Osteopath has linked my SPD to my twisted pelvis

[Katydive]

Hi,
I am pregnant with my third child and anticipated my SPD returning as it did with my first two DS's. I have been suffering from what I thought was a trapped sciatic nerve in my lower back buttock since before I was pregnant (I am 6 weeks). I wanted to get it sorted as previosuly had been taking ibubrofen every so often which would clear it up for a few months and then return. So as I can't take this I saw an osteopath who informed me by taking one look at me standing that my ligaments were overstretched in other words bendy! I can move my thumbs and seem to be very flexible. People who are like this also suffer frequently from twisted pelvis which is what I had, no trapped nerve! In one session she manipulated my pelivs back and instantly the stabbing pain in my back has gone, saw her today a week later and it's fine. She says that with my pelivs back, there is no reason I should suffer as long as I'm careful, I'm overjoyed!
Has anyone else had any experience of this, and if this is the case and she is right shouldn't everyone who suffers visit their osteopath? She has also got me on Salmon oil capsules.
I am really cross with the hospital where I went to get a support belt and some excercises, but as they didn't diagnose a twisted pelvis these things were near to useless during my two uncomfortable pregnancies!
I would love to hear from anyone in the same boat.

I've had almost exactly the same issues. Have had lower back problems since I was 14, sometimes so severe that I'd end up off work/school for weeks at a time, barely able to move. It wasn't until a bad flare-up at 8 weeks into this pregnancy (my first) that I saw an osteopath who said I have a twisted lower spine and pelvis, with ligament issues like you. After years of GPs telling me to just take pills, I couldn't believe that two osteopath sessions later and I was pain free, for months.

I managed to stay that way until a stupid over-confidence had me going bowling and I ended up with spd. It's manageable with osteopath appointments every few weeks but I really wish I'd listened to him and not pushed myself so far!! If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to say 'be careful and don't over do it'.

For the first time in almost twenty years I'm confident that someone has worked out what is wrong with my back (and can fix it), and I'm slightly in love with my osteopath for doing that! I'm also really glad I did listen to him when he warned me not to allow the hospital physio to put me in a support belt for the spd - apparently you have to have your pelvis manipulated back into place properly first and the vast majority of physios aren't qualified to do this. If it isn't done properly, the support belt can end up damaging your pelvic floor muscles.

Sorry for epic post but it's interesting to hear someone else going through the same thing. Glad you're not in pain anymore.

My pelvis twisted and pinched my sciatic nerve, too. It was excruciating, way worse than actual childbirth, in my opinion. I spent at least 6 months in physical therapy trying to realign my pelvis and lower back. At its worst (which was most of the first year of my daughter's life), I wasn't able to sit down at all, so I couldn't drive or take classes at my uni. I had to nurse my daughter standing up, or lying down with a special arrangement of pillows; I couldn't sit in a chair and hold her. And since I was nursing, there wasn't really anything I could take for pain.

It's because of all that pain that I absolutely refuse to get pregnant again. There's no way I'm willing to go through that voluntarily.

pragmatic - It's great to hear your story, I am absoloutely amazed how many people suffer from SPD and are given a belt from the hospital physios it seems totally irresponsible, they must be expert enough to realise that it is useless unless your pelvis has been realigned, I remeber them telling me that there 'was not much you could do to stop SPD'!
I always just assumed I was double jointed, which I may be but because many people have stretched ligaments it means that when someone stretches them further when pulling a muscle whether pregnant or not, the already overloaded ligaments are not able to add any further support.
Pregnancy naturally loosens ligaments, and for people like me, it explains why I so easily pull little tummy and back muscles, and of course the worst having no pelvic support (SPD). I urge everybody who suffers to go and see an osteopath it may not be cheap but for two sessions costing around £100 it looks like I will have a pain free pregnancy.

Vintage - I can totally understand you not wanting to get pregnant again, it sounds horrendous, if you are in the South of England I would totally recomend my lady?

I suffered from severe SPD in my last pregnancy. I was on crutches at 17 weeks, signed off work from 20, in a wheelchair by 32 wks (and admitted to hospital for morphine because the painkillers weren't touching the pain) and then my baby was delivered 3 weeks early because of the pain.

A year later, I became pregnant again, with twins! Obviously I panicked about the SPD. So, this time I''ve seen an osteopath since 17 weeks, roughly every fortnight and then down to once a month. I am having a pain free pregnancy!! He does have to realign one side of pelvis every time as I am carrying a big bump from the babies as well as carrying my toddler on my hip, but apart from a day of aching afterwards, it works every time.

I tell everyone that the osteopath has worked miracles. I agree, it's worth every penny. The NHS physio was useless last time and just gave me a worksheet with exercises on!

P.S - I am also "double jointed" around my hips. The NHS physio didn't take any of notice of that last time.

