First HG, now SPD. Feeling pretty low.

[LabradorMama]

Hi all

i'm 20+3 with first DC and have recently managed to get my HG under control with prochlorperazine which works 99% of the time. I'm back at work (mostly from home) and feeling ok.

However, some groin pain started a couple of weeks ago and yesterday the pain in the middle of my 'knicker area' became quite severe - I got stuck in my car. Managed to get a GP appointment for this morning, had a terrible night's sleep, got stuck in the car again and nearly crippled myself getting up the stairs at the surgery. Turns out I have SPD.

My GP wasn't particularly helpful, basically said 'there's no treatment and it will get worse between now and birth'. She seemed pretty unconcerned, didn't give me any further info or sign me off work again. I've been referred to the physio (who is rubbish - I use my own so have just put a call in to him) but I just feel so down about it, I can't stop crying. It feels so unfair that having just sorted the HG I've now been handed something else to deal with, it's extremely painful already and the thought of it getting worse terrifies me as it's aggravating old back problems too. How on earth am I going to give birth??

This is a planned and wanted pregnancy but the baby is starting to feel like 'The Enemy' as it's causing me so many horrible problems. I just don't know how I'm going to get through the next 20 weeks.

Please don't think I'm some sort of baby hater! I'm just in pain and upset and looking for a hand to hold/any advice or words of wisdom on dealing with the pain. Please be nice

You poor thing - that sounds absolutely awful, and it's perfectly reasonable to be feeling pretty miserable about it. Pregnancy can be so utterly grim, and hating being pregnant is fine - it doesn't mean you're not happy about having a baby. I always want to slap people who rave on about how 'glowing' I must be feeling.

I'm 38 weeks and have had SPD since about week 23, but it came on a little bit more gradually than yours. Your GP and physio both sound useless. You definitely dont need to just resign yourself to it getting worse until the birth - a good physio can relieve the pain and prevent any damage. I would suggest looking for a different physio - my GP recommended seeing one who was a specialist 'women's health' physio, and it's helped me so much, so maybe see if you can find one. Other people I know have found osteopaths have helped them. But make sure you do get help as it's so important, or you could risk damaging your pelvis.

In the meantime, there may be a few things you can do to alleviate the pain a bit. Making sure you have a pillow between your knees (and ankles, I found) is obviously a key one. I also got a wedge cushion for the car, which helps level out the seat a bit and makes it less painful (car seats are the worst because they're like buckets, making your hips lower than your knees). The thing that helps
me is my support belt the physio gave me - it's a serola one. looks a bit like a weightlifter belt.

There's also some useful info here: www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk/

Really really hope you get some relief soon - good luck. X

Hi, I'm exactly the same as you HG and SPD! It sucks!

My physio provided a support belt which sometimes eases the pain, crutches are good too. To be honest there isn't a lot that can be done for SPD. Check out the pelvic partnership website there's lots of info on there to help you make informed decisions about labour.

I will however try and cheer you up with this, my first pregnancy (now on second with HG and SPD again) resulted in an amazing little boy who is chilled out and easy going who slept well from day 1. The crap you go through now will be the hardest thing you do. I honestly found having my little boy here easier than pregnancy!

Hope that helps a little

Thank you for your responses Jamscones and Booboo12

I've managed to get an appointment with my usual Physio for tomorrow, he's done wonders for my back so can hopefully help with this too. He has also mentioned referring me to a specialist 'women's Physio' at the hospital if need be. I've had a look at the Pelvic website too, lots of useful (and positive) info there so thans fr the recommendation

Thanks for your tips and I'm pleased to hear pregnancy is the hard part! booboo you are a total warrior for going through it again!

labradormama - i felt exactly the same as you! Prochlorprazine was an utter godsend for my HG, still feel sick most of the time but not being sick so much which is awesome!

My SPD came on at about the same time as yours and VERY fast, one day was fine next I couldn't move. See your Midwife rather than GP (my GP was also shit) as they can do a referal to the women's physio for you. Basically the pysio will give you some core muscle exercises and instruct you on doing pelvic floor exercises to help strengthen the muscles but unfortunately it is a case of its there til baby arrives i am afraid. I do my exercises on a gym ball as i have other issues that mean i can't do the standard ones but it has meant that most of the time i am pain free - uncomfy but mostly free from pain.

Check out this website for some of the exercises

babyhmummy01 we sound very similar - do HG and SPD often go hand in hand I wonder?

Prochlorperazine has been great for me too, had a bit of a relapse when I forgot a dose last week and it was terrible, you're right, it really is a godsend!

I was amazed at how quickly the SPD came on - on Saturday I was decorating the kitchen, Sunday I was at a christening, all fine, then by Monday afternoon I was in eye watering pain. Thanks for the exercise link, I'll have a look tonight as I already have a ball inflated and ready to go

Thanks for your response!

labrador nope i think we are just unlucky hun!

i am nearly 31 weeks and only take the prochlorprazine on really bad days as i am finding that i am coping alot better than i was but then for various reasons i have been signed off work completely so no stress and lots of time to rest which really is the best thing for both conditions!

I would say doing too much in terms of walking or standing will aggrivate the SPD, but then not sitting correctly will too - make sure you sit on your 'sitting bones' rather than your cocsix