've been kicked in the foo! Putting trousers/knickers on HURTS! Undercarriage hurts, her response shocked me slightly she was so blasé about it "oh no not you as well" "everyone seems to get it these days I don't know if it's because we are more aware of it !" like I've read about it and I'm making it up!

Anyway I explained I walk about 4 miles a day doing the school run ( feel stupid for not being able to drive ) and this makes it worse.

Her response was they can only manage it on pregnancy....yes I get that. And to get out of bed/car knees together and avoid doing things that agrivate it...... Some people get it bad they end up on crutches........and if it gets really bad then i have to decide on what is really important.
Collecting my daughter Is kind of a must! Has anyone had any more helpful advice than this? I asked if there were exercises I could do but apparently there aren't. I'm sure I've heard of people being referred for physio.

Xx

Oh meant to say she wrote SPD on my notes but didn't actually call it that to my face x

Hi, I had the same thing you describe but it didnt really get any worse for me and even kind of settled down a bit. I would just do the obvious as she suggested and see how it goes. if it gets worse you probably can get referred to a physio but i never needed to. I walked quite a lot but then did resort to driving. can you get a bus to save your hips? They can also give you bump support which was just like a big bit of tubigrip but you can buy better ones i think. sorry if this is not very helpful, just wanted to let you know that it may not get any worse (i thought it would just get worse and worse when i had it)

Get thee to a physio as soon as possible! Mine was brilliant and was able to help a lot, although she said there would have been more that she could do if I had been there earlier.

Bugger the midwife. SPD is real and it bloody hurts.

Definitely recommend referring yourself to a physio. I did at about 24 weeks and she gave me some exercises to do to strengthen the muscles suppirt my pelvis. I would def recommend pelvic floor exercises. They've really helped. And yep, minimise agrivating activities which for me meant hoovering and doing laundry!

There's a few of us over on the SPD sofa thread, here in pregnancy, if you'd like to join us. Not all MWs are clued up on the condition. You might have to push harder for physio.

Hate to,say it, walking long distances is one of the worst trigger factors for my SPD to hurt like a bugger. I am also long legged so naturally stride out, but nhs physio suggested baby/ fairy steps as this can lessen the grind on your pubic bones might be worth a try?
But she is being crap in that yes you can be referred for physio - I've been referred by gp - 1st preg and midwife this time.
In terms of treatment, It is self awareness as much as anything unfortunately. Both physios I have seen say they want to see women before it gets awful pain and mobility wise, so you have justification to get some expert help, surely?
In the meanwhile, This leaflet was the one I was given - it's quite good with lots of self help tips SPD leaflet

SPD sofa

Thanks Angels, I was on phone so couldn't link.

Hate to say it but my physio was useless - think, 'here's an elastic support belt, good luck.'
Like you I was walking upto 4 miles a day on school runs, and had a bad habit of long legged striding.
Fortunately I went to see a chiropractor who kept me mobile, and told me I could ask for a referral to him so the NHS paid :) unexpected bonus. I would have paid him in gold bars that first appt when I hobbled into the surgery and walked out not even wearing the support belt.
TBH MN was far more use in terms of what to avoid doing (hoovering, ironing, shopping trolleys) than the professionals I saw

Contrary to that, my physio is amazing. I was given just a chat and support bandage in first pregnancy. This time I have weekly manipulation, fancy new crutches and had guidance on the right hip support to buy privately. Self referral definitely the way forward.

My doctor fobbed me off saying it was 'just pregnancy back ache'. My midwife was also useless and said 'oh yeah, lots of people get that, but there is nothing that can be done'. I asked to be referred to a physio but she said there was no point as they can't do anything. GP refused to refer me for private physio, so can't get this with my Bupa plan either. Mine hurts to drive as well, which is a total nightmare as I spend a total of 2.5 hours a day driving for the school run. I am often fighting back tears on the journey home. If you have older children its not like you can just not do things because they hurt more. There is so much that just needs to be done regardless. Nobody else is going to do it, unfortunately.

Sorry, rant over. I had it with my last pregnancy as well and the good news was it went shortly after birth, although I did need to pay for some private physio to realign my pelvis. But worth every penny.

Poor NAR4 (and OP).

I had SPD in my last pregnancy. I was at the point where I could not sleep, even with my painkillers (which weren't as strong as my usual because of pg).

My CMW said she couldn't refer me, but the GP did. I was referred to a physio who specialised in SPD. I went a workshop with lots of other ladies to look at things we could use during the day that might help (and try them out too) and given some exercises to try.