This sounds amazing. Am trying to find someone at the moment to check my alignment as I get PGP and am already getting pain. How did you find your osteopaths? I'm in London.

It's really incredible isn't it, I feel really cross. If I hadn't thought I had a 'trapped nerve' I would not have gone to see the doctor. She referred me to an Oesteopath or Acupuncure, I almost booked up for this.
Whilst from what I gather the acupuncture may have given pain relief for a time it would have returned causing great expense, there a good chance they would just have pin cushioned me without diagnosing a twisted pelvis, without sorting this out first, no amount of belts or pain relief will offer a cure.
I agree about osteopaths being fantastic! I am only 6 weeks gone but by this time I was starting to suffer from SPD. I will probably need follow ups for the rest of my life but I'm prepared to do this now I know that the problem is easily solved.
I have found that the worst time for putting my back and pelvis out is in bed actually, sometimes I sleep on my side with my top leg slung right out in front (recovery position) this is terrible for twisting the pelvis, and just last night I have started popping a pillow inbetween my legs (together) when sleeping on my slide, it feels better instantly as it takes the stress of the pelvic joints.
I knew about a local osteopath so gave her a call and she saw me right away, I leterally got in the car and I walked out 30 mins (and £50 lighter) and practically skipped to my car!!

philbee - I just picked a local osteopath (we live in a pretty rural area) and luckily he is great. You will have much more choice though! If you google "pelvic partnership" then you can use the contact number on the site to find out names of osteopaths in your area. PP are a charity and I think they only put osteopaths on the list who have been recommended by women who have suffered from SPD/pelvic girdle pain.

Op I am 18 weeks pregnant with dd2. About week 13 developed awful sciatica so painful at night that GP prescribed me co-dydramol and referred me for nhs physio. Two sessions with an osteopath later and I feel like a new woman! (And still waiting for that nhs physio session!)

Hi digestives. I've got the PP list - they're great, aren't they? There are three London based physios, none that near but I can travel. There's one osteopathy practice, quite a way away from me, but their website isn't that informative. Do you think I should go for an osteopath over a physio? I was planning to call and ask whether they would do manipulation. One of the physios seems to do a lot with women's health, which I thought looked promising. Am a bit wary of just picking an osteopath!

katydive it is incredible. I read the PP website last year after my miscarriage as I wanted to try to prepare in case I got pg again (didn't really happen as it was a bit emotional). At the NHS physio class I went to the other week they didn't even examine us, just handed out support belts and showed us some Pilates style exercises, without checking if we were doing them properly. They told us that it commonly went on for 3 months after the birth so if that happened not to worry! No advice about manipulation, emotional aspects, nothing. After I found out the physio leading it isn't even a specialist antenatal physio. Just infuriating.

philbee - based on my experience I would definitely try an osteopath first. Perhaps call a few in your area and ask if they have experience with pregnant women? ( I think maybe osteopaths have to learn about pregnant women as part of their training but I can't remember where I got that from).

In my last pregnancy I saw a chiropractor privately - there was minimal difference & I had to explain to him what SPD was. I tried a private physio too and didn't notice much difference.

I found that most of them seemed almost scared to touch me because I was pregnant! Whereas the osteopath just got on with it, - we didn't water much time with discussing my symptoms but he identified the problem very quickly and then set about pulling my legs around and twisting my spine etc. - he still seems totally confident about treating me, despite the fact that my bump is huge and he has to kind of lean over it to get to my spine. That reassures me really, compared to the ones who seemed very wary of a heavily pregnant lady

just a quick question. I suffered from SPD while pregnant 2.5 yrs ago. Just before a period I seem to still get it. its so painful. is it possible to still get it even when not pregs?

Peppapigrocks - although I'm no expert I would make an appointment to see an oesteopath, it sounds as though you may have a problem with your pelvis that is made worse when you have your period, this may be due to hormones relaxing the muscles again, worth a go.

Philbee/Digestives - I know that I heard mine was very good, and it turns out she specialises in children/infants, she seemed to know all about SPD and didn't think twice before telling me there was no need to have it, as long as I kept my pelvis in check, why in gods name aren't the hospitals referring people to them, it would cut down on the NHS resources and actually stop women from being in agony they don't need to for so long

miarosemum - that great! was it a trapped nerve out of interest, sounds exactly like me! I feel like burning my belt it's like putting savlon on a broken arm!!

Oh my goodness, I just googled 'why do hospital physios not refer SPD suffers to ostepaths?' and this article in the Guardian came up

www.guardian.co.uk/education/2002/may/30/medicalscience.healthandwellbeing

Peppapigs, I still have SPD, DS2(my youngest is 16 next month). Mine is severe and I am always in pain, but it is worse just before a period. If I were you I would see an osteopath if you can afford it.

