Is this the start of SPD?

[Jenjen85]

For the past couple of days I have experienced quite sharp pains in my right hip/up into my back when walking, sitting, standing etc and I just wondered if this could be the start of SPD? I went to the doctors yesterday and dont feel that he was very helpful. He just told me to take paracetamol and go back if the pain got worse. I am waking up in the night with it as my hip hurts/aches when im lying on my left side. Is there anything I can do to help? Im seeing my midwife tomorrow so should i mention it to her? Im 21+4

Thanks

It could be, but it could also be something like a trapped nerve. Definitely speak to your midwife - personally I found the Dr useless for all things pregnancy related, and would always speak to me first!

*MW not me!!!

Yes mention it, mine started with a sore hip from laying on my side. Any seams dug in and made it worse. Ask to be referred to a physio - even if its not SPD they will be able to assess you for other things like sciatica and offfer help. Try and take it easy and avoid hoovering ironing and lifting heavy bags and don't sit stand or walk too much, a little of everything.

Could be, speak to your midwife and if it is they should be able to get you into see a physio for advice on how to manage it.

Sounds more like sciatica than SPD - SPD pain is located at the front of the pelvic girdle, in the middle of the pubic bone (well, mine was - it migrated as it got worse).

If it is SPD, then keeping your hips straight at all times is important - so no sitting cross-legged, make sure any surface you sit on is flat, not with a lean in either direction; lying in bed you need to keep your knees together, and if you turn over, keep your knees together to do that too. The worst SPD pain I got was when I forgot to do this, turned over one leg first and it "pinged" (it's a ligament, it was like having a big thick elastic band go "ping" in my groin) - it also sounded like I'd been shot. Also very hard taking the first step after standing up because I had to weight bear on one leg only to take a step (as we all do) - pelvis needed time to adjust to this.

Whichever it is, see if you can get a referral to a physio; or if you can afford it, see an osteopath who offers treatment in pregnancy. For my first pg, I had no SPD but saw my osteo very regularly and he kept it at bay; for my second pg, I didn't see my osteo so often (different place, different osteo) and although I got SPD, she corrected it every time I went to see her but it kept coming back :(
They can also treat the sciatica.

While SPD is technically pain in the front/ pubic bone/ groin as Thumb says, it's also used as a catch-all term for pelvic girdle pain, which can occur round the back. Mine started (around 20 wks) as a pain deep in my right butt cheek, which I thought was a pulled muscle. I've had sporadic periods of pain in my pubic bone, but mine's mostly confined itself to the back rim of my pelvis...

Do mention it to your mw. I got a referral to NHS physio through mine. Admittedly, however, the NHS physio wasn't much use. I have got great relief through osteopathy and acupuncture though. Both I've had to pay for, but found places that were reasonable. Early treatment (and modification of activity) is really important with SPD/ PGP - in terms of stopping it getting really bad and preventing it lingering after the birth. Mine is about a million times better now, at 35 wks, than it was at 25 wks.

Miaow - if it's any consolation, I have core muscles that are, if anything, too tight (some not others) and I still got it.

There are also support belts you can get to help you if you get pelvic problems in pg - so ask your MW/GP about those, see if there is a good one they can recommend (GP might be useless, mine was!) and then Google to get stockists.