I also had some individual appts with her. Admittedly mine got worse towards the end of the pregnancy (doesn't mean it will happen to you - we're all different & I did have unusual complications).

This was all on the NHS btw. It should be entirely possible for your GP to refer you. If you type in SPD on the NHS Direct website it should be able to give you some advice. You might need to print it out for the GP next time you see him. Don't stay in pain, go and nag (seems to be necessary nowadays).

I'd second getting a physio referral, even if all you get is a support belt and some exercises to try. The other thing to be aware of is taking account of SPD in your birth plan. Make sure it's on your plan as well as your notes and try and avoid the lithotomy position if at all possible (legs up in stirrups for example) as when you're in throes of labour or have been given strong pain relief you may not be able to tell what is a comfortable distance for your legs to be apart with painful results once it's all over.

Your midwife makes me cross - SPD CAN be treated and CAN be managed, you do need to find the right person though - ask your GP and other pregnant women and see if you can find out if there's someone local who specialises in treating it, seeing a general physio who doesn't know what they are doing will not help.

I had SPd towards the end of my first pregnancy and it got progressively worse throughout my second and third pregnancies. I saw a series of physio's at our community hospital who were utterly useless, no help whatsoever. Mine didn't go away after the third pregnancy and I collapsed when dc3 was about 12 weeks old, my back just gave up! THEN I started seeing a chiropractor and she was absolutely amazing, she manipulated my back and pelvis and explained what I was doing that was exacerbating the problem. I do pilates every day now and it keeps my back and pelvis in place. The other thing that has helped hugely has been discovering that I'm flat footed - I've now got superfeet insoles for my shoes for winter and wear Birkenstocks in the summer - it supports my arches and keeps my hips aligned properly. Once you've seen someone who can treat the problems that have already been caused by the spd then start doing the exercises they suggest to strengthen your core. Be gentle with yourself.

Thank you all for your replies, I have bupa, does anyone know If I would be able to be seen privately? X x

Go and see your GP, they will be able to refer you within nhs or private.

Some private medical insurance won't cover treatments for pregnancy specific conditions so best to check (mine didn't)

Hi Nicky, I have Axa ppp and they covered me to see an osteopath and a physio with the SPD. Good luck!

update***

I saw a different MW yesterday as the same useless MW I mentioned in my OP forgot to measure me at my last check any way, the lovely MW asked how my pain was ...... I explained that half term week was great as I wasn't doing the school run, but this week and last it was back and getting worse again! She asked If I had been referred for physio...... I explained that the other MW said this wasn't possible as it was all bone and no ligament, her reply was "how does she know this does she have a magic wand? She was clearly pissed off! And referred me urgently and said she hoped its not too late to help me and she does think it will be! hurrah! I can have physio!! X

• doesn't not does - sorry very tired ! X

Fingers crossed your referral comes through quickly. Make a note of which specific activities are causing you the most difficulty and where the pain is when you experience it. Write it down when it happens and take it with you - the more specific you can be the better. Be honest about how painful it is! Good luck x

I too finally got referred for physio. Unfortunately I could not have manual manipulation though due to Placenta Previa. I have been told now to come back if my placenta moves, otherwise wait until after I have had the baby.

Glad to see you've now been referred. I've had SPD severely twice- my no one piece of advice is to ring the pelvic partnership. They are the experts and can make sure you are getting the right treatment and give you so much valuable info.

Sorry can't link on phone but comes up on Google and they have a helpline. Leave a message if no one answers. Sorry if this sounds bossy! I just wish I'd contacted them when I first got SPD.

I agree with being honest about the pain... mine was awful last pg at 24 weeks, the worst day was when i had to walk from the office, all the way across campus to the furthest car park, a normal day would have me back at the car in 15 minutes, but with SPD after half an hour of waddling in agony I had to sit on the kerb in the rain and cried as the pain was so bad. A passing student offered to help me to my car, in fact they went and got there car and drove me up to my car. Once I got home and got some painkillers down me, I couldn't believe I'd been so emotional. I went to the GP next day and sobbed at her about how awful it was, she referred me for physio, signed me off work and gave me a prescription for Co-Codomol. I took a low dose, to help me sleep at night and to get through some bad days. I couldn't drive while on it as I felt so spaced out, but it meant I could do a few normal tasks without feeling like my pelvis was going to split in half.

I am glad that you finally had a midwife who listened to you.