Katy, my pelvis is twisted too, but mine was/ is severely unstable so each time the osteopath or physiotherapist realigned it, it would fall back out of place within days, or a couple of weeks of I was lucky!

I ended up having 2 fusion ops on the Symphysis Pubis and my Sacro-illiac joints fused a few years ago and I can't walk unaided. Unfortunately the very bottom of my Symphysis has started to flex, so I could well be facing another, more major operation!

katydive Quentin Shaw is the Tunbridge Wells osteopath in the list. Maybe it is worth going to see him first, it would be an all day trip though!

I also suffered with SPD during both pregnancies and still having some pain now 6mths after having ds2, I've recently started seein an osteopath recommended by a friend and he's been great, although it's not cured yet as my prob is inflamed ligaments and so it'll be a gradual process of healing but definitely seems to be on the right tracks now so I would also recommend an osteopath. I'm in SE London so philbee pm me if you want details of my osteopath as he's v experienced in pregnancy/post pregnancy problems.

I was referred to physio for spd when pregnant who gave me exercises (that I couldn't do as I cold barely move) and a tubi grip which made me hot and sweaty and did nothing to help the pain.
After ds was born the spd seemed to go but as he got bigger and heavier it came back andi couldn't bend down to pick him off the floor or walk up stairs without the pain. And it was getting worse. When he was 3 months I went to an osteopath and after 3 sessions my spd was gone. She was bloody amazing. I would go back when I have another baby at the first twinge of pain and wouldn't even bother going to the useless nhs physio.

I have had SPD for 2 years following the birth of my daughter. Physios were hopeless and just gave me a belt and a booklet. One even told me I would probably never get better and my only option was to see a psychiatrist at the pain clinic to learn about acceptance.

My osteopath is fab and can sort out my pain amazingly.

Can I suggest that all the posters on this thread share the name and location of the osteo who has helped them? I might be moving to a new area soon so could do with a list!

Mine is Carragh McAree at Kingston and Teddington osteopathy, but have also heard great things about Quentin Shaw in Kent.
www.osteopathuk.co.uk/pregnancy-clinic.htm

I have hypermobility syndrome and have known for many years that my pelvis rotates by as much as 1-2 inches. I didn't see an osteopath but a chiropractor who would put my pelvis back in place and I was good to go.

I am now 34 weeks pregnant and suffering with SPD but have seen a brilliant physio who has put my pelvis back in place again and given me relief for a month - I am out of place again and seeing her on Monday so I should be level again by Tuesday!

I recommend seeing either an osteopath, chiropractor or a physio who specialised in pregnancy related SPD to realign everything. GP's and generally shit at diagnosing this sort of stuff.

I cannot tell you how inspiring this thread has been! My PGP isn't bad yet, and I was starting to think that it was silly to spend money going to a private physio or osteopath, but I'm going to do it now. The support threads are good, but so often people are really suffering - I was feeling it was inevitable that I'd be on crutches by the end of my pregnancy. Thanks all for posting your experiences, it's been really really helpful.

Go before it gets bad. It's much easier to do prevention work than trying to fix it when it has got really bad!

Make sure you see someone experienced in pgp/spd. I saw an osteopath in my first pregnancy who wasn't, though he advertised himself as treating 'the aches and pains of pregnancy'. I still feel sick, 5 years on, remembering him pulling on my feet to click my hip joints & other stuff that made things worse. Much worse. I ended up using a wheelchair & thought I'd never have another child - wasn't even sure I'd recover. Physio wasn't much use either, same as previous posters.

I'm 6 months into third pregnancy (2nd mc'd) now and have been seeing Quentin Shaw in Tunbridge Wells since first was a few months old. The difference is unbelievable. I am so grateful, and angry about the NHS treatment. I also saw, towards the end of first preg & when it was too late to do much to improve stuff, students at the British School of Osteopathy in London. Their tutor's very experienced with spd and the physical treatment's very good, and cheap - it was £12 a session 4-5 years ago. But difficult emotionally to go through case with 2 different students each time & also have the tutor pop in and all 3 have a go. Especially when the spd was so advanced it had (temporarily, thankfully, though I wasn't sure of that then) ruined my life & I was very low. But early (appropriate) treatment is extremely effective and i'd recommend the BSO to anyone who can't afford a Pelvic Partnership-recommended osteopath. (they are PP recommended I think).
I can't believe how much better this pregnancy is. It's still painful and a bit scary, but the fear's really just processing what happened last time. The symptoms are so much lighter. Wish I'd known then about pelvic partnership/specialist osteopathy.

Thanks mavis, that's my big concern really. I think I will ring Teddington osteopathy or Quentin Shaw as they're both listed in the PP list. It takes the same time to get to each, but cheaper to get to Teddington. Will do it this week.