SPD - is there anything that helps?!

[MurderOfGoths]

I can barely move right now, and feel like someone is trying to saw through my pelvis, I've got a physio appointment booked but it's not for a couple of weeks. Did anyone find anything that helped?

I found some sessions with an Osteopath really helped. I would say an 80% improvement in my pain levels. I hope you feel better soon.

I've heard Chiropractors can help with SPD. I'll be trying one before it's too late next time!

I was in a wheelchair from 6 months with SPD, I feel your pain literally.

Get a huge squishy theroline pillow to sleep with between your legs and up under your bump.

Ask the physio for a support belt.

Do as little as possible, don't carry on because you feel you should!

On huge bright side, SPD generally speeds birth right up, DS3 flew out with no noticeable contractions in 5 minutes from waters breaking to delivery.

Not sure I agree with the premise it speeds up labour, as both of mine lasted over twenty hours.
I went to an acupuncturist for help with mine. As yours is already so severe you might need quite a few sessions, should you choose to go down that route.

physio in the mean time ... rest, don't aggravate it, keep good posture, use pillow between legs when sleeping. don't use stairs if possible, if you have to go one step at a time (so put one foot on next step, bring other foot to that step so both together, then next step. slow yes, but better for pelvis) also get out of car like a sleb - knees together, swivel body round then stand. in general keep your legs together, and the pain means you get to glare viciously at anyone who says "it's a bit late for that love "

I also found swimming very helpful. although it was more gentle floating, takes weight off. don't get carried away and do breast stroke legs though.

Marking my place as i was told last week that i have SPD but dont actually know what it is other than extreme pain in my pelvis & hips. I'm 37 weeks and can hardly walk now, and taking codeine & paracetamol to manage pain and resting as much as possible.

That's be nice Titsalina, didn't help with DS unfortunately, just made the labour really uncomfortable, and it wasn't as painful that time :(

Any ideas for short term help that I could manage today?

I'm considering ripping my pelvis from my body im the style of the 'Predator' movies.
I'm not in agony yet, just fairly constant discomfort!

I've literally just seen the physio about this - as far as immediate relief goes, she said to put ice on your front as the pain is caused by stress on the joint which holds the front of your pelvis together causing it to become inflamed.

You needs to keep your pelvis in line as much as possible so sleeping with a pregnancy pillow (or normal pillows wedged between your knees and under your bump) should help. Ask your physio to order you a support belt - mine said we'd see how things went at my first appointment two weeks ago, she's agreed I need one now but I wish she'd ordered me one then!

There is more helpful information on how to deal with the pain and what sort of treatment to seek here: www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk/

If you can still manage to walk unaided you're doing quite well, honestly.

Ice is brilliant. Fill condoms with water and freeze them, put them on the symphysis, it really helps. Buy cheap condoms, I get them from Lidl, just warn MIL before she goes in you freezer!

Buy a body pillow to sleep on. It's far better than a normal pillow between your legs, because it goes under your bump, hip, pelvis and between your knees. Don't get one from Mothercare, you can usually get one from Ebay for under a tenner.

Don't move unless you have to.

Keep your legs together when you get in and out of the car.

Don't push a buggy or supermarket trolley.

Don't drive if it aggravates it.

Wear satin pyjamas in bed, it really helps with turning over.

I find wearing decent tights or leggings comfortable. I can not wear jeans, the weight of them kills my pelvis.

Try a support belt, not tubigrip.

Don't lift a toddler. You have to be strict with that. Get them to sit next to you on the sofa for cuddles, they will understand mummy is poorly. DS1 was under 2 when I was pregnant and he got it.

Get crutches if you feel they will help.

Sit down to put knickers, tights, socks, trousers, shoes on etc. Do not stand on one leg.

I used to come downstairs on my bottom as it hurt less.

Rest. Rest. Rest. Rest.

It won't necessarily speed up birth, and it won't always magically go the minute the baby is born.

DS2 is 17 now, I still have very severe (the worst my surgeon has ever seen) SPD. I have had 5 major pelvic surgeries. If I can help anyone please let me know.

Are you taking any painkillers? If not then start taking paracetamol now and get your gp to prescribe codeine. Do as little as possible. I was put on strict bedrest for a week with mine and that (along with the drugs) was the only thing that stopped me being signed off work for half my pregnancy. Look up gentle exercises online for spd, roll around on an exercise ball, keep up with the pelvic floor exercises. If standing up or turning over in bed is very painful then tighten pelvic floor muscles as you move - this really works for me.

Ahh maybe it's not true about the quicker labour thing, I'm only going on what my physio said, something to do with SPD being caused by separating of the pubis making the baby easier to exit... It might be bollocks tbh!

DS2 was born really quickly Titsalina. It is true in some cases, not all.

are SPD and PGP roughly the same thing?
mine is painful at times but bearable. stairs and standing from sitting are the worst.

the body pillow sounds good, will have a google.

Yes they are the same thing Chaffinch.

PGP is the more modern name for SPD.

"If you can still manage to walk unaided you're doing quite well, honestly."

Unfortunately not :(

Am taking paracetamol, longing for the anti-inflammatories I took for my back pre-pregnancy though! Am seeing midwife tomorrow so will ask about taking codeine, would be good to have some relief.

I think I've still got my support band from last time, though didn't find it helped last time at all.

IAm That sounds awful for you :( Didn't realise it could carry on past pregnancy, is it something they think they can ever "fix"?

at MoG

battle of the acronyms, isn't it, invisible

Hey chaffinch, how are you doing?

No, MurderofGoths. I am permanently disabled, can not walk unaided, in and out of a wheelchair. It's just a case of trying to manage the pain, which they can't do very well.

Oh darling :( I'm sorry to hear that.

"Another thing that helped me, if you can stretch to it is a memory foam mattress or mattress topper, having one made the difference between having to turn every 30 minutes because of the pain and being able to last a couple of hours!"

Luckily I already have a memory foam mattress because of my back problems, dread to think what state I'd be in without it!

Hi, I have suffered with PGP/SPD since 20 weeks, with it getting increasingly worse. I am now coming up to 38 weeks and since she has moved down it seems to have a made a big difference. However I went to a Chiropractor for about 6 sessions which I think helped. It is hard to know because it was in the lead up to Xmas when I then had two weeks off work which made a big difference. Try using ice packs on the front and also on your back. Codeine and paracetamol didn't even touch the pain to be honest even on the strongest dose. It is awful and I was crying just getting in and out of bed. Without wanting to distress you any further I'm not sure there is much that can be done, except to know that you are not alone and all of us are thinking of you. Hopefully it will ease up as you approach the end. Good luck and try to stay strong.

I still get achy if I stand for long periods while I'm on.
Really not a problem in the grand scheme of things though.

I found a TENS machine helped with the pain.