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've been given a support belt this morning, I'm hypermobile and the physio said that my issue is more that I have too large a range of movement, as opposed to struggling to move- not surw what this is going to mean later on in pregnancy, I started physio at around 17 weeks and have now got my belt at 21 weeks. anyone have any experience of hypermobility?

I think the painkillers work best when combined with plenty of rest. They don't stop the pain completely - so don't expect miracles, but I find they help me keep going a little bit longer, iyswim. I can definitely feel when the next dose is due. First time I took them, I thought I was going into early labour when these waves of pain in my pelvis suddenly started up again!

If you are struggling to walk unaided then it is ridiculous to wait 2 weeks. Can you speak to whoever referred you - or even call the physio directly - and see if they can fit you in sooner as an emergency? Failing that a good private physio who specialises in pregnancy-related problems? I saw one while waiting for NHS referral and she was great - got me from not being able to walk on my own at all to walking 10 mins unaided. Can be expensive though.

I think I read that 7% of spd sufferers have permanent problems. I read that ages ago though so may not be true. Many women find it gets better after or even during their pregnancy if they get the proper care early on.

Definitely can't afford private unfortunately, might try giving them another call to see if I can push for a sooner appointment though

potatopolly i'm hypermobile. I'm guessing this is your first pregnancy. Take things very easy, you are much more susceptible to damaging your joints. You will feel looser, or possibly tighter where some muscles are over compensating as you get into the later weeks. The stage you are at is just when everything starts to loosen with the relaxin hormone.

When it comes to the birth unfortunately you have a slightly (and i do mean only slightly) higher risk of waters breaking early and intervention like ventouse or forceps, and epidrual may not be as effective for you. You are also slightly more likely to tear. Theres a good website with lots of info which you can speak to your midwife about more, if they know about hypermobility then you are in luck otherwise they may fob you off a bit. I'll try to link it for you.

hypermobility website link

I am literally back from the consultant and doctors because of my SPD and Sciatica. Done the physio (pointless) and have been having weekly sessions with the osteopath (financially crippling) since I was 25 weeks. I'm now 38 so the end is in sight but, like you, I'm flipping miserable.

Afraid the story is exactly the same from the consultants. Take more pain killers (co-codamol/codeine), rest, keep legs together as much as possible, avoid steps (we're in a second floor flat-happy days), no lifting, reaching, pushing (basically ANY verb-house is a total shithole because DH is oblivious to mess), sleep with pillow between legs, silk scarf to help turning over in bed when the pain on one hip becomes too much, straight back on couch (build a pillow fortress) etc.

If you can afford it, The osteopath did provide a little relief up to about week 36 but, to be honest, the last two sessions haven't touched the pain. Doctor has now prescribed cocodamol for daytime (4 tabs max) and dihydrocodeine (1tab max) to help me sleep through the pain. I know drugs really aren't the answer and I'd much rather not take them, but needs must.

Feeling your pain-hope you find a solution that works for you.

I had this DVD:

www.amazon.co.uk/Pilates-In-Pregnancy-DVD/dp/B0000AM75Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1389017878&sr=8-2&keywords=pregnancy+pilates+lindsey

It really helped me with SPD. Not long term (sadly) but it sort of "re-set" the pain to manageable levels each time I did it. Sometimes several times a day.

The exercises are mostly done on all 4s, as I remember (so elegant, so glamorous). You do things with your tummy and pelvis and it sort of takes the edge off the "grating".

Obv if you do this (or anything else) do it all very gently and don't do anything that hurts!

In the end though I had to see a physio and an osteo and am still not quite pain free. If you have any choice in the matter don't leave it too long after pregnancy to get treatment for any lingering pain. I waited and waited for physio and got some relief from it; in the end when they souped up our work insurance I saw an osteo and she thought it may have "settled" in the wrong place from being left too long.

Good luck. I mean it. Best of luck with this.

thank you craving, that's really helpful! I did mention it to the midwife who didn't seem to know much about it! The thought of an epidural terrifies me anyway and I'm quite sure that I'd quite like to avoid one. The rest isn't good news really but I was expecting that!
I'll have a good read through the link you sent me. Thank you again!

I would have left DH for my chiropractor during pg4!

" The thought of an epidural terrifies me anyway and I'm quite sure that I'd quite like to avoid one."

I loved my epidural! Blissful numbness :D

I'm have hyper mobile syndrome and my pelvis is already separated so SPD was crippling.

You need to be firm and consistent with the drs. I spent the last 8 weeks of my pregnancy as an inpatient on Tramadol, they provided a special electric bed, wheelchair etc etc.

That was only after speaking to the head of midwifery for my area and DP firmly requesting an assessment with a new consultant after the one I was seeing sent me home sobbing begging her to end the pregnancy because I couldn't stand the pain

It's a horrible and not often taken seriously condition. More needs to be done to make women aware of it and make drs more sympathetic and more clued up.

Oh I feel for you ladies, threads like this brings back all the pain! If there's been one thing that has put me off from a second pregnancy, it's the probable return of SPD...

I was on crutches, used a body pillow (loved it, still use one now 11 years on...) and was prescribed Tramadol for the pain.

I found my giant tubigrip more comfortable to wear day-to-day (i rarely went out towards the end of my pregnancy) but also had the 3-in-1 support belt too.

Don't wait 2 weeks for your next appt Murder, get a GP appt to manage the pain. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy & the birth.