SPD/PGP

[worsestershiresauce]

Is there anything I can do to ease the pain? I'm 39 weeks so the midwife didn't think it was worth referring me for physio. I literally cannot walk, sleeping is very difficult and when the baby presses her head on my pelvis (she is engaged so doing this frequently) I literally scream in pain. I'm getting a bit desperate as if I go overdue I could have 3 weeks of this.... sob.....

Pain killers. Get comfy. Don't move.

That's been my mantra for a while now. There's not a lot they can do even if you are referred earlier.

I agree. I had a pysio appointment a couple of weeks ago. Was useless. The physio gave me exercises to do on my back! And didn't seem to have a clue when I said that I thought you weren't meant to lie on your back when you're pregnant.
The only time I feel okay is when I do absolutely nothing except getting up to go to the loo/get something to eat etc.
If you are finding walking very difficult I would recommend going to your local physio dept. and finding out about borrowing a pair of crutches. I borrowed some and they do make walking slightly easier. Also a warm bath sometimes helps as does a hot water bottle. If you have a birthing ball try sitting on it- I find it gives me some relief and doesn't put as much pressure on my coccyx and lower back.
Good luck. Hopefully you feel better soon after the birth.

Ice is also good. Short ( due to baby not being able to regulate their temp)periods of ice on the sore area.

I feel your pain! I would really recommend you see an antenatal physio, no matter how late in pregnancy. I'm 37 weeks and have had PGP since 14 weeks - a lot of difficulty walking, getting up from sitting down and massive pain when trying to turn over or lift my leg when lying down. Spoke to both my GP and midwife about it but neither of them took me seriously. Finally managed to see a physio about 6 weeks ago and it has made a massive difference. She realigned my pelvis by yanking on my leg, and although it was extremely painful for about 4-5 days after that the pain has been getting progressively better ever since (although I can't say I'm pain-free). I'm not seeing the physio regularly any more but she told me that if the pain gets worse again I should go back to her, regardless of how late in pregnancy it is, as they might be able to do something which would help in labour. I had trouble getting my initial appointment (my midwife did initially refer me, but there was some kind of mix-up which meant I didn't receive an appointment), but in the end it turned out that I could refer myself. Try calling your hospital and asking to be put through to the women's services/antenatal physiotherapy if your midwife isn't keen to refer you. Some yoga positions also help a lot (look up cat pose, but keep your spine flat instead of letting it go concave when you go back to resting). Sitting on a gym ball also helps. Avoid doing anything that involves you leaning forwards (ironing, washing up etc), climbing stairs (as much as possible) and anything which separates the legs. If you need to move in bed try squeezing your buttocks together and lifting your pelvis first, and moving both legs together when possible. Hope this helps!

Just to clarify, the physio has to be someone who specialises in antenatal - my physio told me at least 80% of the women she sees (all pregnant) have PGP, so she was able to give a lot of specialised advice, including good suggestions for managing the PGP during labour. I did also take paracetamol at the height of the pain, which helped a lot. Good luck!

I can sympathise. The only thing that helped me was doing as little as possible. Even a short walk would trigger the pain. The problem with no exercise of course is the extra weight gain and loss of fitness /stamina, which I definitely suffered with. But one year on from the birth, I am now pain free, fit and back to my pre-preg weight.

Physio didn't help me. I had SPD from my first trimester and suffered right the way through. In my last 3 weeks I found a midwife acupuncturist and the relief was almost instant. I think it was the day after my appointment that I felt better and the day after that, no pain at all. I saw her once a week and the pain would start to creep back a couple of days before my appointment. I'd recommend trying acupuncture. I'm not a big believer in alternative therapies either! It was some kind of voodoo magic.

Poor you. I went to see an Osteopath and it really helped me. I paid £30 for one session. I suggest you get in touch with the pelvic partnership who are very quick on email and can provide you with a list of recommended physiotherapists/osteopaths that have been recommended by pregnant women. They were also kind enough to send me a free booklet in the post.

Some good suggestions above. I'd add that if you have no joy with NHS and can afford it, go see an osteo who knows how to treat pregnant women and/or an acupuncturist. I credit a combo of these two for keeping my spd/pgp under control (had it since 20 wks, 34wks now and it's totally bearable, and much better now than it was 10 weeks ago...)

I was also considering acupuncture before the physio helped - a girl in my yoga class swears that it took her pain away completely. I'm not into alternative therapies at all but I would have tried anything at that point!

Thanks everyone, really helpful. I've had such an easy pregnancy up until a couple of weeks ago so this has come as a bit of a shock! As my midwife wouldn't refer me I'll try going directly to the physio in the village. I'm not sure if they have a specialist but it is the only one I can get to as I can't drive at the moment due to the pain. Catch 22!!!

I second Accupuncture, hasn't completely taken it away but makes it more bearable and gives me some chance to do things

Glad I've found this advice. I'm only 4 weeks pregnant (and very scared of it going wrong). I had PGP from week 15 the last time I was pregnant and am very frightened of it reappearing this time round.

I will definitely be insisting on a referral to a physio if it comes back.

I'd really recommend talking to your GP about some pain relief.

I'd also second doing as little as possible. Don't try and work through the pain, you'll make it worse. Try and keep your legs together, particularly when getting in and out of bed or the car (putting a plastic bag under your bottom will help you slide round). Also sleep with a pillow between your legs. And getting on all fours and doing pelvic floor exercises will strengthen your pelvis.

Hope you get some relief, and your baby, soon.

Thanks everyone - perhaps this is natures way of actually making me do pelvic floor exercises as I have been very bad about this to date. If they help, I'm doing them. I'm wary about pain relief though, largely because it always constipates me, and I really couldn't cope with that as well.

Forgot to say - in addition to osteo/ acupuncture I also found a hot (not too hot though!) bath would help on particularly bad days... And if you get pain in your pubic joint, an ice-pack for 5-10 minutes 3-5 times a day also helps.

I had my physio (antenatal) referral last Thursday.

There was no physical help as such but she did give us some really good advise on how to do things easier. My pain is in my lower back, bum and hips. Worse at night but has been hideous this week.

You may know this, sorry if you do, but it may be of assistance to somebody if so!

Never push through the pain. If it hurts STOP. If it is beginning to hurt STOP.

Don't stop doing things, just make sure you don't allow yourself to get to the point where it hurts. So if a 20 minute walk leaves you in agony, stop at 10-15.

Swimming - avoid breastroke (the leg movement is the worse thing you can do!)

At least twice a day apply heat to the area - so a hot water bottle or a hot (not too hot) bath.

If your pain is between your legs (radiating down from your pelvis) then massage the area - it will loosen it up, which will help when you are in labour.

Don't lift anything heavier than a kettle (that's fun when you have a house to run/other child to look after!!) If you are doing laundry, take out 1/4 of the clothes and make several trips rather than carrying a load to the washer/dryer in one go. Don't bend down to the washing machine, use a small stool and transfer the clothes in/out from that level. (or get someone else to do it - my preferred method!)

At night make sure you have a small pillow taking the weight of your bump and a small pillow between your legs. If this is uncomfortable, try it lower down (so ankle to knee rather than knee to groin)

When turning over in bed, do not allow your stomach/pelvic area to take the strain. Use either your arms as a bridge (lower arm push you onto back, both arms push down on bed to lift you over to the other side) OR do it the other way round so you are facing the bed and using the full strength or your arms/knees to change position.

Getting in/out of the bath. Hold on to the sink, stand with back to the bath (if possible) Put your weight on your good leg and then place your problem leg into the bath first (so you are going in backwards) Getting out of the bath, use the sink to take your weight and step out using your good leg.

Lie on your back and let your knees fall to the side - as if you were giving birth. Using a tape measure, measure the distance knee to knee. Your birthing partner needs to let the Labour ward/midwife know what this measurement is so that during birth they do not force your legs wider than is possible. (however, the massage of the inner thighs should help with this).

Birthing/exercise ball - I bought one straight after the class. Kneel on all fours, hug the ball and let the ball relieve the pain in your lower back (so your weight is on your chest rather than bump/hips. Also lots of hip rolling exercises (sat on the ball) and gentle bouncing up and down.

Posture - do not sit slouched in the chair of an evening. Either lie on your side (make sure your head/neck/hips are at similar heights) or sit in a high back chair and use lumbar support, a rolled up towel or small cushion in the small of your back.

Dont stay in one position for too long. Sitting and resting is fine, but you mustn't do it all day (which is easier said than done when you are in pain)

Stairs - it may be easier for you to go up side step or on your bum.

There was also stuff on standing posture and finding your balance, but I don't want to go into that after just 1 lesson on it as it could cause more harm than good - there must be a Google-able Youtube link somewhere??

Pelvic floor exercises - 3 sets of 10 a day if you can manage it, if not then 3 sets of however many (late stages of pregnancy it gets harder to do the long holds)

Post pregnancy, pilates and pelvic floor exercises to strengthen your muscles or you will face similar next pregnancy/in future (joy!)

If I can think of anything else she said I will let you know. I found it really helpful but not a quick fix and if anything, my pain has increased this weekend but that is a coincidence I fear!

Thanks Briancox and citydweller, very helpful, I'll try all of these. I've massively over done it today as we are moving from the flat back into the house as the building work is nearly finished, and I couldn't just sit down and leave it to DH. V stupid.... will pay for it tomorrow, if the baby doesn't arrive tonight that is. She's now so low she's practically falling out

oh you are so going to pay for it tomorrow!! Get heat on your problem area, lie down and rest and get DH to massage (if it's your back). See if you can do some damage limitation.

I had a mad rush to get to Physio on time last Thurs - pick up DD from CM straight from work then drop her with my brother, then get fuel, then lunch and then to hospital with a huge walk from my gold-dust parking space that was miles away from the bloody department, sit for 2 hours on an uncomfy chair during the appointment - even with the odd standing bit/sitting on exercise ball, walk back to car and then home to clean/cook etc.

I think this is why the pain was so intense through to Saturday!

It is good advice to do as little as possible, however it ain't practical!

briancox really helpful advice, making a mental note to review this when the PGP kicks in.

I found walking backwards upstairs really helped but best done at home or people think you are crazy.